Long distance train with 1 & 2 year old (and just me) - anyone done this

[viticella]

Has anyone experience of travelling on intercity trains with toddlers? I want to book a couple of nights away, but as the children travel free, I don't suppose I can reserve seats for all three of us? It's a 2-hour trip on a "Voyager" service, with one change to a local train for a short connection.

I'll be staying at my sister's so can get away without towels, travel cot etc (and hopefully she'll buy me a pack of nappies), so I think I can manage with just a rucksack and buggy. Am I mad to even think about it?

Guess I will phone up Virgin Trains tomorrow but I want to worry about it now!

You can only reserve extra seats if you buy extra tickets, although if it's a long journey you could buy a railcard, pay for one child, save on your own fare and it might even work out cheaper. Also, if you get a seat by a wheelchair space (assuming it isn't needed by somebody disabled) you can keep the buggy up.
Good luck!

I have booked this. Everyone I asked at toddler group today said that DS's would find it a great adventure.

Saved £10 in the end as TT suggested, by buying free trial family railcard and booking a seat for DS1. Workings of Virgin Trains are truly a mystery!

We are quite excited now. Seaside here we come!