Ds stranded at university

[IpeartreeI]

Ds wanted to remain at uni to see if the finals were going to go ahead. He became ill and then had to go into quarantine so missed his slot for returning by train. We're in lockdown now and he's going to be doing finals online.

In theory, he could return home, but are the trains still running? He's at the other end of the country and I couldn't drive it in one day.

At some point the uni will ask remaining students to leave, so what then?

I don't know if people are allowed to travel, but he can't remain stranded forever. I don't know what to do?

Public transport is still running. Surely he could get a train?

Just book him a train. Today! Get him home.
We aren't in a lockdown. We have been given strict restrictions. But I imagine getting a train home will be fine. A lockdown in my opinion is when we wont be allowed out for exercise. And police everywhere.

I'd drive it. Yes it's a fucker of a drive but honestly, leave early, take little breaks, drink coffee. It's doable.

No, you absolutely won't get into trouble collecting him by car. You are allowed to bring him home. He has to leave uni accommodation. I'm sure the police would prefer you and him to be in a car rather than public transport.
It will all work out, Op, really it will.

Also the roads are much quieter at the moment.

I don't drive, and had a thread on here the other day about collecting DD and her twelvety bags of noodles and cosmetics from uni .

She ended up getting a cab home as we live 20 miles away from London, where she is studying.
If I could have driven, I think I would but that's just my opinion and us irrelevant in the context of your thread. Not really sure what I'm talking about anymore .

Needless to say, I was super stressed and anxious and it all worked out just fine. It will work out for you too Op.

Well he isn't stranded because there are trains and you have a car. In a bit confused that you are thinking he is stranded and confirming how to ' cut your mileage'

Honestly. Get him from uni to the nearest mainline station and go collect him.

I wouldn't think twice of driving 300 miles in a day and back. Tiring but totally doable.

Drive stay overnight with him drive home if you have other dc and no dh take them all with you for a camping sleepover I am failing to understand why this is hard.

Today's Evening Standard says they should stay put: apple.news/A1f0dNzuTRpWg6lKqWF7r9g

600 miles in a day is doable - tiring but doable. I did 550 on Wednesday - set off at 6am, got back at 8pm. Take disposable gloves for the petrol station, food, water and a bucket for wee (sorry, but it's better than service station loos!)
Go get him before the lock down gets stricter and you can't!

MitziK as its incredibly quiet in towns/motorways etc etc, it wouldnt be beyond the bounds of capability if they actually hold a valid driving licence.

He doesn't so the point is moot.

sorry, sorry, sorry, didn't read properly

Apologies, the son doesn't but the OP should be able to.

If he has somewhere to live & can look after himself & cope mentally-how would him travelling home or Op travelling to fetch him be essential travel?

I used to regularly collect/visit my DS at his uni. It was a 4 hour drive each way, but easily doable in one day. The journey will be much easier now the motorways are quieter.

www.timeshighereducation.com/news/university-students-england-told-not-travel-home#survey-answer

Yes it looks like OP's son has unfortunately missed the boat, and the advice is that he should now stay where he is.

Won't he have a room full of stuff he needs to clear if he doesn't want to be charged rent for the rest of the academic year? How's he going to get his things home?

That is about students travelling from the U.K. abroad surely? It's talks about visa etc.

Lockdown hasn't even been for a week, so surely he should still be isolating?

There is no point in both of you travelling. Just tell him to get the train.

Use this ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/service/planjourney/search

We've had an email from our Vice Chancellor about an hour ago to say that the Universities Minister has stated today that students travelling from halls to home is now classed as non-essential travel and any that are still on campus must stay there.

Contact the uni - my uni have a closed FB group they're monitoring and supporting for those still on campus (we have a lot of students from China etc who haven't gone home for fear of bringing it back with them) and they've also mailed out any students they have registered as disabled or otherwise vulnerable to ask if they're still on campus and if they need any support with it all - they've sent that one out at least twice as I've had it because I'm on their disabilities register.

Thanks for the info. I've forwarded the evening standard article to him.

I'm worried that, after this first lockdown period, things get even tighter.

He took ill the week before so missed the train by two days due to a 7 day quarantine.

When was his train ticket for?

How long has it been ok for him to travel?

Train ticket was for Wednesday.

He just kept putting off and then it was too late.