Mumsnet users hare with Trainline their top tips for travelling by train

[EllieMumsnet]

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Travelling on the train with your family for a day out, especially if you have little ones, can feel like a daunting experience, but it doesn’t have to be; the train journey can be an exciting part of the day out adventure for you and your DC’s and not just a way to get there. To help make sure this is the case for you and your family, Trainline would like you to share your top tips for travelling by train on family days out.

Here’s what Trainline have to say: “We’re always trying to make travel simple, giving our customers information they can count on. And planning a day out with the kids is one scenario where the simpler and more predictable the better. As it’s winter we’ve been thinking about the best ways to get out the house for some fresh air, without breaking your budget. We’ve come up with some “wild” train trips to zoos and animal parks across the UK which are perfect for letting off some steam (for you and your DC’s!).”

Do you research the stations that are on your journey beforehand so you can tell your DC’s fun facts about them? Do you use mobile tickets? Perhaps you pack a great picnic full of their favourite foods to keep everyone happy? Maybe you pack fun, entertaining games to play on the journey? Or do you keep them distracted by talking about all the things you’re going to get up to you on your day out?

Whatever your top tips are, please share them on the thread below to be entered into a prize draw where on MNer will win a £300 voucher of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck
MNHQ

Standard Insight T&Cs apply

For a long journey, we download a movie or favourite tv shows on iPad and use a headphone splitter so more than one of us can watch it together. (I hate it when people play sound in public without headphones, it’s so intrusive.)
Card games are also a winner.
Bringing along water and favourite snacks is also part of the fun.

yes, plenty of snacks and drinks. pens and paper, ipad/phone and discardable magazines

We like to travel by train as it allows us as a family to enjoy the trip. When we do I always pack snacks and plenty of water. Along with some trusted card games it means we can have some family time. and it is usually fairly relaxed until we arrive at our destination!

So much easier with a table seat. Mixture of books, electronics, cards and colouring. Variety usually works and having enough different things to do to match the attention span!

Look on the journey as part of the day out - don't fear it. Take plenty of drinks and snacks. Allow your dcs to choose a magazine of their choice in the newsagents at the station (or in advance if necessary) so that they have a treat to look forward to. Encourage them to learn the knack of falling asleep while travelling Both of these will help pass the time of a train journey - and give you time to read your magazine!

We use Scotrail's "children go free" deal which is great - up to two kids travel free off peak with a paying adult. Also definitely a yes to grabbing a table when you can and breaking the journey where possible.

getting a friends and family railcard has been a lifesaver! We travel a lot and always take:

• snacks
• ipads loaded up with games/bookes
• colouring books and pencils
• a cuddly toy

Any more than this and you end up with too much stuff to cart around. We tend to ban screens the week before travelling then let them watch/play as much as they like en route...peace and quiet!

Shorter journeys then maybe we limit screen time but without fail never go on any journey without snacks!

The train journey is part of the adventure out!

we need to take drinks, paper and a few colouring pens/pencils, a couple of books. Knowing where you are going at the other end is also useful, particularly when going into big trainstations like London Bridge where there's multiple exits, knowing which exit to look for so you are on the right road to head to where you are going is a must!

I would like to say prepare food before hand - but in reality we never do this and end up buying from one of the expensive coffee shops.

Letting the kids choose their own magazines works well for us too.

I psyche myself up and give myself a good pre-talk on how to deal with narky children haters (passengers) & then I do my bit and make sure I have everything possible in my bag that I can pull out to diffuse any situation where my Children become loud or distressed for any reason - pens, paper, fruit, drinks!! I am always ready!!

lots of snacks and travel games and seeing the journey as some quality 1 to 1 time together which there is so rarely time for in life. Don't get stressed by delays just allow plenty of time and go with the flow.

Make sure you book a table seat, so plenty of room for "things".
Take plenty of snacks and drinks.
When my daughter was younger, we always used to read lots of Thomas the Tank Engine books in the days before our journey!
I used to use those books of vouchers to attractions in London where you got a discount if you travelled by train. Haven't seen those for a while now, which is a shame.
Don't book seats in the Quiet Carriage, as you may get stressed when the children start to make a noise, and it will annoy other passengers who are trying to work/read in peace!

Planning and preparation.

Book your seats, near end of carriage, table, near a plug socket for charging. Games, books, money for snacks if the train sells them or bring your own.

Pokemon hunting or geocaching at any train stations while waiting for trains kills the time.

We love travelling with our DC & they love the train. We find that lots of snacks, a pencil & paper & their tablets keep them occupied (with headphones of course). They don't usually play on their tablets so this is a special treat for them. We also like walking up the train to find the buffet car, if there is one.

I haven't read every single post but opened this hoping to get some tips for a trip I'll be taking in half term. To say I'm underwhelmed would be an understatement, I hope the Trainline haven't had to pay much for such tips as take plenty of snacks, get a table and have some toys

Always book in advance, not only are the tickets cheaper but you get a guaranteed seat, a must if travelling with a baby

Leave plenty of time, I never do and always end up running into the train

Toys, ring plenty, I love the ones that's stick onto the table so that my son can't chuck them all over the carriage

Snacks, bring a whole box and more!!!!

Always plan ahead, pre book tickets to get a table and research the stations so you know your way around.
Pack a little bag the kids can carry themselves with some snacks, a drink and something to keep them occupied
Spend the journey talking about your plans for the day, will help them feel involved and build excitement for the day

We like to tick off the stations as we pass them en route to our destination.
Snacks and drinks.
Window seat.

We absolutely love Train journeys with the kids!.
We always order tickets online, so that we arrive at the Station in plenty of time to collect tickets and watch the other trains pass by.
We always pack a little bag, which consists of juice, dry snacks (bread sticks, fruit, raisins etc), wet wipes. Crayola sets with pens and paper are also a good help!. We take the iPad to take pictures of all the different stations and landmarks, so we can print and put in our memory book xx

Avoid peak times and changing trains at busy stations if possible. Keep up to date with train times by downloading the train line app on to a smart phone .

I would do a countdown to our destination if i had kids in tow. Taking a map or printing out an itinerary and using it to count down the stations to our destination, pointing out fun things along the way. It keeps everyone engaged.

Pre-booked seats with a table, a picnic, and some games. I always try to book direct trains as well. Nothing makes a toddler move more slowly than walking through a train station to catch a connecting train

Wear headphones.

We've travelled many times by train over the years.| always reserve seats and take treats and water on the train. My DC love trains and are both desperate to sit by the window. We sometime park at the station and that makes life much easier on the way home. I think that card games like UNO and Dobble are great for train journeys.

We make sure that we book a table seat and because there is 3 of us, we usually have it to ourselves! I make sure that my son's ipad is charged and that we have lots of snacks and drinks