train mission impossible?

[Positron]

Hi all. Need some advice/stories of your experiences please.

I am due to take a long enough train journey (over 3 and a half hours; would be around 7 hours in the car, inclusive of stoppages), accompanied by dd who is 3 and ds who is 6 months (hubby can't make it, so I am on my own with these 2!).

Firstly, how on earth can I make the journey as easier for all of us as possible, e.g. if dd says she needs the loo.....where can I put baby down to assist her? How will I stop baby crying if he kicks off....can't exactly walk around with him on a high speed train.....etc etc.....

Secondly, Itried to book a seat on the internet, but then I suddenly realised that, as my children are under 5, they go free, but then I can't book a seat for them because of this. So

a) I will have to turn up in the hope I can get 2 seats together (baby on my lap in one seat, dd in the other).

b) i was told over the phone by one of the train reps that if someone had bough a ticket, and was looking for the last available seat left on the train, they are technically entitled to the seat my child would be sitting on because I wouldn't have paid for her seat (given she is under 3). It strikes me as being really harsh ...where would my dd sit if she did have to give it up (I would give her mine, but then I can't be left holding the baby standing!). I reckon though that most people would see a child on the seat and assume it is taken, and not realise this point, and would just walk on, but what if a train conductor insisted my dd gave up the seat? I guess all i could do is just offer there and then to pay for the seat as if she were over 5?

Thirdly, are there spaces on the train that accomodate pushchairs that are not folded away, in case I need to put baby down for whatever reason?

Maybe I am making a mountain out of a molehill here, but I am travelling on a friday evening, when it is going to be the weekend rush, and am dreading it! I thought about upgrading to first class in the hope I would have a better chance of finding a seat, but this trip is going to be a regular occurence 9once a month) so the cost will start to add up if I go first class all the time, but then I suppose I am prepared to pay the extra for the peace of mind and comfort.

Thanks for any advice you can offer.

Personally I would buy two seats in first class (finances permitting) as the extra space is priceless. You will be able to walk around a bit and less people will be walking through, they usually have a toilet and space for pushchair too.

cheers, pregnantpeppa.

Yes, I did think about the sling...will definitely take that.

I don't want to sound mean, but if i can avoid paying extra for my dd when she is able to go free, then I would rather chance it and turn up a bit early and hope for the best. I sometimes find with booking seats is that you never know what the circumstances are going to be until you turn up at your booked seat to find that there may be pets or other issues which would (for me personally) put me off sitting there (no offence to those with pets, just don't want to travel with kids sitting next to pets!). I would thus prefer to pick a spot and hope the pets do not follow me! lol

yes, ewe, i think i would go first class, but as that is an expense in itself, I might just turn up and chance finding 2 seats where i don't pay extra for dd, unless I needed to hold onto the seat, when I could surely just pay the conductor there and then? (and, on this train, you can but your tickets on the train....)

By the way, I don't wish to state which line I am travelling for confidential reasons...

I am just in the process of asking my DF for you as he is in the Train business!

First question is where are you travelling from and to? Then he will know who the operating company is and what kind of service they provide.

Then There will be more questions to follow.

However I have travelled with both my two albeit on a short journey. There is only 14 month between them but it never caused any problems. I did leave plenty of time for platform changes and made sure I found a guard to confirm I was getting on the right train and help me on with the pushchair.
I am fortunate to get free 1st class travel because of DF, and I would say that when you have small DC's it's probably worth it. There is more room and there is normally (when I have trevalled) a disabled place which you can use for your pushchair as long as no one else needs the space.

sorry, should read, "buy your tickets" (!)

wheredidmyfeetgo,

Cheers.....its the grand central operator, if that is helpful. Yes, please do come back to me on this! Lucky you....free first class travel!

I travel on both midland and Virgin. I find that as long as you aren't there at peak commuter times, you will find space for the pushchair in the wheelchair bay, and it isn't often used. Also, near the doors there is usually a good big space and a little perching seat.

Take a sling to put baby in if your DD needs to use the loo.

cheers, Coldtits.

If you buy a family railcard, you may well find you save money even using it just once. You will need to buy a ticket for your DD but it would be discounted and your ticket would also be discounted.

Will find a link to family railcards.

Here is a link.

You need to pay £26 but then save 1/3 on adult fares and 60% on child fares. The card is then valid for a year (if your first train experience is all right, you can then do it again )

It says child needs to be 5 but if you look here then it says you can get a child ticket for an under 5 so you can use the railcard

No doesn't help me I'm afraid, but then again I'm 17 wks pregnant and it's way past my bed time!

I know I'm V lucky! Which is why if the 1st class travel got taken away I would pay for it if possible. I have found staff more helpful when travelling 1st class and the fact the trolly dollies come round with free drinks and snacks and normally an activity pack to keep the LO's amussed.

Deffo take a sling for your yongest.

Found 1st class had more room for me to move around in if I needed to comfort the youngest. And there was enough room for the eldest to have a walk about- but not fear that he would run off.

DF has said you would not need to pay for a seat for you LO's if you paid for 1st class.

Hope thats of some help?

Message me if not?

Noahandthewhale,

Thanks for being so helpful, really appreciate your effort.

I don't think a family railcard is valid on ist class, though, and I feel I would want to go first class for the extra room and chances of finding a seat at the friday evening weekend rush.

Thanks, wheredidmyfeetgo, for the reassurance. Good luck with preganancy.

I have just (as in we got the 1630 today) travelled from London to Newcastle with a newborn and a toddler. i did have DP, but will be doing it myself in a few months. My tips:

FAMILY RAILCARD!!! Honestly, it is such a good thing. Buy a child ticket for the older child (you have to anyway to get the discount) and you will get a seat for them and it will actually work out cheaper than just getting the one undiscounted adult ticket.

Book in advance. I use the trainline. The site is down for maintenance now, but when it comes back i will link you to best fare finder, which is brilliant. You put in your journey (only works for some common journeys, but if yours is so long I bet it covers at least one leg) and it looks three days either side of your date and all day to find the cheapest tickets. Saves loads.

I second taking a sling. There will be space for the pushchair not folded away, but a sling is a lot easier. Try to minimise luggage (getting a cheap buggy delivered off argos to your destination if it is friends or family) and if possible get someone to meet you off the train to help you get your luggage and children off.

First class might be an idea, but I have never been able to afford it and have been ok. I used to travel between Newcastle and Preston no problem with dd1 when I was pregnant, and that involved changing at Manchester. When she was a baby I booked her a seat and put her carseat off her travel system pram in the seat.

www.thetrainline.com/farefinder/

eg, I just used fare finder to find £16.25 for one adult from Newcastle to London. Site still down for maintenance in the main bit though so can't see how much for children to work out the price with my railcard. Will be booking some tickets for in a couple of months as soon as I get paid!

Also checked first class price if you are still interested in that and it was £58.40, which is out of my price range, but you might be ok.

Thanks Butterpie. The carseat sounds like a good thought......

Off to bed now; sorry if I haven't acknowledged anyone's reply.....will check in again tomorrow for any further tips if offered.

Good night to you all.