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

Have a good supply of snacks and entertainment to keep little people occupied!

Haven't taken my newborn on a train yet but I think I would want to be really well planned and resourced for every possible contingency.

Top tip is that whilst Friends and Family travel cards are big money savers once your children are over 5, you can also use them to book seats for younger children, which costs virtually nothing. When we did a return train trip to Glasgow with a three year old, the cost of a specially purchased F&F annual card, two adult and one child ticket was slightly cheaper than just buying two adult tickets at full price, and DS got his own reserved seat which is a big bonus on a six hour journey.

We pack a fun picnic, know exactly where we are going in advance and make train bingo sheets so that we can enjoy the scenery whilst playing a game at the same time.

Things to do on the journey - colouring books, little travel games etc are always the best

Always make sure you book seats.. and watch the numbering as one time my friend booked the seats with a table and the numbering was so odd she'd actually booked 2 seats on either side of the aisle, luckily a couple swapped.
Take snacks and drinks and I find a book for reading aloud, colouring books and a note pad are essentials

Card games like Whot! and Dobble are great for train journeys!

Snacks and drinks are also essential.

We also like to look at Google Maps on my phone during the journey (when we get near our destination) to see what landmarks are nearby.

plan, prepare, and presict what will happen. \you need snacks, and drinks ( but not too many ). Lots of ( quiet ) activities, try audio books

happily my son is a bookworm so as long as he has his kindle he is happy for hours

We always take puzzle books and snacks on train journeys, the time flies by :)

we take some snacks and usually a game of sorts like top trumps as this will keep the kids entertained on the journey

Book months in advance otherwise it is totally unaffordable and much cheaper by car!

I don't go by train often with my kids but when we do they are enjoying the trip so they don't need any other entertainment. It's generally only 1-2hr trips so we don't take any food, if it's hot/summer, then I might take a bottle of water. I personally don't think it takes any more organising than any other form of transport - in fact easier as I don't need to concentrate on driving :)

I travel monthly to see family with my daughter so I've had a bit of trial and error to perfect this-

1. Ensure that you book seats...and that they are next to each other. Then have you child sit near the window (If they are like mine, they fidget a lot and could be a distraction for other passengers)
2. Bring travel size snacks, sweets and drinks...even if you've eaten bring them in case there are any unexpected delays
3. Bring an activity backpack. Mine has plain paper, pencils, a colouring book, small toys, a tablet (loaded with cartoons and a few games) and headphones
4. Let your child help pack the activity backpack, that way they are more excited and focused on what is within it :)
5. Breathe

Take our own food and drinks as stations are so expensive
Try not to have to change if possible
Get a table seat (near the loo!)
If it's quite a long journey we take colouring books too

Play games to pass the time. E.g. spotting different things out of the window.

lots of snacks, card games, comics and i spy games make train journeys much more exciting and bearable. Also the portable cushion for tired little ones to sleep on the way back.

Book online and use railcards to keep prices low!

Take your own drinks and snacks

We take food and drinks with us , and an essential thing I have found to take with me is an iPad the DCs And Dds can watch films and play games or look up were we are going and things we can do ,I always think it’s best to travel as light as possible so we don’t take toys as the children never want to carry them around so we opt for a pack of playing cards or good old fashioned ISPY as long as I bring food drink and entertainment the children are happy

Having all the allergy free foods packed well in advance. Ipads are also useful

My kids love going on the train so much they just talk it out lol but i always take their Ipads and plenty of drinks and snacks incase.

Book in advance for seat reservations. Card games and picnic.

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.

rarely travel by train, too expensive