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Welcome to our UK travel forum where you can get advice on everything from holidays to exotic destinations, to tips on London travel.

Original poster

Train travel with under 5’s

33 replies

Rhilou · 23/02/2022 09:07

Hi,
I’m travelling from Clapham Junction to Cranbrook (Devon) next week with my 4 year old and 21 month old (in a pushchair).

I had previously booked a ticket for me and my daughter only to be told that seating was free for all and we wouldn’t get specific seats. However, if I change my tickets to first class, does anyone know if I would have to book a ticket for my 4 year daughter? Never done a train journey with them before so quite daunting! Any advice would be much appreciated.

OP posts:
emmathedilemma · 23/02/2022 13:00

I did a dummy booking for an adult and a child in first class on that route and it says that seat reservations aren't available so it looks like there's no reservations at all. If you've bought an advance ticket then it won't be changeable, you'd have to buy new tickets.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 23/02/2022 13:05

Do you have the tickets for this journey already? (Not sure if you mean last time you travelled the seats were a free for all, or for this journey)

If not, look at getting a Family railcard.. you can save a lot.

Original poster
Rhilou · 23/02/2022 13:21

Thank you for your responses! I saw from my email confirmation that seats aren’t allocated so I called and got a refund for my daughters ticket as I only booked her one for peace of mind that she’d have a seat. Yes it’s advanced but luckily GWR are offering free changes up to the day before. It’s a 9:30am journey so I thought i’d have better luck us all getting a seat in first class. However, I thought as my kids won’t have a ticket they could be asked to move. I was hoping I could keep my buggy up but I’ll be asked to collapse it by staff. My 21 month will be all over the place!

OP posts:
Original poster
Rhilou · 23/02/2022 13:25

Thanks for your response. How long ago, what time and was it busy? I’ve got a 20min window to change trains when I get to Clapham junction and have to use the lifts. Would you say that’s enough time? Sorry for the all questions! It’s because I’m doing it solo I want to be as prepared as possible.

OP posts:
emmathedilemma · 23/02/2022 13:32

20 min is quite generous for changing trains. If you've got a pushchair then I would put most of your stuff in a backpack so you've got hands free to push it and can carry it onto/off the train. Put the 4yr old some entertainment (poundland type shops can be useful for travel colouring / stickers etc) and snacks in a small backpack that she can manage.
Avoid lots of lose bits n bobs that you'll need to carry separately. Hopefully people won't let you struggle and will offer help with bags / pram to get on and off.
Get 2 seats together, put the 4 yr old by the window, the toddler in the middle and body block them in on the aisle!
Drop any rules you have about screen time.

Original poster
Rhilou · 23/02/2022 13:43

Thanks so much for all the tips! Would you recommend first class? I’ve been advised there is no trolley service because of covid!

OP posts:
emmathedilemma · 23/02/2022 13:49

I'm not familiar with 1st class on those trains, some aren't worth the extra money as it's just the end of a standard class carriage with sliding doors across and if there's no trolley service then you're not going to get free drinks and snacks either! I'd suggest that people might be less tolerant of small children in 1st class too.
ah, interesting item in the "mums to be" section www.southwesternrailway.com/travelling-with-us/assisted-travel/accessibility
I would have a look on the website and see if it mentions baby changing facilities. I think these are often only in the disabled toilet so it would be worth checking this if you might need to do a nappy change and find a seat nearby.

xxxsuper · 23/02/2022 13:59

You can book the seats for the second leg of the journey so try and play about with it, booking separately might be your answer.

xxxsuper · 23/02/2022 14:01

Wait, maybe I have made a mistake - you say you are travelling from Clapham junction but also you have a change of train there?

From your initial post I got the change at Woking

Original poster
Rhilou · 23/02/2022 14:13

I have booked my tickets separately to make it cheaper so 2 trains in total. However, GWR have said seats cannot be reserved on the Clapham Junction to Cranbrook service unfortunately Confused

OP posts:
Original poster
Rhilou · 23/02/2022 14:14

Thanks! I have contacted them to find out where the baby changing toilets are located on the train. Will defiantly want to be close to that!

OP posts:
xxxsuper · 23/02/2022 14:23

Sorry ignore me I misread the whole thing Blush

UnderripeBanana · 23/02/2022 14:53

Clapham junction takes a while for changes so 20 min is fairly tight but should be ok. There are lifts everywhere.

Don't bother with first class they'll be cross with noise. Get a table seat with a socket ideally near a toilet.

