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Updates And Reminders

This page is updated regularly, providing you with the latest news on all matters related to Rail Staff Travel.

PLEASE GIVE PRIORITY TO THE FARE-PAYING PUBLIC

Staff travellers are reminded that to ensure priority is given to fare-paying passengers, they should, whenever possible, seek to travel on lightly-loaded services. When this is not possible and travel is undertaken on a crowded train, it is expected that they should stand back to allow fare-paying passengers to obtain seats.

Those entitled to travel in first class accommodation may, on former Inter-City services, be asked by on-train staff to vacate their first class seat in favour of a standing fare-paying passenger. Retired staff or widow(er)s will not be asked to vacate a first class seat in these circumstances.

Updated May 2008

Privilege fares from 7 September 2008

New names for rail fares are being introduced across the National Rail network.  

From 7 September 2008, Standard/First/Open Single/Return fares will be known as "Anytime" and Standard/First/Day Single/Return fares will be known as "Anytime Day".

From this date staff travel facilities holders (safeguarded/retired safeguarded and TOC new entrants) will be entitled to discounts on “Anytime" and "Anytime Day" fares in the same way as currently applies to Standard/First Open Single/Return or Standard/First Day Single/Return.

The privilege discounts applicable to other categories of tickets such as Season tickets and Rail Rovers remain unchanged.

Updated June 2008

 

CALEDONIAN SLEEPERS: STAFF FARES

Discounted fares which are available on First ScotRail's Caledonian Sleepers and are available to both safeguarded and non-safeguarded staff are set out below:

Journey

Single

Return

Standard Class

London - Edinburgh/Glasgow

£28.75

£40.50

London - Aberdeen/Inverness/Fort William

£35.25

£47.25

First Class (holders of first class facilities only)

London - Edinburgh/Glasgow

£38.00

£56.00

London - Aberdeen/Inverness/Fort William

£43.50

£64.25

These are inclusive rates and are available from normal outlets on production of a Staff Travel Card or TOC Privilege Travel Card - there is no need for boxes on Staff Travel Cards to be dated. All fares are subject to availability and are valid until further notice.

Updated 19 May 2008

TRAVEL FACILITIES FOR HOUSEKEEPERS

The current level of the maximum permitted gross income used in connection with the issue of travel facilities for housekeepers of staff has been reviewed and it has been decided that this should be increased from £120.20 to £125.25.

1 May 2008

TRAVEL FACILITIES FOR DEPENDENT CHILDREN

The current level of the child's maximum permitted gross income used in connection with the issue of travel facilities for children of staff has been reviewed and it has been decided that this should be increased from £108.30 to £112.85. 

 1 May 2008

RENEWAL OF PRIVILEGE RATE OYSTER CARDS 

Active and retired safeguarded staff and dependants who previously applied for an Oyster card for Privilege rate 'Pay-As-You-Go' should be aware that the current expiry date for the Privilege discount is on 30 June 2008. To continue to receive privilege discount travel until that date, cards must be renewed at any London Underground (LU) ticket office. If this is not done it will result in the full public rate Oyster fare being deducted for each journey made. 

When renewing, Oyster card holders will need to present both their current Oyster card and the relevant RSTL Staff Travel Card as the latter's number is recorded on the Oyster system.    

It has been reported that there have been instances of staff attempting to renew their Oyster cards who have encountered problems at some LU ticket offices and it is suggested that those who have not yet renewed their card take with them a screen dump of the extract below (which is taken from LU Traffic Circular No. 22 - issued recently to all that Company's ticket offices).  

_______________________________________________________________________

EXTRACT FROM LONDON UNDERGROUND TRAFFIC CIRCULAR NO. 22 

RENEWAL OF PRIVILEGE DISCOUNT ON AN OYSTER CARD                                

Ticket Sellers are reminded that when a customer has their PTAC, or NR Staff Card renewed, they will be required to present their PTAC and Oyster card at a ticket office to have their Privilege discount entitlement updated.  There is no need to complete a further application form. 

Provided the Oyster card already has a Privilege discount on it, the Ticket Seller must;

  • check the PTAC, or NR Staff Card and the expiry date printed on the front of the card

  • update the photocard number on the Oyster card to match the new PTAC, or NR Staff Card number (if appropriate)

  • update the Privilege discount to match the expiry date of the new PTAC, or NR Staff Card.

