Train Journey

[raspberrytart]

Hi,tomorrow I am taking my autistic son on a train journey from Cumbria to Leominster,it will take 3 hours with a change over at Crewe.We will be visiting my lovely cousin and his partner and staying for 2 nights.
My ds is aware of this trip and wanting to go NOW!
He is 'Thomas' mad and have got the lap top and dvd's etc
Does anyone have any pearls of wisdom to ensure sanity prevails?
My cousin has sorted assistance with bags etc at each stop and reserved power points,window seats and a table.
Thanks

Take lots of food to keep him quiet!
I often travel with my DSs on the train (1 HFA, 1AS, 1NT) and they seem to eat/drink way more than normal!
Don't take cars (they always roll off the tables).
Don't let your DS 'skateboard' over the gap between the carriages (the guard tells them off .
Be prepared to walk up and down and up and down and...
Don't know if they do it out of school holidays but some train companies offer kids packs behind the buffet.
Books and colouring - although again be careful as the pens do tend to roll off the tables.
My DSs do like to 'hide' in the luggage compartment bits if the trains aren't too busy, particularly the ones between the seats. (So be prepared to get filthy).
Something to cover their ears with when trains move in and out the stations.

Make sure portable dvds, laptops and Nintendos are charged in full before the journey.

I travelled with 3 of my children (1 ASD) and reserved a table seat, near power points. When we boarded the train, our actual reserved seats were across the aisle from each other, no table or power points! No conductor to complain to and train was packed.

I had warned ASD son that it would be a long journey but he cried at every single station that we stopped at. People moved seats to get away from us .

However, it sounds like you've planned what you can and I hope you have a better experience than we did. (Obviously take plenty of drinks and snacks so you're not paying the silly prices on the train).

Good luck. Hopefully, he'll be staring out the window in wonder and you'll get the seats you booked.

I did a similar journey (including change at Crewe!) two weeks ago, with lots of trepidation. My DD (2.4) was suprisingly good, esp. when she started watching the DVD player we got specially for the trip. Great that you have that.

A warning: be prepared that (as TalesOTUnexp says above) they may NOT have given you the things that have been reserved ie table etc. We tried this too, and didn't get them. Hope you DO get them of course, but it might be helpful to imagine how to deal with things if not. My DD is just 2, but was booked across the aisle from me on one of the trains, next to another passenger...

Also: the air-con on our trains had broken, so it was excessively hot (no windows of course, so you could literally smell the air, full of sweat and not much oxygen...) - so just in case - have lots of water with you (a portable fan?) & be ready to strip down DS clothing.

Lastly: our DD reacted much more to the sound of the station announcer (maybe pitch/tone of voice) while on platforms (we had 3 changes of train) than she did to the intensely loud trains running through. The train noise she didn't like, but the station announcer voice made her burst into tears & become v distressed. So be aware of that, just in case your DS is the same.

I hope your journey goes really well - v impressed you've got assistance with bags etc - that's brilliant & should really help - changing trains with luggage & pram was the worst bit & quite stressful.

sorry I don't have any positive advice, but here is my info anyway. Good Luck!