Free rail travel for employees

[High Dyke]

Regarding the Elizabeth Line, does anyone know what the situation regarding priv travel is? I assume that as its run on behalf of TfL that there isn't any?

Info on Rail Staff Travel

Elizabeth line
The central core of the Elizabeth line between Paddington and Abbey Wood is expected to open on 24 May 2022. Initially services will operate on Mondays to Saturdays. The existing TfL Rail services from London Liverpool Street to Shenfield and London Paddington to Heathrow and Reading will be rebranded as Elizabeth line. National Rail staff travel facilities will be valid on all sections of the Elizabeth line.

Fares between Paddington and Abbey Wood will be based on the London Underground zonal fares scale. The easiest way to travel at staff discounted (priv) rate is to use an Oyster Card with the priv discount set. However, Oyster pay as you go may not be used west of West Drayton so to obtain privilege discount for journeys including travel west of West Drayton a ticket must be purchased.

With a Rail Staff Leisure Card or Staff Travel Card staff discounted (priv) paper singles and returns are also available, but cannot be purchased at stations in the central core. Please note that if using a single or return ticket, break of journey is not permitted at stations between Paddington and Abbey Wood.

Reduced rate season tickets are also available for journeys which include travel on Elizabeth line. Residential Passes are also available for eligible employees. For residential travel please apply to Rail Staff Travel as normal.

Duty Authority to Travel and Freight Duty cards are valid for travel on the Elizabeth line (subject to carrying the required diagram evidence for use of the pass).

Gold Status Passes, Silver Status Passes and dated Staff Travel Cards are valid across the whole of the Elizabeth line.

Blue Status Passes are valid as follows:

• Eastern Region – between Shenfield and Farringdon, and London Liverpool Street and Custom House for Excel
• London Midland Region – between Paddington and Whitechapel
• Southern Region – between Abbey Wood and Farringdon
• Western Region – between Reading, Heathrow and London Paddington
• Scottish Region – not valid

The maps on the RST website which cover the inter-available routes for Safeguarded Staff will be updated to include Elizabeth line availability as soon as RST receives new base versions from TfL.

5 May 2022

 

[MostlyHarmless]

TfL Rail is also part of the National Rail and Priv works on it. You can use Priv tickets or Priv Oyster.

The only difference is, you can't break a journey in central section. So, if you buy ticket from Slough to Abbey Wood, you can break the journey in Hayes and Harlington but not at Tottenham Court Road. However you can buy a ticket to TCR and then exit there.

Ah...thanks for that. Most useful

 

[PlexiDriver]

Another quick one - do you get the benefits straight away or do you have to complete a six month probationary period or something like that?

 

[Watershed]

Another quick one - do you get the benefits straight away or do you have to complete a six month probationary period or something like that?

It depends on the TOC. Some TOCs you get it as soon as you're set up in all the systems, others you have to wait 6 months before you get your Priv. You should get your staff pass straight away though, and you should be able to apply for a Priv discounted season ticket (if you'll be commuting on an operator which your staff pass doesn't cover) as soon as you're in the system.

The one that everyone has to wait 1 year for is FIP facilities, for rail travel in other European countries.

Some TOC-specific facilities also have a waiting period, e.g. FirstGroup employees can only buy family & friends etc. tickets once they have 6 months' service.

 

[PlexiDriver]

It depends on the TOC. Some TOCs you get it as soon as you're set up in all the systems, others you have to wait 6 months before you get your Priv. You should get your staff pass straight away though, and you should be able to apply for a Priv discounted season ticket (if you'll be commuting on an operator which your staff pass doesn't cover) as soon as you're in the system.

The one that everyone has to wait 1 year for is FIP facilities, for rail travel in other European countries.

Some TOC-specific facilities also have a waiting period, e.g. FirstGroup employees can only buy family & friends etc. tickets once they have 6 months' service.

Ah cool - sounds good - I'm going with GWR do you happen to know about them? No worries if not obviously! haha.

Just lastly, do TOCs give you free travel on their network if you're using their services to commute to the job? So I'm training in Reading so want to know if you get free travel on GWR basically!

 

[Watershed]

Ah cool - sounds good - I'm going with GWR do you happen to know about them? No worries if not obviously! haha.

Just lastly, do TOCs give you free travel on their network if you're using their services to commute to the job? So I'm training in Reading so want to know if you get free travel on GWR basically!