 TOC only Staff cards, which are red, are not eligible to Privilege Rate travel, or PAYG on LU services

Updated May 2008

ADDITIONAL EUROSTAR BOOKING OUTLET

Staff will be pleased to learn that bookings on Eurostar services can be made from Eurostar's Ashford Contact Centre, who have offered to deal with both telephone and email booking requests. 

Those making telephone applications should have either their International Reduced Rate Card number or Staff Travel Card number (as appropriate) near at hand to quote, together with their credit card details, and, of course, this same information should also be included with all email requests submitted. 

The Ashford Contact Centre is open between 09.00 and 17.00 Monday – Friday and the contact details are: 

Telephone number    08457 660421

Email address           beyond.eurostar@eurostar.co.uk 

Please note that Ashford Contact Centre is able to deal with Eurostar bookings only i.e. London/Brussels/Paris/Marne-La-Vallee/Avignon/Ski trains (and intermediate stations). Also it can deal only with credit card transactions.

Updated May 2008

NON-AVAILABILITY OF STAFF TRAVEL FACILITIES ON “GRAND CENTRAL RAILWAY” AND "WREXHAM, SHROPSHIRE & MARYLEBONE RAILWAY"

All staff travel facilities holders should note that staff travel facilities documents issued to active and retired safeguarded staff, and to active TOC New Entrants, are not available for use on either of the above services.   This applies equally to any privilege/reduced rate tickets purchased using any of these documents.

The reason for this is that these railways are not eligible to participate in the ATOC Staff Travel Scheme, and have not entered into an exchange of staff travel facilities arrangement with the Franchised TOCs.

Updated 23 April 2008

AVAILABILITY OF FIP TRAVEL FACILITIES ON FORMER YUGOSLAV RAILWAYS

Staff will no doubt be aware that there are now 6 different railways on which FIP facilities can be enjoyed, replacing the former Yugoslavian State Railways (JZ).

The replacements are:

BOSNIA-HERZAGOVINA RAILWAYS (ZFBH/ZRS)

CROATIAN RAILWAYS (HZ)

MACEDONIAN  RAILWAYS (CFARYM)

MONTENEGRAN RAILWAY (ZCG)

SERBIAN RAILWAY (ZS)

SLOVENIAN  RAILWAYS (SZ)

 

With the exception of the Bosnia-Herzagovina Railways, all the Railways mentioned grant one free coupon ticket per annum to active staff for themselves only. They can also purchase fares discounted by 50% by using their International Reduced Rate Card. The latter is also available to  dependants of active staff and to retired safeguarded staff (and their dependants)

 

The Bosnia-Herzagovina Railways offer no free travel to any FIP travellers but all International Reduced Rate Card holders can purchase fares discounted by 50%

.26 March 2008

 

INTERNATIONAL PRIVILEGE TICKETS AND RESERVATIONS 

From 1 October 2006 requests from active and retired staff for the purchase of International Privilege Tickets and Reservations should be directed to Deutsche Bahn UK whose address is: 

IPTIS

Deutsche Bahn UK Booking Centre

PO Box 687A

SURBITON

Surrey KT6 6UB

The IPTIS form (RSTL 6544) used to obtain this service has been amended to reflect this change and copies of this can be downloaded by clicking here.

Also from the same day Deutsche Bahn UK will be able to deal with the telephone requests hitherto dealt with by Rail Europe for those products listed below. The phone number to call for this service is 08718 80 80 66*. (Alternatively requests can be made by fax on 08718 80 80 65* or by email to railstaff@bahn.co.uk)  

* calls cost 8p per minute

  • Eurostar – London to Lille/Paris/Brussels

  • Travel on SNCF trains within France and DB AG trains within Germany using International Coupons for free travel (requiring reservations/TGV supplements only) or using an FIP card for discounted journeys

  • Lyria* TGV services between France and Switzerland

  • Thalys* services between France/Belgium and the Netherlands and Germany

  • Artesia* day and night services between France and Italy

  • Elipsos* trainhotel overnight services between France and Spain

  • AVE** internal services within Spain

  • TALGO* internal services within Spain and between Spain and Portugal

  • RENFE internal services within Spain and services between Spain and Portugal. 

Please note:

On services marked * the operators grant FIP Leisure Fares which include travel ticket and seating/overnight accommodation. International Coupon Tickets are not valid.

On the service marked ** special FIP Leisure Fares which include travel ticket and reservation are payable by holders of International Coupon tickets and International Reduced Rate Cards.  

When calling this number, applicants should have their International Reduced Rate Card and debit/credit card details readily available. 

