Travelling with a child

[Charliegru]

i booked a standard ticket without any railcards for myself and my child. Am I obliged to take my child with on the journey or can I travel alone?

 

[thejuggler]

In short 'no'.

 

[Mathew S]

Incorrect due to misreading.

 

[Charliegru]

Thanks for your reply. I am not referring to a family and friends railcard. I’m buying a standard return 1 adult and 1 child with No railcards at all. Will the child be obliged to travel with me or can I go solo?

 

[pdeaves]

The original post says "without any railcards", which if correct/intended wording means no you don't need to have the child.


Edit: Ha! Charliegru clarified the exact point!

 

[Charliegru]

The original post says "without any railcards", which if correct/intended wording means no you don't need to have the child.


Edit: Ha! Charliegru clarified the exact point!

Thanks for your quick reply. FIY adding a child to your booking without any railcards can refuce the price...

 

[yorkie]

What ticket do you have exactly?

 

[Charliegru]

Manchester-London same day return 1 adult + 1 child cost £99

Same ticket just 1 adult cost £192
Both options are WITHOUT any railcard

 

[Mathew S]

Thanks for your reply. I am not referring to a family and friends railcard. I’m buying a standard return 1 adult and 1 child with No railcards at all. Will the child be obliged to travel with me or can I go solo?

Apologies, I misread your original message. Yes, in that case, if it is two separate tickets (ie. One child return and one adult return), you can travel alone.

 

[Fawkes Cat]

I think the answer is that you must take a child.

Your ticket appears to be a 'Fixed Fam Single Std' (or rather, two of them - one out and one back)*. The ticket restrictions at https://m.buytickets.virgintrains.co.uk/ticketTypeDetails/FF2 read

Fixed Fam Single Std
Description
Fixed train Family Single (Virgin Trains Only). Non-refundable ticket, only valid for the date, time and trains specified.
Validity
You must travel on the date, time and trains specified. You may not start, break and resume, or end your journey at any intermediate station except to change to/from connecting trains as shown on the ticket(s) or other valid travel itinerary.
Booking
Can be booked up until 23:59 the day before travel, subject to availability.
Refunds
No refunds available.
Amending Your Booking
Yes - date/time of tickets can be changed up until time of departure (except if you have chosen to print your own tickets) subject to an administration fee of up to GBP 10.00 per ticket per person and any difference in fares. It is not possible to purchase a cheaper fare than the original, nor to change the origin or destination.
Discounts
No discounts apply.
Passengers
Min 1 adult, 1 child / Max 2 adults, 4 children. Group must travel together at all times.
Code
FF2
Route
Virgin Trains only
Click here to find more information about a ticket.

The bit that I have put in bold is the important bit: a group is defined as at least one adult and child, and the whole group must travel together. If you don't take a child, you won't count as a group for the ticket: if you tell the ticket inspector that you have left the child behind, then maybe you are a group, but you are not travelling together.

*ETA: in the light of @Mathew S 's post, these are the tickets that I find on the Virgin Trains website for an adult and child on a random date in the near future (Thursday 8 August) leaving Manchester at 0855 and Euston at 1840. They match the price the OP quoted and are specified train only.

 

[Mathew S]

I think the answer is that you must take a child.

Your ticket appears to be a 'Fixed Fam Single Std' (or rather, two of them - one out and one back). The ticket restrictions at https://m.buytickets.virgintrains.co.uk/ticketTypeDetails/FF2 read



The bit that I have put in bold is the important bit: a group is defined as at least one adult and child, and the whole group must travel together. If you don't take a child, you won't count as a group for the ticket: if you tell the ticket inspector that you have left the child behind, then maybe you are a group, but you are not travelling together.

Indeed. In this case the family ticket is just that, one combined ticket to cover all members of the group travelling together. It's a special offer which single passengers are not eligible to use.

 

[Charliegru]

Thanks for your reply, I indeed just noticed that there is a restriction requiring minimum 1 adult and minimum 1 child travelling TOGETHER. Thanks for pointing it out.

 

[JBuchananGB]

I recently bought one of these tickets, and it was issued as one coupon as the travel ticket for one adult and one child and one coupon with the two seat reservations. I assume such a ticket will not work any barriers, the passengers will have to have their ticket manually checked.