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Original poster

10.8 year old girl travelling alone

18 replies

slowreader · 29/08/2007 18:43

The journey is 25min on a small country train. What do people think of putting her on on one end to be met by at the other? Nobody would have thought twice about it when I was her age but times have changed. She longs to do it (her best friend has moved to other end of train line).

OP posts:
nell12 · 29/08/2007 18:45

I would say yes, but I would introduce her to the conductor, ask him/her to keep an eye out and make sure she has a mobile phone.

I would probably do the first journey with her just to make sure she knows exactly what she is letting herself in for

inglis · 31/08/2007 22:27

Not for me, I don't think. What are your thoughts, slowreader, about putting her on it?

Kbear · 31/08/2007 22:28

Sounds fine in theory but I'd still be worried. I'd wait until she was a bit older I think. Unless there is a guard who can keep an eye on her.

expatinscotland · 31/08/2007 22:29

I would say no.

MyTwopenceworth · 31/08/2007 22:31

I wouldn't do it. I'd be too nervous.

itwasntme · 31/08/2007 22:46

Hmmmm.

When I was 11 I took a train on my own down to Wales. Mum put me on the train in London, and I was met the other end.

It was an intercity train with tables and I had a bit of a nasty experience with a pervert sat opposite me who was ramming his feet into my crotch, trapping my feet together, running his feet up and down my legs. It went on for about an hour before I had the guts to say something.

In the end I asked him in my loudest voice to take his feet out from between my legs. The train was very crowded and everyone heard.

Pervert apologised and got up and changed carriages immediately. I didn't tell my Mum about that for years.

So no, I'd not allow my daughter to make that journey, it's just a bit too young.

FrannyandZooey · 31/08/2007 22:47

Yes fine I think. Can she have a mobile for the journey?

FrannyandZooey · 31/08/2007 22:47

Sorry to hear about your experience itwasntme. That stinks.

Kewcumber · 31/08/2007 22:48

Blimey my brother used to fly from UK to Africa on his own when he was 9! Thought I do agree that there is more potential for error on a train - mobile is a good idea though.

EscapeFrom · 31/08/2007 22:49

No. I was groped aged 22 on a bus, just because a perv decided to sit next to me. By the time I realised what was happening, it was happening. I yelled, and slapped, and stopped him, but it was too late, I had already been groped at. My kids won't travel alone until they have the confidence and presence of mind to deal with c**Ts like that

Frizbe · 31/08/2007 22:49

If it was me, I'd say no, not until a bit older 13/14, although dh has said 16 to his ds, (my ss) who lives a train journey away.

itwasntme · 31/08/2007 22:49

Thanks

I'll never forget that dirty bastard's face.

itwasntme · 31/08/2007 22:52

My stepson has been regularly flying on his own from Venezuela to see us.

It's different when you are flying as there is someone keeping an eye on the children at all times and they are seated with other unaccompanied children.

On a train you are on your own

Kewcumber · 31/08/2007 23:10

and now I coe to think of it - my brother managed to get to Lusaka (Zambia) wihtout his passport when he was 11 and was put under house arrest in the Embassy until it could be flown out. So perhaps not the best comparison to make...

Hurlyburly · 31/08/2007 23:21

Gosh I'm glad you raised this.

My DD is 9 and I was agonising about the VERY same thing.

Mind you, I did a longhaul flight on my own when I was 10. Train journeys on my own too. What the world is coming to when we are too scared to let them take itty bitty train trips on their own?

Ultimately what we decided to do was to ask DD if she felt comfortable doing the rail trip (also to her friend's house) on her own. Sne said she'd do it but she wouldn't feel comfortable doing it. So on that basis, we arranged lifts for her. Maybe when she's 10 ....

nooka · 31/08/2007 23:28

How long would the journey take, and how many carriages are there? My cousin and I regularly travelled from Paddington to Didcot at about that age (staying with grandparents) and it was great fun. Also how confident is your dd? My ds (8.5) would probably be very happy so long as the journey was only half an hour or so (and he had his DS). He isn't allowed to walk to school on his own yet, but the school says at 10 he will be. I'd be happy with it if it was a two carriage type train, because the guard is quite likely to keep an eye on her -make sure she gets off at the right stop etc. It's probably more of an issue with a longer train.

nappyaddict · 31/08/2007 23:42

my friend travelled by train to school by herself from the age of 11 and that was only 8 years ago. nobody thought anything of it tbh.

lucy5 · 31/08/2007 23:45

I would say no. Is the train direct or are there stops?

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