Pramcots on UK trains?

[peasandchips]

Virgin Trains Customer Relations Dept say that they do not allow pramcots on trains. DD will be 4 months or so when we are looking to travel. Does anyone have tips as to how we will manage, travelling alone and no doubt laden down by bags and baggage...am not sure a sling would work! Had been hoping to double up the cot for sleeping at the other end. Do all train companies have similar policies? Thanks all!

This seems a bit odd to me - isn't a pram really just the same as a pushchair/any other item of luggage?

As long as the pram folds and could be stowed in the luggage racks along with any other luggage (DD in arms/on lap, not in luggage rack, obviously!), then I can't see what they can complain about?

Obviously if you want to park the assembled pram in the aisle with a baby in it, they could take issue on a practical and H&S level!

Could it be because you're describing it as a 'pramcot' when I assume you mean a pram (carrycot on a foldable chassis)? 'Pramcot' makes me think of something more akin to a travel cot than a pram (and I think they'd be right to veto an assembled travel cot!).

No idea about other train carriers I'm afraid ...

i took dd on the train often at that age, i had a rucksack on my back,her in sling on front and a fold up buggy.could be more difficult with a pram cot putting it up and down,especially if no one offers to hold baby.better still could you borrow a pram at your destination.

Small foldup pushchair and a popup cot - like this?

Thank you all. Think I need to pick up speed on my dismantling of the pram and chassis, and indeed train boarding so that I can bagsy enough space if we do take the whole kit and caboodle.

what is a pramcot?

do you mean a carrycot?

i am assuming that you arent taking an old fashioned silvercross-type pram on a train. cos that would be a bit cumbersome.

a carrycot on wheels ala mamas and papas excel/mpx system would be fine. i would take a sling to carry baby on, and put all the luggage inside the pram if possible to make getting on and off the pram easier. once on, then put the luggage in the right places, and free up the pram for sleeping baby. be prepared that you may end up with the pram parked up near the doors and your seats further away.

Virgin trains, IME, are always really cramped with not enough storage space- there probably wouldn't even be room to get a pramcot on.

I recently travelled with DS in his pushchair and ended up standing by the door for the whole journey because there was no room in the luggage racks for our stuff. There's no way I'd've been able to lug it down to the other end of the train to look for somewhere to put it. Am still quite about that!

there is often a guards van at the end of a train - just an empty room, they're for storing bikes i think, and any other luggage i guess. we have previously put our pushchair in there, and then sat in the carriage next to it. we have also left a sleeping dd in there too (in the pushchair of course...).

also, there are at least 2 disabled carriages normally - there is a big space by the door of the carriage to enable the manouevre of a wheelchair, and then the actual wheelchair space is opposite that. people are not allowed to put luggage in the manouevre space, but as long as you are quick to move it if necessary, i don't see any reason why a pushchair shouldn't go there. and given the amount of faffing involved with ramps to get a wheelchair on, you'd have plenty of time to get the pushchair out of the way if needs be. and presumably, once the manouevring has been done you can put your pushchair back.

of course pushchairs do NOT take precedence over wheelchairs, ever, but if the space is not being needed, why not use it? we've never had any problems.

ps do you have a family railcard? it can be cheaper to buy a ticket for an underage child as well as the adult with one of these.

travelling from here to london you make up the cost of the railcard in one journey with two adults travelling, also you can travel at peak times (starting outside network southeast) for the off-peak fare. this is such a bargain.

they are normally £26, but moneysavingexpert.com often has discounts advertised for them, you have to keep your eyes peeled...