So at GWR, you should get your staff pass on day one (or possibly a temporary pass until they can issue you with a full plastic one with your photo). This will allow you free travel on all GWR services for all purposes (including commuting). You can also apply for a Priv discounted season ticket for yourself, your partner/spouse and any dependents (children) straight away as well.

After 3 months you will be issued with a Priv for 75% off single/return walkup tickets on other TOCs, as well as FirstGroup boxes entitling you to free travel on FG TOCs on any 10 x 2-day periods within a year.

After 6 months you will be able to buy family & friends tickets for FG TOCs and FG buses.

And after 12 months you will be able to apply for FIP facilities.

 

[PlexiDriver]

So at GWR, you should get your staff pass on day one (or possibly a temporary pass until they can issue you with a full plastic one with your photo). This will allow you free travel on all GWR services for all purposes (including commuting). You can also apply for a Priv discounted season ticket for yourself, your partner/spouse and any dependents (children) straight away as well.

After 3 months you will be issued with a Priv for 75% off single/return walkup tickets on other TOCs, as well as FirstGroup boxes entitling you to free travel on FG TOCs on any 10 x 2-day periods within a year.

After 6 months you will be able to buy family & friends tickets for FG TOCs and FG buses.

And after 12 months you will be able to apply for FIP facilities.

Wow thank you for such a comprehensive answer!

 

[TheLastMinute]

HEX staff get Priv and FIP, plus free travel on GWR between Paddington and Reading (no free travel on Elizabeth line).

Do you know if GWR pass holders can travel on HEX?

 

[dk1]

This is where I am slightly confused when differing conditions apply to the central core. So could a dated staff travel card (BR boxes) be used purely between Liverpool St & Paddington or would I have to tap in/out with a priv Oyster? Cheers.

 

[Watershed]

This is where I am slightly confused when differing conditions apply to the central core. So could a dated staff travel card (BR boxes) be used purely between Liverpool St & Paddington or would I have to tap in/out with a priv Oyster? Cheers.

Yes, Staff Travel Cards are valid in the Core the same as any other National Rail service

Regional Status passes are valid on different parts of the Core depending on the region.

Of course Priv Oyster would get you a discount on it all anyway.

 

[dk1]

Yes, Staff Travel Cards are valid in the Core the same as any other National Rail service

Regional Status passes are valid on different parts of the Core depending on the region.

Of course Priv Oyster would get you a discount on it all anyway.

Cheers for that. Not sure why this one is confusing me. Just got to pester someone to get let through the gates which I always hate doing.

 

[Watershed]

Cheers for that. Not sure why this one is confusing me. Just got to pester someone to get let through the gates which I always hate doing.

TfL have done their best to make it as confusing as possible, by wanting to have their cake and eat it!

 

[T-Karmel]

Do you know if GWR pass holders can travel on HEX?

Yes, they do get free travel on HEX and it's indeed with the GWR staff pass.

 

[MostlyHarmless]

So at GWR, you should get your staff pass on day one (or possibly a temporary pass until they can issue you with a full plastic one with your photo). This will allow you free travel on all GWR services for all purposes (including commuting). You can also apply for a Priv discounted season ticket for yourself, your partner/spouse and any dependents (children) straight away as well.

After 3 months you will be issued with a Priv for 75% off single/return walkup tickets on other TOCs, as well as FirstGroup boxes entitling you to free travel on FG TOCs on any 10 x 2-day periods within a year.

After 6 months you will be able to buy family & friends tickets for FG TOCs and FG buses.

And after 12 months you will be able to apply for FIP facilities.

I received my Priv card and FG card from day one with GWR.

 

[Watershed]

I received my Priv card and FG card from day one with GWR.

Maybe it's changed then.

 

[michael74]

Maybe it's changed then.

Looks that way, I started 5 weeks ago with GWR, I have all mine and all my spouse/dependants Free (GWR) passes, Priv ticket and First Group boxes.

 

[Efini92]

Maybe it's changed then.

I always thought it was a month for new employees before they got a Priv.

 

[michael74]

I always thought it was a month for new employees before they got a Priv.

Maybe each TOC is different, got all mine within a month.

 

[si_145653]

I have training with GWR in Swindon soon and see after the training most trains home are CrossCountry (2hr wait for the first GWR) - is travel included as CrossCountry are operating on the GWR network or covered with the duty authority pass?

