Travelling alone (2) - your SON

[whole diary]

[grahame]

This is the second of two polls asking at what age you would let your SON travel alone by train for the first time.  This is a "present day" question; the first poll asked about when you first travelled alone by train, and I'm looking (on that one) for historic data.

[Mookiemoo]

I can't answer but I will poll some friends and answer on their behalf

[eightf48544]

In my case it was when.

I took him on a train to Reading and put him on an XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) (47/8) to Southampton Central where he was met by his Great Aunt.

Although I travelled alone at 10 I think I would leave it to 12 nowadays for two reasons, on many lines there are no Guards and many stations unmanned.

[inspector_blakey]

put him on an XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) (47/8) to Southampton Central

Them's were the days! And I'm not event that old...

[broadgage]

I can not afford any kids, but if I did have any, I would consider that a fairly young child, aged perhaps 10, could make a simple rail journey on their own.
I dont think that the distance is very important but the complexity is, and I would be a little doubtful about a younger child having to change trains owing to the risks of delays and lost connections etc.
A long but simple and direct trip such as Paddington to Plymouth, no problem for a sensible kid.
The general availability of cellphones is a very considerable advantage as the child may seek advice or keep parents informed in the event of delay, diversion, extreme weather etc.

[thetrout]

Erm... I'm probably a bit young to have kids

But I would say if they took after me in any way. I would have no problems starting with a simple journey from the beginning of a double figure age

*edit* - Moved my other comment to a more appropriate thread which I didn't spot before posting

[grahame]

Just two more days to go on this poll ... will all you "weekend only" types vote, please 

[Chris from Nailsea]

My son (who shares none of my interest in trains) has shown himself to be perfectly competent in travelling from NLS on his own - with an appropriate 'health and safety' briefing from me, obviously! - from the age of 12.

CfN 

[Mookiemoo]

And here is a question - would the answers be any different if it was about your DAUGHTER

[Chris from Nailsea]

Of course it would - but that wasn't the purpose of the poll! 

[Mookiemoo]

No - but since im a bolshy cow I would seriously object to being treated different!  I may impose my own safety rules - and did even at 14 - but I railed at my parents for imposing them on me

[grahame]

And here is a question - would the answers be any different if it was about your DAUGHTER

Why not start a poll 

I had a specific reason for asking the question as I did (and, yes, I thought "daughter" too) ... I don't want to influence anyone, so I'll leave my explanation until after this poll closes.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Erm ... just out of idle curiosity on my part, Mookiemoo: are you saying that you became a bolshy cow from the age of 14? 

[Mookiemoo]

Erm ... just out of idle curiosity on my part, Mookiemoo: are you saying that you became a bolshy cow from the age of 14? 

Think I was born that way but I remember it was the first time I argued back properly with my parents - I looked over 15 (I looked older than I was as a teenager and now look younger than I am - I think I an frozen in stasis) - want to go see beetlejuice with a boyfriend - they had no issue with me going to see a 15 but did have with me getting a train from  orrell park to liverpool central on a sat night.  I did the teenager strop and stormed off anyway

[Mookiemoo]

here is the results....

link here

http://www.weightwatchers.co.uk/community/mbd/post.aspx?page_size=25&rownum=6&threadpage_no=1&sincedate=04%2f02%2f2011+00%3a00%3a00&thread_id=38114901&board_id=480&forum_id=1&thread_name=Q+for+another+forum+I+use+-+to+parents+of+sons&mod_no=&daterange=2days&viewchange=LASTPOSTDESC

yeah - its a bunch of fat women but its a public googlable forum so copying the link in doesnt matter

probably about 12 short, 16 long but it very much depends on the individual boy|
MCMICROGAL
11-11 / 11-4 / 9-6
Recent Posts: 23090
   
04/02/2011 21:23:51   report this post | ground rules
My answer would be the same for daughters,
WILLOTHEWISP
Recent Posts: 29722
   
04/02/2011 21:25:28   report this post | ground rules
I've always used the local trains with my children, so as soon as they went to Comp, I've allowed them to go into Cardiff or to visit family unaccompanied as they knew the route.

My son would have been 11. He's 16 now and has been to other locations on different routes with friends since he was 14.
 HELISH
14-9.5 / 14-9 / 10-7
Recent Posts: 2160
   
04/02/2011 21:28:09   report this post | ground rules
I didn't catch a train until I was 16, first time I caught one alone I was 18, but that's cos the taxi of Mum/Dad was always on hand.

Best mate used to take a 20mins train each way to secondary school from the age of 11, but those were less scary times and in the countryside.
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After being a bad WWer last year I have reset my stats for this fresh start.

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tonydeighton
13-13 / 13-7 / 10-7
Recent Posts: 32921
   
04/02/2011 21:45:18   report this post | ground rules
We let my son use trains on his own from about 10, I probably would have let him do it sooner but the question never arose. Trains are very safe to use.

T
tonydeighton
13-13 / 13-7 / 10-7
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04/02/2011 21:46:02   report this post | ground rules
I used the tube from aged 8.

T
CITYLADY73
14-10 / 12-4 / 11-
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04/02/2011 22:22:14   report this post | ground rules
guess it depends on how grown up your child acts. I'm just letting my son use the trains now he is 14. But i allowed my daughter at 12 as she seemed capable to keep herself safe at that age. Its a tough one. Good luck. x
DUCKDAZE
9-7 / 8-12 / 8-5
Recent Posts: 71799
   
05/02/2011 07:40:56   report this post | ground rules
My daughters will have to use the train for a short journey every day from the age of 11 to get to school.

My friends used to do the same thing when I was that age.
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*NEWNESSNOODLE*
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05/02/2011 07:51:52   report this post | ground rules
I can recall using the tube alone (but not in rush hour) prior to emigrating so I must have been under 12/13 yrs.... Buses a year or two younger than that.... I know children now who go to secondary school by themselves on public transport so it hasn't changed all THAT much over the years it would seem
OTTERS4EVER
Recent Posts: 33117
   
05/02/2011 07:55:13   report this post | ground rules
I went Sheffield to London, then St Pancras across to St Margaret's, which required changes, to stay with my Grandma, when I was 14. I was sensible and probably too scared to go looking for trouble.

I think it depends on known character/confidence of son (or daughter), how simple the journey is, and what the expectation is. As Ducky said, if that's how you get to school, then that's how you get to school!

At least these days everyone has a mobile phone, too.
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KATIECOUNTRYMOUSE
Recent Posts: 1405
   
05/02/2011 09:10:36   report this post | ground rules
Son used trains for short journeys at about 12. He is now 15 and I think I would allow him to use them for long journeys if he needed to because he is very sensible.