Views on 13 year old granddaughter travelling on train alone from Yorkshire to Cornwall !!!e

British Transport Police have advice about this. One thing is making sure their number is in the child's phone. www.btp.police.uk/cp/crime-prevention/btp/railway-crime/young-people-travelling-alone/
I think some children would be fine but others wouldn't.

It's a tricky one, isn't it? Lots of pupils from my DGD's school make daily train/tube journeys (through dodgy areas) into London and back once they turn 11 years old.
I guess the scary thing with the OP's granddaughter is that she will be a long way from either home or destination should a problem arise.
Is the girl resourceful? Is she used to travelling alone at times?

I would be like you GLORIANNY and say a definite NO....its seems far to long a journey for a girl of your GD age to take...Like most of our fellow GN buddies have said its up to her parents... We just have to keep quiet but won't stop you from worrying..

I thank you for all your replies very much appreciated.... when you put a worry, problem out there and get feedback, its brilliant to see others point of view, in all honesty, i don't feel as concerned as I was when my daughter asked me my views.

The phone tracking comment made me feel at ease.

It would be Leeds - Plymouth.

Yes she will be met at the station.

THANK YOU

Kate1949

I would be worried sick but as grandparents we have no say in such matters.

Same here Kate!
Mattsmum I don’t think it would be any safer for a boy of that age than a girl.

Glad you feel happier now Serendipity22.

Just saying, Plymouth is actually in Devon. Our biggest town in the county by far.

My niece travelled last summer from Edinburgh to Penzance to meet us for a holiday there. She is 20 . However the train broke down at Exeter and she had to wait for the train from London to arrive to continue her journey . She arrived at Penzance at 11.30 pm ! Even though she is an adult and had been at Edinburgh uni for 3 years she was still very stressed about the whole thing. Unfortunately it isn’t always straightforward as it should be . The train going back also had engine problems . I remember being put on a train at Kings Cross on my own and changing at Grantham to go onto Lincoln when I was 12 . I think my mum informed the guard though ?‍♀️.

That's a long journey for a thirteen year old alone. Partly it depends on how confident and sensible she is. I did Torquay to Bristol alone when I was 12, and Torquay to Edinburgh with a school friend when I was 14. but the world is a different place now. It's a tricky decision.

Parents' prerogative

As for tracking her via cell - parents' prerogative too

Sheffield to Penzance is 6.40 - 7 hours if you choose one of the trains with no changes.
Obviously it's a long journey even so.

Sorry, Leeds is obviously further than Sheffield - don't know where Sheffield came from! Sorry.

Personally I think she will be safe bug very bored.
Glad you are less worried.

At 12 and 14 I put my two on a train from Reading to Glasgow.

Standard class, seats reserved. Unfortunately at a previous station someone had put an old very frail lady in one of the seats I had reserved. I spoke to a guard, who said 'Just tell her to move' I didn't, but still fume at the moral blackmail exercised by the person who took her to the train and helped her settle. She went all the way to Glasgow, where someone came on board to meet her.

My two simply sat beside each other rather than opposite and swapped the window seat between them.

The journey required no changing and was trouble free. It was before mobile phones. However it was long and slow and when they returned, they said that if they had to do that journey again, they would choose to go to Paddington, tube to Euston and get a fast train from there.

What 13 is she? just 13 a few months ago or nearly 14? That makes a difference.

If my daughter it would be a no from me too.
My granddaughter I would keep my mouth firmly shut.

I wonder whether the child’s parents have travelled by train lately? It’s not like The Railway Children. Nobody to ask, nobody to help and the likelihood of drunks and weirdos.
At 13 she’s too young to cope with problems or to defend herself.

A couple of years ago I travelled the usual 1 hour trip from London to home. Due to an ‘accident on the line’ I got halfway, had to wait for hours in the freezing cold to get another train home which took me most of the day.

Recently MzOops came out of London to go to Cornwall, the train stopped at Slough, they had to wait for a bus to another station, then got on another train which stopped just over the border of Cornwall and all the passengers had to get off as the train wasn’t going any further! she was then put into a taxi home, alone. I was tracking her and she spoke to me whilst she was alone in the taxi.

Whilst these aren’t everyday occurrences how would a 13 yr old child cope?

When I was 13 (1964) I went from my home city, to a small village near Ghent (Belguim). 4 trains and a ferry crossing each way. And I couldn't speak the language. ?

Was it safer then. I doubt it, the dangers were no different back then.

I would definitely say no too young and vulnerable and being alone would make a prime target. There are too many head cases on drugs and drunk on public transport these days and it seems to be getting worse.

I think it's a lot safer now than it used to be because we have mobile phones. I wouldn't have a problem in letting a 13 year old make that sort of journey provided they had been given responsibility in their earlier life. tbh I think we we over protective.
The world isn't more dangerous we just know more and children deserve to be helped to become independent.

It would be a No from me too

I think those giving horror stories are not being at all helpful
My friend was travelling all over London alone from the age of 11 Boredom is what ll be the killer
If there are problems on any lines she will follow the rest of the travellers She will most likely talk to a mum or gran type lady along the way
I hope you ll feel a bit more comfortable Serendippity
When is this journey taking place ?

Lots to think about here.

If she's travelling alone for that length of time, presumably with some luggage, she's going to need to leave that and her seat to use the toilet at some point.
On one journey I did alone I booked first class, which was a good decision as it was much quieter.
I was able to ask a young couple to watch my case (and keep my seat!) when I needed the toilet.

When I've taken my minded children to London by train for the day I've always taken a full-length and a portrait photo of them that morning on my phone.
If the worst happened and they got lost I would have that information immediately available to show the Police.

I did the same for my granddaughter when we were in London recently with her family.

Who in the panic of a lost child could honestly give a good and accurate description of them?

Serendipity22 I hope your daughter and granddaughter can reach an agreement you are all comfortable with.

I’d be unhappy about it. What if she is sick? Or has her period? Either would be miserable even if she had a companion, but perhaps more upsetting if she’s alone.

A young relative of mine who is this age recently did this journey - beginning in Scotland and right to the end of the line at Penzance.
Of course kids are all different, but she was absolutely fine!

My family would not allow my grandchild to do such a journey alone boy or girl thank god.