Eurostar PRIV

[Gizmogle]

I plan to travel to Paris for the day some time in March.
We intend to get a early train out and a late train back.

Roughly how much would this be with a PRIV?

Cheers

 

[metrocammel]

Don't you need FIP to get PRIV on Eurostar?

 

[Gizmogle]

Yeah, I was talking to someone about this earlier.

I hadn't heard of an FIP before. But I'm pretty sure that my priv is valid for international travel after reading the ATOC documents a while ago.

 

[metrocammel]

Hmm, odd, possibly. You could give ATOC a ring on 02078418000, I think there is an option to be put through to staff travel facilities - or if not, ask the clerk to be put through - I'm sure they will sort your query out. I'm pretty sure being the dependant of a safeguarded employee, you will be entitled to the PRIV discount - but you may need to apply for FIP?

 

[33056]

If you are the dependant of a safeguarded employee then you should be able to buy Eurostar tickets with your "box card" (I have no idea what non-safeguarded staff need to show). However, if you wish to do any travel on SNCF, then you will need an FIP card to get reduced fare - the form to apply for this can be found HERE .

If you want free travel on foreign administrations then the form to apply for these is THIS ONE , note that many railways only do free travel for active staff. Although it says on the bottom that you can send the forms direct to RSTL, check with your own staff office first as some companies prefer to have the forms sent to them first.

BTW the PRIV Eurostar fares were £25 single second class and £36 single first class last time I went, and you can get first class even if your travel facilities are second class

 

[Gizmogle]

I am the dependant of a safeguarded employee. I thought I was able to buy tickets without the FIP card too. Cheers for all that, I'll check the documents out later.

 

[Bayum]

I think you can travel without the FIP so long as you use Eurostar...When my mum went to Belgium, they got First Class return, and only needed the FIP to travel form Belgium to other places.

Me and my sister are thinking about this, some time after my hips have been replaced, so if you find out Gizzy, let me know!!

 

[First class]

You don't need the FIP for these fares. You do need to go down to London, however, if you only have a ATOC issued box priv/toc card. They may be able to sort it over the phone if u fax them your toc card.

Fares:
Well the FIP fares are the same as the priv fares so:

London - Lille/Calais

Single - £38 (standard) 75%
Return - £76 (standard) 75%
Travel not permitted Fridays 1730-1900.
http://www.raileurope.co.uk/DOCUMENTS/PDFS/FARE%20SHEETS/EUROSTAR%20PUBLIC/EUROSTAR%20UK%20TO%20LILLE%20CALAIS%20PUBLIC%20FARE%20SHEET%20091208.PDF

London - Avignon Centre

Single - £35 standard (75% discount)
Return - £70 standard (75% discount)
http://www.raileurope.co.uk/DOCUMENTS/PDFS/FARE%20SHEETS/EUROSTAR%20PUBLIC/EUROSTAR%20DIRECT%20&%20INDIRECT%20AVIGNON%20PUBLIC%20FARE%20SHEET%202008%20030608.PDF

Paris fares are currently being 'reviewed'. These will be about £10-15 more than the Calais ones in all probability...


Heres some TGV fares as well for Lille-Brussels + Brussels-Province:
http://www.raileuropeuk.com/DOCUMENTS/PDFS/FARE%20SHEETS/POINT%20TO%20POINT%20-%20%20FRANCE/TGV%20PROVINCE,LILLE%20TO%20BRUSSELS%20PUBLIC%20FARE%20SHEET.PDF

 

[metrocammel]

You don't need the FIP for these fares. You do need to go down to London, however, if you only have a ATOC issued box priv/toc card. They may be able to sort it over the phone if u fax them your toc card.

Fares:
Well the FIP fares are the same as the priv fares so:

London - Lille/Calais

Single - £38 (standard) 75%
Return - £76 (standard) 75%
Travel not permitted Fridays 1730-1900.
http://www.raileurope.co.uk/DOCUMEN... TO LILLE CALAIS PUBLIC FARE SHEET 091208.PDF

London - Avignon Centre

Single - £35 standard (75% discount)
Return - £70 standard (75% discount)
http://www.raileurope.co.uk/DOCUMEN...ECT AVIGNON PUBLIC FARE SHEET 2008 030608.PDF

Paris fares are currently being 'reviewed'. These will be about £10-15 more than the Calais ones in all probability...


Heres some TGV fares as well for Lille-Brussels + Brussels-Province:
http://www.raileuropeuk.com/DOCUMEN...VINCE,LILLE TO BRUSSELS PUBLIC FARE SHEET.PDF

It seems very strange that is costs £3 more to go London- Lille than it does to got to Avingnon, which is very southerly France, are you sure those fares are correct!? Surely, the Lille fares are FC, and the Avingnon fares are standard?

 

[class 313]

I plan to travel to Paris for the day some time in March.
We intend to get a early train out and a late train back.

Roughly how much would this be with a PRIV?

Cheers

Phone/Email National Rail...

Or, pay the normal fare?

 

[Gizmogle]

...Would you pay the normal fare if you could get priv?

I thought not.

