Weekend Train Travel

[Nebulaeyes]

I'm a Newbie Pig owner ^^
I recently rescued two Adult Boars who had yet to experience a forever home or a human friend: Who I've named Quark and Odo

I've been away one weekend so far and panicked constantly about them despite knowing my housemates were home ... I am going away for a weekend again soon, it is rare for me to go away often and it's usually only for weekends. So here's my question:

Can you take your guinea pigs with you for weekend breaks if you travel by train? I'll be traveling from London, so there would be a sort ~10 mins tube Friday Evening - Post or Pre Rush Hour and the same again late on Sunday. The train out of London would be 1.5 - 2 hours. They live near the station. Whenever I go away at weekends these timings are usually similar.

My instinct is that they may be happier at home - if a bit miffed that I'm not there to hand feed them their veggies ... and I'm doing this because I don't want to be parted with them. But found this forum and figured I'd ask for some advice! I noticed that some people take them for weekend caravan breaks? But maybe Cars are less stressful? This would be to a friends house, so I can arrange to have their normal enclosures and food etc delivered there.

Thank You!

 

[Veggies Galore]

It is a dilemma . Basically, you can take piggies by train - but you have to be careful if really cold weather and on really hot days as it is not ideal for them to be exposed to extremes of temperatures. If you know someone who can look after them, it'd be better for them to stay at home.

 

[James Brookes]

The wife and I took our piggies on a train once, they were alright but it was cold and I think this affected them ... so be aware of this - maybe partially cover the cage with a thick blanket, but not too much so they still have some light.
I've actually got a travelling question of my own, hope this is the right place to post it (I'm never here so still figuring out how things work). We are planning a month long trip to Cornwall and don't want to leave the piggies behind, so we are thinking about taking them in a caravn. We go on lots of caravan holidays, always renting from this place .
But we have never taken the piggies with us, we've always got a neighbour to look after them. As we want to travel for an extended period of time, I think we have no choice but to take them with us! A part from anything else we will miss them! We are thinking of getting a big caravan so there is space, and we will put the cage outside when we stop, so they can get some air. The only thing is they are used to having some time to exercise in the run, so I think we will have to take the run with us as well ... If anyone has done anything like this before, or has some tips, would be great to hear your opinions....

 

[Chessles]

This might help

Holidaying with Guinea Pigs

 

[lauraboara]

I have taken piggies on trains quite a few times - usually going boar dating to different rescues across Yorkshire. This week I am going York to Sheffield with piggies. The worst bit for them I would say is the noise at stations - wheel squeal and engine noises but if you are aware of this you can avoid as much as possible and is short lived.
However, I would probably not take them away for the weekend if I could find a friend / housemates in your case to do the cleaning and feeding - it seems a lot of upheaval for a short time. But train travel is certainly possible if you plan ahead.

 

[Nebulaeyes]

Thank You for the advice!
I ended up cancelling my plans! and have since put things in place for weekend/longer travel ... they have a holiday home stationed at my mums for potential longer periods of time (she previously didn't think she liked piggies :O until she met the boys ... and fell in love, so is now happy to look after them) and I'm moving into a house with guinea pig loving housemates for the weekends (: (: (:

They are travelling to the holiday home by train for the first time this weekend because I'm going on holiday and then immediately moving house, so I shall plan for the train journey and make sure I travel at as quiet a time as I can manage on a London weekend!