Quick question

[Middleagedmotheroftwo]

If you were currently sitting in a car outside a station waiting for your DD (18) to arrive on train from London, and she just texted you to say she'll be late because train delayed (stuck behind another train further up the line).
You don't know how late, but you have to be in work at 8.30 tomorrow morning, would you wait or tell her to get a taxi the 8 miles home when she arrives?

There are huge problems on the trains tonight - one set on fire near Doncaster or similar. It might be ages.

You will have to give her the money for the taxi!

I'd have waited. What happened?

I'd've said 'taxi'. Hope she's ok and you got some sleep.

I waited. The train arrived at about 1am in the end, so only about 30 mins late. She'd thought it would be a lot later.

The train was stopped at Didcot when she texted me, I was waiting at Swindon.

DD was fine, though a bit squiffy!

I would have waited too...

I'd have waited.

DH said to let her get a taxi, before I'd even left the house.

She's only 18 though, and not particulary mature, and a girl was murdered by a taxi driver in Swindon not long ago (not that that was going to happen, but the station isn't in a particularly salubrious part of town).

When my sister 18 my dad would pick her up from a club at 2am to make sure she got home ok....(obviously she wanted him to, although he would get out of the car in his stripy dressing gown to add a touch of embarrassment as the revellers walked past....

I think if there's a risk and you can minimise it, why not... its not wrapping them in cotton wool, its just showing you care.... and no doubt her 'squiffy' conversation on the way home brought some amusement!

I often travel on that London to Swindon service.
Swindon station is a horrible place to be stranded late at night.
You did the right thing, waiting for her.

Is this likely to happen again ? Can you put a contingency plan in place just in case ?

Hi Travelled - it's not a regular thing, no. This was very much a one off (I hope).

We're in RWB, so it's not too far to get home, but taxis at that time of night are expensive, as well as the fact that I don't want her wandering round that area on her own.

There were loads of taxis at the station though - so she would have been able to walk out of the door straight into one.

Another option would be to find a taxi company with drivers that you know or really trust. Perhaps someone employs a woman driver ? Make sure she has their phone number in her phone for future use in an emergency.

Travel safe !

If she was on her own at that time of night, then I'd have waited.