Taking the train with peace of mind with children is possible thanks to this system which is unanimously popular in this European country.
Traveling by train with children can sometimes be a real challenge for parents. When the journeys are long, the little ones can quickly get bored, become restless or even noisy. And for good reason, by remaining seated for several hours, they need distractions, which obliges parents to provide games, books to occupy them, and enough snacks to satisfy them. In addition, in most trains, the spaces in the carriages limit the possibilities of movement, which can increase the frustration of children. Parents must therefore redouble their ingenuity and patience to make the journey pleasant and avoid crying or tantrums. Not to mention the derogatory remarks of some passengers, exasperated by the noise of the children.
Situations that have the gift of stressing out many parents, but this is not the case everywhere. Indeed, in Finland, parents can take the train with their children in complete peace of mind. The country’s main railway company, VR-Yhtymä Oy (VR), has come up with a rather clever device to entertain children during the journey and to keep the carriages calm.
For this reason, their InterCity trains are equipped with play areas dedicated to children. In these areas, which are installed in some carriages, young passengers can sit on mini benches to read books provided, or go down the slide. They can also stretch their legs, stand up and have fun with various games, which are also provided. VR InterCity trains “are equipped with a large number of facilities that make travelling easier and more enjoyable. (…) On some Intercity trains, you can also take your children to the play area located in the service car, where they can use a slide, a locomotive and a library”, the company specifies on its website. This type of device is not unique, it is also found in Norway, but also in Switzerland.