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Can a Child Travel Alone on a Train?

Here's everything you need to know about age limits, safety tips, and what to check before they travel solo.

Trains are a widely used mode of transport and, for many children, an essential part of daily life. It's natural to ask at what age a child can travel alone on a train. Many parents worry about safety, while older children and teenagers may be eager for more independence.

This guide explores the minimum age requirements for children travelling alone on UK trains and the Eurostar, along with key safety tips to ensure a smooth and secure journey.


Smiling young boy with blonde hair, wearing a blue sweater, sitting comfortably in a train seat and gazing out of the window. Sunlight streams in, highlighting his relaxed expression as he enjoys the train journey. The image reflects themes of independent travel, rail journeys, and child-friendly transportation.

Key Points

  • Children under 12 cannot travel alone on most UK train services, and must be accompanied by an adult aged 16 or over.
  • The British Transport Police may be contacted if a child under 12 is found travelling alone.
  • Before allowing a child to travel alone, consider their maturity, safety awareness, and ability to follow travel instructions.

How old does a child need to be to legally travel alone on a train?

Whilst there's no set minimum age legally for a child to travel alone on a train in the UK, most train companies have their own rules. In most cases, children under 12 must be with an adult (aged 16 or over). Train staff cannot take responsibility for children travelling alone.

If a child under 12 is found travelling alone, train staff will contact the British Transport Police. The police also offer advice to help parents and guardians prepare children for independent train travel.

Children over 12 are allowed to travel alone, but it's important to consider their confidence and understanding of train safety before letting them go solo.


How old do you have to be to travel on the Eurostar alone?

The Eurostar is a great way to get about and connects the UK to several major European cities. Children under 12 cannot travel alone and must be accompanied by an adult aged 16 or older. Young travellers aged 12-15 may be allowed to travel solo on certain routes, but restrictions may apply. It's best to check the route in advance and ensure they have the right paperwork.

All passengers must have valid travel documents, including a passport. You can check what documents are required via Eurostar's travel documents guide.

To ensure a hassle-free experience, arranging a good travel insurance policy for your family is recommended.


Young girl with blonde hair tied in a ponytail, wearing a pink hoodie, looking out of a train window at a scenic countryside landscape with trees, hills, and a river. The image captures a child travelling by rail, evoking themes of independence, train journeys, and scenic travel.

Things to Consider

  • Is the child mature enough to travel alone and understand the risks of travelling by rail?
  • Can they follow safety instructions and keep themselves safe around trains?
  • Does the child have a way to contact an adult in case of an emergency?

How to prepare

  • Write down the details of the journey, departure and arrival time, and the platform(s) if known.
  • Make sure they know who is collecting them from the train station at the other end.
  • Have photocopies of any important documents and keep them stored separately.
  • Save the British Transport Police text number '61016' in their phone and explain that they can text the police if they need help on their journey. 999 should always be called in an emergency.




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If you'd like some more tips and advice on travelling with the kids or inspiration for the next family holiday, check out our other pages below:




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