Get a family and friends railcard and do buy your 4yo a ticket, it's cheaper for you both to have one with the railcard than just you with none.

On the train where you don't have a reservation someone will always offer you a seat so you can be together. Whoever you sit next to will probably quickly move elsewhere anyway, especially men.

It'll be fine! Take an iPad and sticker books - and try and spread them out with snacks - and if you get a whole table it'll be almost fun.

Solasum · 23/02/2022 14:55

Take a picnic rug and try and sit in the space for wheelchairs, if disused. Let child play on floor with small toys. Easy to scoop up if someone else needs the space

Legoisthebest · 23/02/2022 15:02

Great Western Railway don't go through Clapham Junction so I am confused about which route you are doing.
Clapham can be quite difficult for changing trains with small children and a pushchair plus luggage. Sometimes the gap to get off the train is massive. There are lifts but the station as a whole gets very crowded and you have to wait for a lift to be free.
GWR usually go from Paddington. Where is your starting point?

xxxsuper · 23/02/2022 15:07

Yes I was also confused but concluded I read something wrong! I thought it was southwestern that OP would be travelling with

Legoisthebest · 23/02/2022 15:08

Oh sorry.... it's SWR (South Western Railway) you will be using. This means the train will start at Waterloo. If you can start your journey from Waterloo (one stop before Clapham Junction) it will be a lot lot easier. As the train starts there you have more time to get on the train so can find the best seats for you without having to rush.
But this depends on your starting point if Waterloo is easy for you to get too.

Original poster
Rhilou · 23/02/2022 16:05

Sorry I got confused with GWR and SWR! I’d have to change at Clapham junction to get to Waterloo. Like you say, have been better if we could start the journey at beginning of the line!

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Legoisthebest · 23/02/2022 16:24

I would maybe recommend having more than 20 minutes for changing trains then. It sounds crazy but I have always preferred having to sometimes wait longer at Clapham than rushing with finding platform/getting in the lift/getting caught up with the crowds etc.
I've changed trains billions of times at Clapham (with pushchair and now wheelchair) and the calmer the changeover the better. If you struggle to get off the train at Clapham because of the gap don't be afraid to stand in the train doorway and yell LOUDLY "I need some help getting off the train please". There is always platform staff and they are pretty much always very helpful.
Hopefully the children will find it all an exciting adventure. Hope it goes well.

xxxsuper · 23/02/2022 16:25

OP why do you have to change train at Clapham junction if you are travelling from Clapham junction?

Original poster
Rhilou · 23/02/2022 19:44

Thank you! I would like to give myself more times between trains but means I’d have to get the earlier busier commuter train from where I live to Clapham, it’s a tricky one! The gap is definitely something that is concerning me, hopefully I can get some help off the train. Makes me feel better to hear that you’ve done it many times Smile

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emmathedilemma · 23/02/2022 20:41

Don’t be afraid to ask if you need help!
I’m always cautious of offering to assist people who look like they might need it because I don’t want them to feel patronised or that I might be a child snatcher! Hopefully no one will stand and watch you struggle but don’t be shy of asking someone to lift the buggy off while you wrangle the toddler. Get yourselves ready and by the door before the train arrives into Clapham junction - buggy folded, toddler in arms and 4yr old primed to wait until you can help them off. Bag on your back, toddler under arm, ideally find a nice helpful person to lift buggy onto the platform for you. Get yourself onto the platform and then help the older one down the step and over the gap.

Original poster
Rhilou · 24/02/2022 20:08

Thank you for your help! In my mind I thought it would be easier to keep baby in the pushchair but I’m guessing the gap is so
big it could be unsafe? I think there will be plenty of commuters so there should be plenty of people to ask for help.

OP posts:
foobio · 24/02/2022 20:17

20 mins is plenty of time to change at Clapham, check the live departures on national rail app to see what platform you need to go to as the information boards are hard to find at clapham. For the lifts you need to head to the bridge end of the platform (not the underpass end). Since you're leaving London there will be plenty of space on the train. Check with station staff that the train doesn't divide at Salisbury - if it does you'll need to be in a certain part of the train. I agree with the pp that the wheelchair space on the train has lots of space for the pram if it is available, again platform staff can tell you which carriage / end of the train it will be.

foobio · 24/02/2022 20:20

And for getting off with pushchair, l strap baby in, and step down backwards. 4yo is under strict instruction to wait in the doorway for me to hold their hand to jump down. Always plenty of people around happy to help!