NOW CLOSED Do you travel by train with a child in a buggy? Take part in a short survey and win £200 of high street vouchers

[KatieBMumsnet]

We've been asked to find out what you think about travelling by train with a child/children in a buggy/pushchair. Please take a few minutes to share your views and experiences by filling in the survey below. 

The survey is open to all UK Mumsnetters who have travelled by train with at least one child who uses a buggy/pushchair in the past four months. 

If you would like to take part in the survey, please click here.

Everyone who takes part will be entered into a prize draw, where one MNer will win £200 of high street vouchers.

Thanks and good luck with the prize draw!

MNHQ

[Tortington]

i think its so expensive to travel by train that i could hire a golden coach.

today cost me over £50 to travel peak time to london return

what a rip

as you were

[Kveta]

can't complain about NX East Anglia, but my child is a bloody nuisance on all forms of transport. I'm taking him into London next week, and slightly dreading it!

(As an aside, that may be the last survey I can tick the 25-29 age group box :( )

[Petrean]

I have dreadful south west trains experiences, they are horrendous.

[Pascha]

Thank goodness I don't have to do a train journey more than twice a year. I hate it. Shame my son doesn't.

[NormanTheForeman]

Can you take part even if your child is no longer pushchair age, but you used to travel with a child in pushchair?

[Pozzled]

I hate hate hate taking a buggy on trains. We're going away tomorrow but I'm hoping to stick to a sling...

[nancerama]

First Great Western services are impossible to even board! The carriages are raised above the platform at quite a height, and the platform staff rarely help to lift a buggy because it's not their job.

[TheOtherHelenMumsnet]

Not sure Norman - will get back to you!

[ednurse]

I've entered. Do have some troubles with trains but unfortunately the only way to get into London!

[TheOtherHelenMumsnet]

Norman - it's open to all UK MNers who've travelled by train with a child in a buggy in the past 4 months, so if it was longer ago than that, I'm afraid you're not eligible to take part this time.

[NormanTheForeman]

That counts us out then - ds is 11!

[RaisingEmbers]

I've entered. Breastfeeding a 10 week old baby sat on the floor of the train at the end by the toilets because the aisle was too narrow for pram, plus there were no seats.

[cherrybird1978]

I havent done it by buggy, but wheelchair is a nightmare, I think I would rather take a car/taxi/bus before I try that again with either wheelchair or buggy

[Petrean]

Been there Embers and immediately after feed he did an enormous poo and I had to change him on the floor by the doors because on my 5 carriage train with 5 toilets not one was working and they were actually locked.

The 'helpful' guard sat in his little cubicle reading his paper gave me a filthy look.

[BrianButterfield]

I've taken DS on trains a few times - if there's nobody in the wheelchair space it's OK but if there is, it's a nightmare. Obviously don't mind wheelchairs having priority, but I had a pram I couldn't fold and they took the seats out of the bike spot at the end of the carriage so I couldn't even sit there. Had to stand, swaying, trying to keep hold of the pram. Not good.

[Petrean]

My worst experience with them was when travelling to London; my local station had two platforms and to get to the London side I have to climb up loads of stairs and cross over the platform by bridge.

I was on my own and no one offered to help so I asked an employee to help me, she said 'No' apparently you have to get on the train on the wrong platform, travel by train for 20 minutes in the wrong direction until you get to a station with a lift and come back again. I told her to stop being ridiculous, she said 'People in wheelchairs do it so I don't see why you shouldn't!'

That's not the bloody point, people in wheelchairs shouldn't have to do it!!!! I complained heavily, they built lift access a few months ago, I like to think my complaint went someway to making it happen!

[EquestrianStatue]

We travel by train a lot (I don't drive) but I usually time it to avoid busy trains, and usually get the slow one of poss as I know there's more chance the bike/wheelchair area will be free. Northern Rail are great for this.

I used to travel to London on Virgin quite frequently and they were SHITE for using with a pushchair. I would fold my buggy but there'd be no bloody place to put it - had to leave it in the vestibule. And they always smelt of hot piss.

[chocolateyclur]

Done

[Lovelyboobs]

I sometimes forget how awful it is and take DS on the train on a day trip. We inevitably end up stuck on the fold-down seat by the exit because there's nowhere else for the buggy to go. The carriages are so grotty, I feel dirty from just being there.

[foolserrand]

Petrean, that is exactly the issue at our closest station. I naively hoped we were the only one.

[boredandrestless]

I filled in the survey as despite my son being 7 years old, we travel with a special needs pushchair. He LOVES train journeys, I hate the pushing and shoving to get on the train, then trying to fit my long, folded pushchair into the storage area, then trying to find us a seat together, usually at the opposite end of the train to where I have had to cram his pushchair meaning I am then worrying for the whole journey that someone will take it off the train with them when they stop at their station without me seeing. It could be a more pleasant experience!

[FourThousandHoles]

My biggest bugbear is changing facilities onboard trains. I had to change my 2yo's nappy (mucky not just wet) with her slithering on my knee in one of those tiny toilet cubicles last time we went by train.

Grim.

[AuntingCarse]

Done. I am looking forward to the day I no longer need to travel with child and buggy on the train. The only time it's not a bore is on the short hop into Victoria station for us - where staff at my local station are a delight and more than happy to help when needed. Clapham Junction on the other hand wins the award for the least helpful staff in the WORLD.

[KnittingNovice]

Done

[RunsWithScissors]

Done. Not too bad for me, but only because dh and I do the trips together. Can't imagine doing it solo.

Both he and I have always helped people with their buggies when out in London, hoping it's good karma if I ever need it