Staff Travel Cards - Heritage Railways

[Northern1]

Hi a colleague of mine has recently moved from Northern Rail in Manchester to a local Hertitage railway as an employee. My friend was non-safeguarded so had to surrender his Northern ID and TOC Priv card on leaving northern.

However since moving to the heritage operation he has been sent a "Box Staff travel Card" (All boxes crossed out) so that he can buy 75% Priv rate leisure tickets!!! and he can also apply for his wife and children also

Is this true, As I thought it was only TOCs could offer this sort of privilege to national rail staff.

 

[transportphoto]

Yes, I know employees at the NNR get Priv travel on the National Network; in a similar way to as you describe.

 

[E&W Lucas]

Permanent employees (not volunteers) of some heritage outfits, can apply for what is effectively an ATOC card. However, as we all know, that isn't always that much of a perk, as advance purchase tickets can still be cheaper.
IIRC, longer serving ones hold safeguarded rights.
It's a reciprocal arrangement for the priv rates mainline staff enjoy on some heritage lines.

 

[TDK]

Permanent employees (not volunteers) of some heritage outfits, can apply for what is effectively an ATOC card. However, as we all know, that isn't always that much of a perk, as advance purchase tickets can still be cheaper.
IIRC, longer serving ones hold safeguarded rights.
It's a reciprocal arrangement for the priv rates mainline staff enjoy on some heritage lines.

That is a good deal - max 10 miles at 25mph vs 450 miles at 125mph

 

[E&W Lucas]

That is a good deal - max 10 miles at 25mph vs 450 miles at 125mph

Most heritage paid staff are on the engineering side of things. Hard graft, so if they get a perk or two out of it, in exchange for us getting some cheap family days out, fair enough.

 

[Mojo]

However since moving to the heritage operation he has been sent a "Box Staff travel Card" (All boxes crossed out) so that he can buy 75% Priv rate leisure tickets!!! and he can also apply for his wife and children also

Is this true, As I thought it was only TOCs could offer this sort of privilege to national rail staff.

I know that Eurostar employees also get this (a box pass with the boxes crossed out) - it is actually a better benefit than just a TocNE (Toc New Entrants) pass as it also allows Priv rate travel on London Underground and allows the holder to apply for a Priv discount on their Oyster card for both NR and LU/DLR services

 

[Old Hill Bank]

That is a good deal - max 10 miles at 25mph vs 450 miles at 125mph

Thousands get the 10 miles wheras only hundereds get the 450 so it balances out. And all of the employers have to pay ATOC for the facilites, the value of which taxable by the individual.

 

[Northern1]

Apart from the Priv rate on National Rail do they get FIP European travel also and the generous Stena reductions?

Just read the Staff Travel document on "where I can go" and I was surprised to see how many heritage railways have joint arrangements with ATOC.