 

[class 313]

...Would you pay the normal fare if you could get priv?

I thought not.

This isn't about me.

Dependants get way too much IMO.

But we all know I've always thought that.

 

[Gizmogle]

Exactly, so there's no need to go on about it.

 

[class 313]

Exactly, so there's no need to go on about it.

I'm allowed my opinion, and when you could find out the information via ATOC or NR there's no need to ask here. Which tbh, just rubs it in.

 

[Gizmogle]

That wasn't my intention at all. I asked here in the hope that someone would be able to give me a quick and simple answer, rather than having to call one of those expensive lines.

 

[glynn80]

That wasn't my intention at all. I asked here in the hope that someone would be able to give me a quick and simple answer, rather than having to call one of those expensive lines.

Rail Staff Travel Ltd's telephone number for Safeguarded Network Rail Employees is an 0161 (Manchester local rate), 0161 880 3472.

 

[class 313]

rather than having to call one of those expensive lines.

Though that 'expensive' call saves you a lot money.

 

[P156KWJ]

This isn't about me.

Dependants get way too much IMO.

But we all know I've always thought that.

to be honest, I think that too. I know dependants with PRIVs who never use them! A friend at work who lives in Long Eaton says "oh I never really use mine me dad drives me" :roll: give it to someone who'd use it and though I don't fully understand how privs work, when I was in a 170 last week, at the back end near the cab, there were 11 people including myself. I and a woman were the only paying people. Just seems loads of people have them and use them either not enough or a little too much and then complain if for once they have to pay full fare, whereas I spend time saving money to go on trips.

 

[Coxster]

when you could find out the information via ATOC or NR there's no need to ask here.

I thought one of the points of an internet forum was to discuss and ask questions about a particular subject. There are plenty of websites out there dedicated to railways, so I guess we need a forum rule that bans ALL questions as the answer can most likely be found on another website or by phoning someone.

 

[class 313]

then complain if for once they have to pay full fare, whereas I spend time saving money to go on trips.

Oh my thoughts exactly!

 

[First class]

It seems very strange that is costs £3 more to go London- Lille than it does to got to Avingnon, which is very southerly France, are you sure those fares are correct!? Surely, the Lille fares are FC, and the Avingnon fares are standard?

Yeah they are correct.

Avingnon service is once a week on Saturday only- so not as many people, not as frequent so less choice of services.

London-Lille is a decent flow, like Manchester-London, so to the public, the fare is higher.

In terms of PRIVs and the people (not) using them- a relative of theres, or even themselves works(worked) hard for their benefits- if you were on the railway, you would expect it. A touch of jealously no doubt.

 

[D841]

Yeah they are correct.

Avingnon service is once a week on Saturday only- so not as many people, not as frequent so less choice of services.

London-Lille is a decent flow, like Manchester-London, so to the public, the fare is higher. [UNQUOTE]

These fares have changed then, since I last used Eurostar. The Priv/FIP single fares used to be £23 standard and £38 first, regardless of whether you travelled from London or Ashford, or to Lille, Brussels or Paris. I can't remember what the Avignon fares were, as I've never used the service.

Priv fares on Eurostar were originally pitched at a low level, as they replaced the occasions of free travel which staff got on the railway-owned ferries that preceded the Channel Tunnel. In my experience so far, FIP global fares on any international joint service in which the SNCF were involved have been very reasonable indeed. The fare on Thalys from Brussels to Cologne was at least €10 less than the fare for the ICE, the last time I travelled that way, for instance.

 

[EMT Commuter]

Yeah they are correct.

Avingnon service is once a week on Saturday only- so not as many people, not as frequent so less choice of services.

London-Lille is a decent flow, like Manchester-London, so to the public, the fare is higher.

These fares have changed then, since I last used Eurostar. The Priv/FIP single fares used to be £23 standard and £38 first, regardless of whether you travelled from London or Ashford, or to Lille, Brussels or Paris. I can't remember what the Avignon fares were, as I've never used the service.

Priv fares on Eurostar were originally pitched at a low level, as they replaced the occasions of free travel which staff got on the railway-owned ferries that preceded the Channel Tunnel. In my experience so far, FIP global fares on any international joint service in which the SNCF were involved have been very reasonable indeed. The fare on Thalys from Brussels to Cologne was at least €10 less than the fare for the ICE, the last time I travelled that way, for instance.

The reason why there is little difference in the prices is because the priv rate is to cover the cost of travelling through the tunnel. Also for first class it is supposed to cover the cost of the food and booze.

 

[91101]

Special rate tickets are available on Eurostar services between
London/Ashford and Lille/Paris/Brussels/Avignon. Tickets and reservations
are obtainable on presentation of an International Reduced Rate Card or
Staff Travel Card. If the latter is used the Card should be carried on the
journey (a box does not need dating).

Definately not valid on any SNCF service though without a FIP.

TOC New Entrants however can only access the Eurostar Priv fares with a FIP card, however, this is a recent change, as your TOC card used to be valid for this purpose untill sometime last year!!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Just seems loads of people have them and use them either not enough or a little too much and then complain if for once they have to pay full fare, whereas I spend time saving money to go on trips.

