How old do you have to be to ride a train without an adult?

Question

I should think a group of 14/15 years olds can? Not too far but to oxford or birmigham.I'm not too sure on these things.

Thanks

Answer 1

Well normally an adult is classed as 15 and above on trains so i guess that is how old you have to be. However i think you can still buy a ticket on your own if you are over 12. hope this helps

Answer 2

Where I used to live, in Switzerland, it is still normal for school children as young as 5 to walk or catch the bus, trams and trains to school.

Its quite sad to think that that could never happen here!

Answer 3

There is no official lower age limit.

In some areas where trains are often used for short journeys, e.g. London suburbs, it is not that unusual for 10-year-olds to go to school by train without an adult, just as they do on a bus.

If a child who was clearly too young to be out by themselves tried to buy a train ticket or get on a train, they may well be stopped and looked after by the railway staff, but it would be up to the individual's common sense to recognise that the child was too young to be out on thier own.

There is no problem at all about 14 year olds making train journeys by themselves - it happens all the time.

Answer 4

Any Child over the age of 5 can travel alone on the trains in the Uk as long as they have ticket, however, obvioulsy this is a very low age and the child is vunerable so provisions are made for there safety by the staff, as a member of staff, if I found a child under the age of 10 travelling alone I would be concerned and ask them further questions and ensure that if I could not keep an eye on them at all times, I would certainley ensure that other members of staff, Train Crew and recieveing Platform Staff knew the child was coming and ensure they met the service.  And any minor who looked like they was in any form of distress, vunerable or lost would initiate a call to British Transport Police for assistance.

14 to 15 year olds, no problems as long as you abide by the bye laws, have tickets, dont hassle the staff or other passengers, etc, etc, then there should be no problems.

Answer 5

Darned if I know, I am 54 and they make me go with someone more grown up than I am.

(kidding, mostly)

Answer 6

officially you have to be 5 yrs and over to travel on train with ticket, officially you are classed as an adult on board a train when you're 16 not 15.

I cannot see a problem with a group of 14/15yrs old's travelling on the train without an adult, i think at that age they can pretty much look after themselves at that age.