The opening hours of the Deutsche Bahn UK Booking Centre are Monday to Friday 09.00 – 17.00. 

Timetable information may be obtained on the internet at www.bahn.co.uk 

Deutsche Bahn UK may not be able to deal with applications for travel products on some internal journeys in Eastern Europe, Spain or Portugal.

PLEASE NOTE THAT REQUESTS FOR FIP COUPONS OR INTERNATIONAL REDUCED RATE CARDS SHOULD STILL BE MADE BY APPLICANTS TO THEIR USUAL TRAVEL FACILITIES ADMINISTRATION POINT AND NOT TO DEUTSCHE BAHN UK. 

8 September 2006

PRIVILEGE TICKETS ON OYSTER 'PAY AS YOU GO'

From 3 July 2006, safeguarded active and retired staff and their dependants who hold a valid Staff Travel Card (STC) will be afforded the option of participating at privilege rates (on London Underground [LU], Docklands Light Railway [DLR] and National Rail services which accept Oyster pay as you go) in the 'Pay as you go' Oyster arrangement. As staff may know, the Oyster concept enables travellers to pay for travel in advance by the addition of value to a smart card. 

The existing arrangements whereby LU/DLR privilege tickets for individual journeys can be purchased before travel at LU Booking Offices will remain. 

The 'Pay as you go' Oyster arrangement is for leisure use only. Those who travel on LU services to get to and from work (or dependants who travel to an educational establishment) will still need to purchase an appropriate Privilege Season Ticket. (Remember: Travelcard Seasons are NOT available at privilege discount rates) 

Transport for London is extending 'Pay as you go' Oyster to staff to make it more convenient for those who make regular LU/DLR trips. The benefits are two-fold; travel is cheaper (being based on the public Oyster single fares which are cheaper than cash fares) and the need to regularly queue at Booking Offices is eliminated. 

Those wishing to make use of privilege 'Pay as you go' Oyster will need to register their STC at a LU Booking Office using a new form which has been introduced. There are two forms, one subtitled 'National Rail Employees' (RSTL 5001) for active staff and their dependants and another subtitled 'NR Retired Employees' (RSTL 5002) for retired staff and their dependants. Click whichever form you require.   

On completion, the form needs to be authorised by the applicant's employing company (Pensions Management in the case of the vast majority of Retired Staff and their dependants) and then taken to a LU Booking Office for the Oyster card to be issued. 

Details of the arrangement are contained on the form but the following important points are highlighted: 

  • As well as the value applicants wish to put on their card, it is necessary for them to pay a refundable £3 deposit
  • The STC supports the use of the Oyster card and as such when the holder is issued with a new STC (at renewal time or if a replacement is issued for any reason), it is necessary for the TfL system that controls Oyster issues to be made aware of the number of the new card. This update must be undertaken by the applicant and can be performed at any LU Booking Office. Until this has been done, travellers are not permitted to use their Oyster card.
  • When using the Oyster card, travellers must carry with them their supporting STC at all times
  • The Oyster card can be used on London Buses but the amount deducted from the card for each trip will be at the public rate applicable at the time of travel.
  • Daily price capping applies. This means that irrespective of the number of LU and/or DLR journeys made on any one day, the most that Privilege Oyster card holders will pay is capped at the Privilege Day Ticket rate.  Within Travelcard Zones 1-6 this is currently £2.00 (adult), £1.00 (child)
  • It is a requirement that for each journey the Oyster card is 'touched in' at the special Oyster reading points at the commencement station and 'touched out' at the destination. Failure to do this may result in travellers paying more than they need or may result in a Penalty Fare being charged
  • Under 16s must have a Child, Under 14 or 14-15 Oyster photocard to qualify for privilege travel at Child rate.  Application forms are available at all Post Offices in the Greater London area.  More information, including how to obtain a Child Oyster photocard if applicants do not live in the Greater London area, is available at:

www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/fares-tickets/2006/photocards/under16.asp

  • If the Oyster card is lost travellers must contact the Oyster helpline on 0845 330 9876 to have the card stopped and any money returned to them.  They can apply for a new Oyster card with privilege discount by completing another application form as above.
  • Value can be added to Oyster cards by all the usual ‘topping-up’ payment methods at all LU Booking Offices. Cards  can also be topped-up  on-line at:

             www.tfl.gov.uk/oyster

This website also contains some very useful information about the Oyster card concept, including a list National Rail routes on which pay as you go can be used.

