Train Tickets For The Under-16S

[puternut]

Tried to get tickets for my grand-daughter (age 14) to travel from London to the southcoast via the SOUTHERN network to visit her grandparents.
This was to be her first trip on her own as we , and her parents, agree she should begin this type of thing now.

We have previously used a scheme calle 'Daysave' where, subject to certain timing restrictions around rush hours, you can use any train in the Southern region for the full day. Cost is £15 for adults and £2 for 5-15 years.

We have been told that we cannot buy a ticket simply for her as they feel she needs an accompanying adult! However, they say, it is possible to buy a standard ticket (At least double the fare) for a child to travel alone!!!!!

Talk about double standards Southern

[DaisyNonna]

Do not expect logic or common sense from the railways.

[mushroom25]

puternut, whoever told you that was an idiot.

the daysave ticket conditions mean you cannot buy child tickets in isolation, but only as part of a party. see the conditions here:-

http://www.southernrailway.com/tickets-and-fares/ticket-types/daysave/

[dzug2]

.. as they feel she needs an accompanying adult! ..

It's not that they 'feel' anything - the £2 is a special offer for a child accompanying a adult. If they actually used those words then it was very badly explained.

National Express coaches don't allow children (younger than your daughter admittedly) to travel alone at all - nor do some airlines

[sunny-dave]

To defend Southern (which I hate doing - they are a pile of poo), there is a significant difference between a child having a 'rover' ticket, which means they could be absolutely anywhere, and a child with a ticket for a specific journey between named stations.

[atalanta]

Have you investigated buses ?
Mind you, when I read that a 14 year old is not considered old enough to travel alone on a UK train, I am amazed at my own childhood daring. At age 14 I travelled to Germany - overland - on an exchange visit, and nobody batted an eyelid.