LNER trip with toddler asleep in buggy?

[RoseValleyRambles]

I'm hoping to travel from London to Edinburgh on a few weeks time with my 3yo. My plan was to get a later train so he could sleep in his buggy through most of it, but I've just seen the LNER site says buggies have to be folded... Although he'll have a seat, I'm not sure he'd be able to safely sleep in it. Anyone got any helpful experience as to what's feasible here?

There won't be anywhere to park it unless you put it by the doors which will be in everyone's way and potentially a hazard.
It won't be amazingly comfy but if he's tired enough he will sleep in the seat.
Maybe take a small cushion he can use to lean on next to the window.
Also he will only have a seat if you pay for a child's ticket.
Under 5s can travel free but it means they aren't entitled to a seat and are expected to sit on the adults lap.
If the train is busy and you haven't paid for a seat he will have to sit on your lap.

Unless the train is totally empty you’ll have problems finding somewhere to park it, and it almost certainly wouldn’t have a seat free for you nearby.

Just get two seats next to each other and have him sleep on you?

Thanks - that's the voices of experience I was looking for! I am going to get him a kids ticket. I'll also have a car seat with me, which I guess I could use in his seat if there's room?

I’m not sure a car seat would fit, or be very secure; on a train seat? But I’ve never actually tried!

Just to add - it's hard to get a buggy onto the lner trains I've used on the same route. The steps are steep and narrow, and the aisle isn't wide enough for my fairly small, nippy buggy.
I usually ask the station staff if there's an accessible carriage on the train and if there's room for me and baby in it (obviously, being ready to move if a wheelchair user gets in anywhere in the journey).
If there is room, baby could maybe sleep in the buggy all the way to Edinburgh, but of course you risk needing to wake them up if the space is needed for a wheelchair

@RoseValleyRambles A toddler car seat is unlikely to fit in the seat and would just be perched on it - not attached in anyway.
Trains don't have seatbelts or anything.
Yes they go very fast but that's train travel for you.
I would focus more on having plenty of snacks and (quiet) things to do.

It really depends, I have taken that train with a buggy and tucked myself in a little alcove it. It was probably for luggage space really but luckily the train was quiet and everyone was using the rack opposite. that was just chance I think though that that space was available in the carriage we happened to get on. I did not get asked to fold because it wasn’t in anyone’s way, but I did have an uncomfortable couple of hours sort of perched next to him on my backpack 🤣

Another time I have gone by the doors, but I knew the train wouldn’t need to open on that side again until we got to KC so it didn’t really matter. Although I was prepared to switch sides depending on if we pulled in on that side at the stations we called at en route.

I get so many trains I have my favourites for ease of travelling with a buggy, LNR and GWR are my least favourites. And yes the steps up are very steep, you really have to boot it up.

Ive got a bugaboo bee, for reference.

Seat sleeping isn’t so bad, I bring him a pillow and a blanket and he stretches his legs over my lap. one time I managed to angle it so my suitcase was level with his seat under the table and he stretched out that way.

I would say just go for it, I’ve never not been able to figure something out. Sometimes we’re in the accessible carriage or where the bikes are supposed to go (annoying there’s always bike space but not dedicated buggy space) obviously have to be fully prepared to move if that space is needed. I usually inform the train guard that I am aware of that regulation and often they tell me of and when a wheelchair user has booked the space.

Different train company (transpennine) but I always book 1st class (if you book in advance its not that much more money) they have extra space in that carriage and I have always been able to leave buggy up and just sit in the comfy seat next to it! I am aware that if a wheelchair user got on I would need to fold the buggy (and would obviously do so immediately) but this has never happened to me so far, the extra space really makes things easier imo and I also get free coffee/ snacks! Might be worth checking the train layout to see if this is an option for you?

I’ve done this journey several times and if you can afford it, I’d highly recommend buying a first class ticket for yourself; I’ve always done this and I can leave DD in her buggy for a sleep in the bit next to the disabled section (obviously I would move if anyone needed it!) and can see her from my seat (I rang and requested the seat opposite once as well).

So much good wisdom here! Thanks all! I'll see which seats I can book and maybe just try to be optimistic about him sleeping in a train seat...

If you’re taking a pram, book seats in the accessible carriage - theyre much easier to get the pram
on and off.

Assume
its be sleeping between you and the wall. Trains are quite good for sleep
ineucing.

