Changing on the choo choo

[motherinferior]

I'm taking dd2 on a long train journey - couple of hours, and the same in return - the weekend after next. It occurs to me that I've never had to change a nappy on a train before. The so-called 'changing facilities' I've seen in the past never look particularly facilitative. Do I just brave the onlookers and change her in the main carriage - bearing in mind that only a major poo will justify changing in the first place?

(We're going Midland Mainline, if that helps.)

I didn't even know trains had changing facilities!

Occasionally you spot a door with some cryptic sign suggesting a changing table.

Due to my non-driving status I used to get this problem. Not all trains have changing tables and they're not very nice (surprise!) on most lines (Wales and Borders deserves a special mention for being utterly gross). Out of respect to fellow passengers I used to take DD to the loos but made sure i had a towel in the changing bag to lie her on. The one exception was on a 3 hour intercity to london when she was 4 weeks old, got a commuter train and couldn't leave my seat so I did it on my lap! Luckily lady next to me was totally ok, in fact when she realised the problem positively encouraged me to just go ahead!

Mind you, if your fellow passengers have been eating anti-social foodstuffs (my pet hate about trains/aeroplanes etc.) feel free to flick the pooey nappy around

changing tables are usually in the loos

It will depend whather you are on a turbostar (new trains with sliding doors, which have nice big loos with changing areas) or an old style (which tend to be the faster services) which will not have changing areas in the loos. Top tip fro travelling would be to upgrade to first class - if you are going on Sat or Sun it's only £5 on Midland Mainline, and then you'll probably have a table all to yourself so can change in the carraige without worrying about other passengers. (Though I'd do it there anyway)

Message withdrawn

I used to go out to the corridor and change out there on the floor.

I normally do what Jimjams does as the only time I saw a changing table on a British train it was ENCRUSTED (apologies to anyone coffee-breaking while reading this).
Definitely agree that a baby's nappy is well worth flourishing at anyone eating stinky food or making their ears bleed with a deafening personal stereo. If you can get her to chuck up too MI I can guarantee from personal experience that you will get the whole carriage to yourself and your pick of tables and seats for family-friendly activities...

We have had to do it on the floor of the toilet on Great North Eastern trains, but believe me, you'll want to throw away the change mat afterwards. Practically had to wade into the room. Yeuchh.

message withdrawn

Thanks, everyone. Floor a particularly brilliant suggestion; tbh I usually change her on a portable mat there anyway (especially since she has turned into a very rolly baby). With any luck it won't be necessary in any case but the sod's law of babies means that the minute we get on she'll start the redfaced grunting that is the inevitable sign of nappy days being here again.

In any case someone's bound to freak when I breastfeed her