How do you get stuff to uni without a car?

[Unmute]

Ds is heading to uni in a couple of weeks. I'm going over on the train with him with a small suitcase each, and he had a friend lined up to drop some boxes off. It sounds like that plan might have fallen through so we're looking for a plan B.

The couriers I've found only take boxes up to 20ish kg, and I think ds's might be heavier (tbc once I replace the battery in my bathroom scales). I also can't quite figure out the logistics of getting boxes collected before we leave home, but not delivered until ds is ready for them.

Aside from the standard MN response (he's an adult, he should sort this out for himself), what other options do we have?

That's not very far, surely it will be cheapest for him to take his stuff gradually. Come home the next weekend and grab another load.

Can he also borrow a large rucksack (someone must have done DofE) and use that alongside the suitcase. Then do all his food shopping once he's there. Vacuum pack all the clothes & bedding. And use the suitcase for crockery & pans etc.

My DS was study abroad in his 2nd year which really focuses the mind re amount you need with an airline luggage limit. Tbh, he can buy most where he is going to uni

I’ve just checked on my Uber app and it’s coming out as £75 for a trip from Edinburgh to Glasgow. Depending on your financial situation I’d pay that in a heartbeat rather than get on the train forwards and backwards several times. Only worry would be that you can’t pre-book an uber so if nobody accepts your ride on the day you’re in a bit of a pickle, so I’d probably ring round local taxi firms instead so you can get a definite booking!

Get a taxi. You go too to watch the stuff when you unload and then you get the train home. Taxi will likely be about £80-100.
Or hire a car.
Or get a man an van quote to deliver once you've arrived by train.
This is a problem with lots of solutions.

Some train operators offer a freight service.

I'm going over on the train with him with a small suitcase each

I’d be taking a BIG suitcase each plus a rucksack.

If it’s not far on the train, he could come back a few times with empty suitcases and collect more stuff. Or can you visit a few times with more. Or I’d be throwing cash at a friend or family and grovellingly ask if they would be able to drive over with a carful.

I feel very stupid now. There are so many solutions!

I think the worry of knowing he's actually leaving has affected my brain.

I'll send a pm later but I'm regularly driving a car from glasgow to edinburgh and would be happy to help.

https://www.mybaggage.com/student-shipping

Came up with £22 Up to 30kg with 2 days

£26 Up to 20kg
£36 Up to 30kg

• £3 Per Kg Over 30kg

I was going to ask this earlier but spent week looking and think we have a plan now - several repacks and many conversations about what actually realistic to carry on trains.

She packed cases I think we can manage - enough for first few weeks - we'll have to buy some bedding/food/supplies up there.

DD1 heaviest case with lot of books weighed 20 kg - so think we'll manage sending 3 or so cases up in addition or her coming back and getting them.

Looked at man and van and current estimates seem to be around 600 + for us might be able to bring that down a bit when we know her floor and if we could get one that bought her back as well which some seem to do - may also need to look at storage,maybe no idea about prices, in the city or see if she can move straight to houses come summer.

It has been stressing me out some.

£26 Up to 20kg
£36 Up to 30kg

• £3 Per Kg Over 30kg

That was next day quote currently.

There's companies that offer student removal services, you share a truck with other students so cheaper than a regular removal service. A man and can derive can be a great option if not too far

You can book an Uber in advance.

Where it says “Where to?” And has a clock next to it with “Now”. Click on it, select payment method and you can arrange a future trip from there.

Taxi.
I did Reading to Heathrow last week in a Ford Galaxy, 37 miles cost £100. Yours is about 46 miles but no airport charges. When you book online you get to choose the type of vehicle. Will be no more expensive than multiple trains and/or couriers.

I shouldn't have worried, ds has sorted it out. His friend's dad is going to Edinburgh and can take the boxes over.

At least now I've got lots of good ideas stored up in case we have to bring everything back again for the summer!

Is he in Pollok Halls? I’d take a large suitcase each and rucksack on his back on the train and then buy the rest when you get there. What does he actually need to take? You can order anything for delivery for freshers week.

The library, a laptop, mobile phone and tiny speaker is your entire education and entertainment system.

That's good news.

He's also doing much better than my DS who seems to have 2 plates, 2 towels and some smoked paprika...

I took one large suitcase of clothes and reserved all the kitchen and bedroom bits I needed on Argos before travelling and picked it up when I got there. I then was allowed to store those things in a spare dorm over the summer with the international students things.

I know it's sorted now OP, but if anyone else looking at this thread needs help - you need Shiply.com. You input the details of your job into their website, then various removals/shipping/courier companies bid for your job. The longer in advance you do it, the more the price comes down. We used it for a student removal from London to Glasgow - so much cheaper than two train tickets or petrol there and back and an overnight stay for the parents!

Ds has gone too far the other way. He has 4 saucepans and a frying pan, amongst other things. And packing up today he realised he'd bought 2 cheese slices. He packed them both. Completely mad.

That was to SiouxsieSiouxStiletto

I paid my best friend's brother to hire a van and take me there - because my mum didn't drive, and it didn't occur to my dad to offer to take me. To be fair to him, he did do some fetching and carrying trips later in my uni days; he just didn't think of it the first time. Some other times I sent big parcels to myself.

We haven't bought pans yet as some of the blocks have induction hobs and some don't do we're waiting to see which one he gets allocated but will probably get them there when he arrives.

Planning on ordering his bedding to be delivered to the nearest store too

I went off to halls in my first year with a big rucksack and a suitcase. Bedding was provided and I bought cheap towels, crockery etc once I was there I think.

Although Glasgow to Edinburgh I'd say man and van.

Glasgow to Edinburgh is not too far. Several journeys or man with a van . Alternatively, have you got a friend who can help and just pay them petrol.