28 June 2006

TRAVEL FACILITIES: TYNE & WEAR METRO

Following changes to fares structures and travel concessions to children and adults over 60 years of age in Tyne and Wear, it has been necessary to change the buttons on the ticket issuing machines and, as a result, it will no longer be able for former BR employees entitled to concessionary travel on Tyne and Wear Metro to obtain a return privilege ticket from the lowest adult fare button. 

In future any former BR employees entitled to concessionary travel on Metro wishing to obtain a privilege ticket should press the CHILD fare button (40p with effect from 2 April 2006) and this will enable them to obtain a SINGLE ticket for the journey.  These revised arrangements apply from 2 April 2006.

4 May 2006

GRANTING OF TRAVEL FACILITIES TO THE CIVIL PARTNERS OF STAFF

In line with legislation, the rules which govern the granting of travel facilities to staff were amended from December 2005 to enable staff who have entered into a formal partnership to be granted facilities for their partner.

To obtain these facilities staff should make application to their travel facilities contact point, providing a copy of their Civil Partnership Certificate. They will then be granted domestic and FIP travel facilities for their partner on the same terms as is granted to staff for a legally married spouse.

23 December 2005

USE OF TRAVEL FACILITIES BETWEEN PADDINGTON AND HEATHROW

There are two rail services operating between Paddington and Heathrow Airport, Heathrow Express (non stop) and Heathrow Connect (stops at intermediate stations between Paddington and Hayes).

There is no free travel on Heathrow Express services. All staff travel facilities holders wishing to use this service must purchase a privilege ticket which can be obtain from booking offices at Heathrow and Paddington.

The situation for Heathrow Connect services is different in that these services may be used by staff travel facilities holders between Paddington and Hayes in the same way as they currently use their facilities on other National Rail services. However, if they wish to travel onto or from Heathrow it is necessary to purchase a Hayes to Heathrow privilege ticket (obtainable at any National Rail ticket office and at Heathrow). If the entire journey is to be undertaken using a privilege ticket the Hayes to Heathrow portion would obviously be included in the ticket they purchase.

20 June 2005

COMPULSORY RESERVATIONS ON CERTAIN ITALIAN RAILWAY SERVICES

Advice has been received from the Italian Railways (FS) of the need for staff travellers to ensure they obtain reservations in advance when intending to use the following services:

  • Trains between Italy and Austria via Tarvisio which are classified 'Allegro'
  • Trains between Italy and France via Ventimiglia which are classified as 'Riveria'
  • The following trains between Italy and Austria/Germany via Brenner:
    Train Number Route
    EN 286 Naples - Munich
    EN 287 Munich – Naples
    EN 288/358 Florence/Venice – Munich
    EN 289/363 Munich - Florence/Venice
    EC 80 Verona – Munich
    EC 81 Munich – Verona
    EC 82 Verona – Munich
    EC 83 Munich – Verona
    EC 84 Rome – Munich
    EC 85 Munich – Rome
    EC 86 Venice – Munich
    EC 87 Munich – Venice
    EC 89/92 Munich – Milan
    EC 93/88 Milan – Munich
    EC188 Bolzano – Munich
    EC 189 Munich – Bolzano

The on train staff will impose fairly hefty surcharges on any traveller who joins these services without previously having made a reservation.

4 March 2005

 

CONCESSIONS FOR STAFF ON ATTICA FERRIES

Attica Ferries have agreed to provide a 50% reduction in fares for foot passengers on their ferries. This is available to all holders of FIP International Reduced Rate Cards. FIP cards for those staff wishing to travel on these services must be updated to include this title.

The routes available are:-

  • Rosyth – Zeebrugge *
  • Rostock – Hanko (Finland) *
  • Bari/Ancona – Patras **

Reductions are available in all cabins no matter which class of rail travel is held.

Booking agents in the United Kingdom are:-

In London:

VIAMARE TRAVEL Ltd
Graphic House, 2 Sumatra Road
London NW6 1PU
Tel: 0870 410 6040
Fax: 0207 431 5456
Free phone (from UK only) 0800 068 1676
E-mail: viamaretravel@superfast.com

In Rosyth:

SUPERFAST FERRIES
The Terminal Building
Port of Rosyth
Fife, KY11 2XP
Tel: 0870 234 0870
Fax: 0138 360 8020
E-mail: info.Scotland@superfast.com

* Attica subsiduary Superfast Ferries

** Attica subsidiaries Superfast Ferries & Blue Star Ferries

4 February 2005