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Train Travel with young baby

10 replies

AMR73 · 18/04/2013 16:05

I am hoping to have a couple of days away with my baby (9 weeks old) so called into our local train station to ask about travel. My carrycot is lie flat and I was told that although children travel free, would need to book two seats to accomodate the carrycot (so that he can sleep in it during the journey). The pram base folds up and I was told that it would need to be stored in the luggage area- I am not keen on the idea of people putting cases etc on top of it. Why is it that disabled people and cyclists are given space on the train for their wheelchairs and bicycles but mums treated like second-class citizens? Am I being unreasonable? Would be interested to hear of other mums' experiences of train travel.

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HazeltheMcWitch · 18/04/2013 16:10

YABU.
Firstly, tell me that you're not really equating being a wheelchair user with having a child in a pushchair...? Really?

And re cyclists - they can't take their bikes on every train. Sometimes they have to book/avoid peak times/put bike in a different carriage.

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givemeaclue · 18/04/2013 16:48

Put the carrycot and base in the luggage rack as luggage and have baby in a sling.

Yabu re wheelchair users.

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givemeaclue · 18/04/2013 16:50

Bikes are normally in the goods carriage ,you don't see them on the seats do you?!

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AMR73 · 18/04/2013 22:46

Thanks for your replies. I have no problem with wheelchair users and cyclists having allocated spaces on trains. My "issue" is why can't the train companies also provide a space for prams. (I haven't been on a train for many years, so maybe things have improved for mums but the response from the British Rail worker didn't fill me with confidence...).

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Lonecatwithkitten · 18/04/2013 23:05

A seat booking is £1 so to book two seats would cost £2 each way considering that prevents them for booking full price passengers in those seats that's not a bad deal.
Personally I would and did put the whole pram in the luggage rack and had babe on my knee not unlike on an aeroplane.

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givemeaclue · 19/04/2013 09:23

Perhaps travelling with baby is not for you, hundreds of other people manage to get buggies and babies onto trains, buses and tubes every day. But he putting buggy in luggage rack is insurmountable then you either don't take buggy or don't go on train. Nb I thing some wheelchair users sit in their wheelchairq on the train, assume you won't be sitting in buggy?

That said, I haven't ever seen a wheelchair user on a train so imagine its actually very difficult travelling on a train with a wheelchair.

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doublecakeplease · 19/04/2013 09:29

Imagine if every mum (do dads not travel by train??) on the train wanted a space for her pram - what would your cut off point be?? Toddler? 4 year old? A sling is your friend. Do you definitely need the pram at the other end?? My brother did a bike ride which started at the other end of the country. He booked his bike onto a 'packages' type carriage - would this be an option?? Are you travelling alone?

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bruffin · 19/04/2013 09:36

i travelled regularly on a train with two little ones sometimes with a double buggy. Long journeys I paid for a childs ticket so i could book seats and there was always space to leave the buggy at the end of the corridor that wasnt blocking anything etc

My only problem is that the station 10 minute walk from us had a lot of stairs and no other access, so i walked half an hour to another station where there was a level crossing and i could easily get to the train.

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ChunkyPickle · 19/04/2013 09:43

I think you're overblowing this in your head - it's just a train!

If it's a long journey you don't really want the whole pram with you anyhow, and booking 2 seats if you want your baby to lie flat seems reasonable (just like on a plane)

If it's a short journey don't you just do what everyone else does and park the baby/pram (depending on if asleep) in the vestibule bit by the doors then sit in the seats right close so you can see/stand next to the pram?

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AMR73 · 19/04/2013 14:03

Many thanks for comments and advice!

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