I think fold the buggy (unless you get very lucky and it’s quiet) book two seats and hope he is happy to put his head on your lap and stretch out over the second seat. I did this when my kids were toddlers. I never recall them actually sleeping on the train though

I travel regularly between York and London on LNER with 2 under 4s. If you book on their website, you can select your seat - book in carriage A or M (1st). Both the acceasible carriages. If noone is using the wheelchair seat, the train staff are happy for you to leave the buggy standing. It's unlikely that you'll get this all the way to Edinburgh in standard but you might get some of the way. In 1st, my experience is that there is very rarely a wheelchair user on board.

My uppababy vista fits on board fine so unless your buggy is massive, it shouldn't be an issue.

Yes yes to booking a child's seat for him. On the booking page, just add 1x 5-15 child ticket - doesn't matter that the child is actually 3y. If you dont select that, you wont get an actual seat for him. If you book standard, you can get a really cheap "family single" ticket. My DD is 3.5y and she sits fine in her own seat. Use the at seat service if you want anything bringing from the cafe carriage (another bonus of 1st is the supply of food and drink).

Happy to answer any other questions - we've got this route pretty nailed down now after doing it since DD1 was a baby! 😅

Is it a Lumo booked via LNER? They have strict baggage rules but if just an LNER train, I've done the edinburgh to London and back again journey several times with my son when he was between 6 weeks old and almost 2, and have squeezed naps in for him in his buggy in the vestibule standing with it.

I will warn that it's unlikely he will get alot of sleep uninterrupted as the doors make a really loud beeping noise when they open and close at every station, so we used to strategically plan it so he'd get a nap on the longer stretch between stations 😅

You can book a seat for him as people are advising, and liklihood is at night it'll be quiet, I don't usually book a seat for my son and we end up finding two together easily and just sit there. Why do you not want to travel in the day? Its far easier to entertain and then fit a nap in on the 4.5 hr journey than guaruntee him some night sleep. We usually bring several sticker activity books and break down the journey into time slots, doing walks up and down the train, activities, books and then nap etc.

To add about the carseat, there's a large luggage area in a carriage on most LNER trains so can be stored there if the end bag areas are full.

Definitely look at 1st class. I travelled regularly between Edinburgh and London with DD in an umbrella stroller in the space next to our seats. As PP, look at the seat plan.

He's about fine after an hour on the train, so I'm not sure about doing a full 4.5hr stint. He's also aged out of naps, otherwise I'd totally do that...

I would use a carrier with a frame on this route. It folded down when they were sitting up but I could stand it on the seat when they were tired. Not sure how you’ll fit a buggy and car seat-luggage racks are tiny.

Don’t set your hopes on first class.

Theyve now introduced bid on the day upgrades and it’s often full.

You could try an inflatable foot rest like this - I've used one on planes and it allows a toddler to stretch out their legs so they can sleep properly. Although I would agree with a pp and say that a daytime trip would be better, we've done plenty of 5+ hour train journeys with under 5s and with toys, snacks, stickers, books, tablet, it's been fine.

amzn.eu/d/j2Foll4

I have sometimes been able to leave my baby in the buggy on a train, but once when travelling from Edinburgh to London I was specifically asked to fold it up (may have been LNER, can't remember), because it was their policy for safety reasons. The guard explained how much worse it would be with the baby in the buggy rather than on a seat if there was a high-speed crash, which was fair enough really. (I tend to gamble on there not being a high-speed crash, but I can see from their perspective that they would rather not be liable).

Anyway: 3 year olds are all different, but we have actually found that ours is just fine for a long train journey - we've done up to 7 hours (different trains) and we don't even need to crack out the ipad+headphones combo till well after the first few hours. Trains are exciting if they don't get to go on them very often. It's a bit like a short-haul flight, but easier because you can get up and walk around, go to the toilet more easily etc. We tend to bring some books, sticker books, colouring etc. and lots of snacks. I'd be tempted to go for a daytime train and not try and get him to sleep.

Also you may find it is better value to get a friends and family railcard. We often buy a child ticket even if we don't think we need the seat, because you then get the discount on your own ticket as well.

Where would you put an unfolded pram? You can't do it, basically.

Reporting back in case this is useful to future travellers! Booked a standard pair of seats using a friends and family Railcard. Loads of space. Could easily have popped the carseat in DS's seat for naps if needed (rear facing for stability). But I'd bought an inflatable airline cushion for his legspace, and that did the job brilliantly. Had the pram but there was, as people said, zero space, so that went in the luggage rack.
We got to kings cross early and asked which platform the train went from so we'd have time to fold and stow stuff before the crowds arrived. DS was down within an hour and a half, and I rigged a giant muslin up between the seat back and ready table as a shade to help him sleep. 3 hours with wine and a book (they do indeed deliver to seat). Idyllic.