As the Summer holidays have officially kicked off, many people will be looking for family days out for their children. At Trainbox, we’re always giving tips on the best things to do!
Whilst the idea may sound good, we also know travelling with little ones can be quite stressful. Here are Trainbox’s top tips for travelling with children on the train to make your trip as smooth as possible.
Plan your journey
It’s important to plan your journey when travelling by train, especially with children. This helps you avoid those annoying delays and cancellations that could leave you standing at the train station platform whilst your kids become tiresome.
Using Trainbox’s Track Your Train, you can check your journey for the next available trains and track where they are on the route and if they are delayed or if your journey will be disrupted.
Children under 5 travel for free
Children under 5 can travel for free on all UK trains, but they do come without a seat reservation meaning they may have to sit on your lap if the train gets busy.
Family Railcards can also be useful if your children are over 5, providing you 33% off all adult tickets and 60% off children tickets when you are all travelling together. It also only costs £30 for a year, which can easily be saved!
Arrive with time
Nobody wants to miss a train, especially as it means you may have to pay for new tickets! Arrive with plenty of time, and use lifts if you have buggys.
Pack your entertainment
You may want to bring a tablet to watch a movie with your kids, but remember headphones to respect the other passengers. You could also pack a colouring book with pens, or even stop at the station to purchase a book or other fun things to entertain your little ones.
What to do if you are separated
Getting separated from your child is a frightening experience for everyone involved.
If you’re separated from your child on the same train, alert a member of train staff immediately.
If your child is left on the platform and the train leaves with the doors locked, pull the emergency stop device by the door. The train will stop and the doors will unlock.
If your child is on the train but you are left on the platform, do your best to make this known to the driver. If this doesn’t work, speak to a member of staff at the station’s help point. Arrangements will be made to reconnect you both and on-board staff will look after your child.