I think you want to be careful about insulting the railway staff you have on this site there mate!! You say you and this woman were the only people "paying" assuming that since you "dont know how privs work" I assume you wouldn't know what a "Staff Travel Card" looked like either? So therefore how do you know that the other passengers on the service you were on didnt have season tickets, rovers, rangers, PTE Tickets etc? Did you conduct a full revenue check after the guard?

Staff travel is one of the best, if not THE best privledge that rail industry staff recieve. We as an industry are one of the last true "community" industries left, we share a common purpose, and a comonality of spirit. That we are prepared to extend our travel facilites to our immediate family is our concern. If you don't like it then heres a tip for you:

http://www.northernrail.org/northern/careers/vacancies
http://www.tpexpress.co.uk/about/careers/Vacancies.asp

 

[1D53]

Its fairly standard for employees of a company or organisation to recieve discounts on that companies products and services, whether that be Railway, ASDA, private healthcare etc.

 

[D841]

It seems very strange that is costs £3 more to go London- Lille than it does to got to Avingnon, which is very southerly France, are you sure those fares are correct!? Surely, the Lille fares are FC, and the Avingnon fares are standard?

I just took a look at the fare charts which are at the links quoted above.

The FIP fares London - Lille/Calais are £38 First single and £21 Standard single, returns cost double

The FIP fares London - Avignon are £60 First single and £35 Standard single, returns cost double

That's pretty well in line with my own understanding of the fares. Can someone post a link to the fares for Paris and Brussels as well, please?

 

[Frontera2]

As I work in the same building as my colleagues at Rail Staff Travel, I'm happy to help if I can with any queries - although overseas rather than domestic travel is my speciality..

All of the FIP fares for Eurostar (as well as certain other trains, such as TGV Lyria, Elipsos overnight Hotel trains etc etc) can be found at http://www.raileurope.co.uk/TRADE/AGENT_INFO/FARES_SHEETS/ALL_FARE_SHEETS/DEFAULT.ASP

Simply look at the relevant fare sheet, and you will find FIP fares.

To answer a question from the original poster, if you are safeguarded staff, or the dependant of safeguarded staff and have a "box pass" then you can simply use your box pass to obtain the FIP fares.. However, as others have stated, if you want to travel off the Eurostar network (eg, all Eurostar tickets to Brussels actually allow you to travel to anywhere in Belgium at no extra cost) then you will need a FIP card.

If you are non-safeguarded and have whats known as a "TOC-NE" (TOC New Entrant) card then you must have a FIP card to gain FIP fares on Eurostar.

 

[D841]

As I work in the same building as my colleagues at Rail Staff Travel, I'm happy to help if I can with any queries - although overseas rather than domestic travel is my speciality..

All of the FIP fares for Eurostar (as well as certain other trains, such as TGV Lyria, Elipsos overnight Hotel trains etc etc) can be found at http://www.raileurope.co.uk/TRADE/AGENT_INFO/FARES_SHEETS/ALL_FARE_SHEETS/DEFAULT.ASP

Simply look at the relevant fare sheet, and you will find FIP fares.

To answer a question from the original poster, if you are safeguarded staff, or the dependant of safeguarded staff and have a "box pass" then you can simply use your box pass to obtain the FIP fares.. However, as others have stated, if you want to travel off the Eurostar network (eg, all Eurostar tickets to Brussels actually allow you to travel to anywhere in Belgium at no extra cost) then you will need a FIP guard.

If you are non-safeguarded and have whats known as a "TOC-NE" (TOC New Entrant) card then you must have a FIP card to gain FIP fares on Eurostar.

Many thanks for clarifying that!

 

[Matt Taylor]

The links on that page don't work for me, I have Acrobat 9.0 but still I get nothing, is there another way of getting the FIP fares info online?



Matt

 

[D841]

As I work in the same building as my colleagues at Rail Staff Travel, I'm happy to help if I can with any queries - although overseas rather than domestic travel is my speciality..

All of the FIP fares for Eurostar (as well as certain other trains, such as TGV Lyria, Elipsos overnight Hotel trains etc etc) can be found at http://www.raileurope.co.uk/TRADE/AGENT_INFO/FARES_SHEETS/ALL_FARE_SHEETS/DEFAULT.ASP

Simply look at the relevant fare sheet, and you will find FIP fares.

Well - I'm not going to start my usual rant about non-availability of 1st class FIP fares, but I though I'd mention this: On Friday I called DB to try to book a 1st class FIP journey to Geneva for tomorrow. As usual, there was no 1st class FIP availability on Eurostar, despite there being "hundreds" of free seats in Leisure Select, and plenty of available 2nd class FIP fares. To his credit, the DB chap offered me a 1st class seat out of DB's own allocation - at £46.80 instead of £38 (that's €57 converted at whatever the daily rate of exchange was). Adding that to the identical £46.80 which he offered me for TGV Paris - Geneva gave me a total of £93.60. As Easyjet were offering me £95.40 return out of Liverpool (even at that short notice), I declined the offer.

Given the bad weather situation which has since arisen, it was probably the right choice, too.