 

[FGW_DID]

I have training with GWR in Swindon soon and see after the training most trains home are CrossCountry (2hr wait for the first GWR) - is travel included as CrossCountry are operating on the GWR network or covered with the duty authority pass?

No, your pass will not be valid for CrossCountry services - GWR only. I would have thought they would put you up in a hotel if travelling from Plymouth, have you enquired about that? Previous courses I’ve been on at Swindon, Paddington etc, folk from down your way were staying in hotels. Things may have changed though with DFT having a tighter reign over the purse strings!

 

[michael74]

I have training with GWR in Swindon soon and see after the training most trains home are CrossCountry (2hr wait for the first GWR) - is travel included as CrossCountry are operating on the GWR network or covered with the duty authority pass?

Cross Country and GWR have a reciprocal agreement for staff duty travel (you need to be in Uniform), you are able to travel on a service home, its also good manners to say hi to the TM and check its ok (in case the service is totally rammed etc).

 

[FGW_DID]

Cross Country and GWR have a reciprocal agreement for staff duty travel

Are you sure about that? I know there was a limited agreement during the pandemic but thought that had ended now.

 

[michael74]

Are you sure about that? I know there was a limited agreement during the pandemic but thought that had ended now.

Yes, I have just completed my 1st four weeks of Guards Training, they confirmed it in Training School at Swindon and a load of us also came home from Swindon on Cross Country services at the end of the weeks and the TM didn't bat an eyelid.

 

[Watershed]

I have training with GWR in Swindon soon and see after the training most trains home are CrossCountry (2hr wait for the first GWR) - is travel included as CrossCountry are operating on the GWR network or covered with the duty authority pass?

By default, your GWR staff pass would not include travel on CrossCountry; the fact that they operate on a number of the same routes doesn't change that.

However, you should enquire with your HR/recruitment contact as to whether they will either supply you with a specific pass allowing you to travel on XC (they should hold some), or issue you with a Duty Authority to Travel Card and a letter (or similar) justifying your travel as being for work purposes.

If your normal work location is Plymouth as per your profile, then I would expect them to either provide one of those options, if they aren't providing overnight hotel accommodation.

 

[michael74]

I have training with GWR in Swindon soon and see after the training most trains home are CrossCountry (2hr wait for the first GWR) - is travel included as CrossCountry are operating on the GWR network or covered with the duty authority pass?

Also it is sometimes just as quick to get a train to Reading and pick up a GWR to Devon via Newbury.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 May 2022 ==

By default, your GWR staff pass would not include travel on CrossCountry; the fact that they operate on a number of the same routes doesn't change that.

However, you should enquire with your HR/recruitment contact as to whether they will either supply you with a specific pass allowing you to travel on XC (they should hold some), or issue you with a Duty Authority to Travel Card and a letter (or similar) justifying your travel as being for work purposes.

If your normal work location is Plymouth as per your profile, then I would expect them to either provide one of those options, if they aren't providing overnight hotel accommodation.

They are also issuing Duty Authority to Travel Cards

 

[si_145653]

Cross Country and GWR have a reciprocal agreement for staff duty travel (you need to be in Uniform), you are able to travel on a service home, its also good manners to say hi to the TM and check its ok (in case the service is totally rammed etc).

Thanks for sharing. Thats great and really handy to know.

I have seen staff from each TOC travelling on others trains so that makes sense.

 

[FGW_DID]

Yes, I have just completed my 1st four weeks of Guards Training, they confirmed it in Training School at Swindon and a load of us also came home from Swindon on Cross Country services at the end of the weeks and the TM didn't bat an eyelid.

That’s good to know (and handy) it still stands.

 

[MostlyHarmless]

Thanks for sharing. Thats great and really handy to know.

I have seen staff from each TOC travelling on others trains so that makes sense.

I've just seen a reminder on the GWR Colleagues FB page that this arrangement ends on the 25th June this year

 

[michael74]

I've just seen a reminder on the GWR Colleagues FB page that this arrangement ends on the 25th June this year

Indeed just seen that myself, I hope it's extended.

 

[si_145653]

I've just seen a reminder on the GWR Colleagues FB page that this arrangement ends on the 25th June this year

Thanks for letting me know as I am not in that FB group. I hope it gets extended.