PRIV Oyster on Elizabeth line, issues again

[father_jack]

Hi folks, further to this thread https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/priv-oyster.234364/page-6 and the quoted advice below from RSTL on 7th February 2023..........

NR Priv Discount on Oyster for holders of the Rail Staff Leisure Card - updated 7 February 2023​

This news item applies only to non-safeguarded staff who entered rail service after 31 March 1996 and hold the Rail Staff Leisure Card. It does not apply to safeguarded employees issued with the Staff Travel Card, or Network Rail employees issued with the RST Online Leisure Card.

The Elizabeth Line have confirmed with Rail Staff Travel that the discount can be set at the following Elizabeth Line stations, between the times shown in the table.

Your Oyster card must be registered - if it isn’t please go to oyster.tfl.gov.uk/oyster/entry.do

Station	Monday to Friday	Saturday	Sunday
Ilford	10.00 – 15.00 hrs	10.00 – 17.00 hrs	10.00 – 17.00 hrs
Romford	10.00 – 15.00 hrs	10.00 – 17.00 hrs
Ealing Broadway	10.00 – 15.00 hrs	10.00 – 17.00 hrs	10.00 – 17.00 hrs
West Ealing	10.00 – 15.00 hrs	10.00 – 17.00 hrs
Hayes and Harlington	10.00 – 15.00 hrs	10.00 – 17.00 hrs	10.00 – 17.00 hrs
Southall	10.00 – 15.00 hrs	10.00 – 17.00 hrs
West Drayton	10.00 – 15.00 hrs	10.00 – 17.00 hrs
Abbey Wood	10.00 – 15.00 hrs	10.00 – 17.00 hrs	10.00 – 17.00 hrs
Custom House *	10.00 – 15.00 hrs	10.00 – 17.00 hrs	10.00 – 17.00 hrs
Woolwich *	10.00 – 15.00 hrs	10.00 – 17.00 hrs	10.00 – 17.00 hrs
Canary Wharf *	10.00 – 15.00 hrs	10.00 – 17.00 hrs	10.00 – 17.00 hrs
Paddington *	10.00 – 15.00 hrs	10.00 – 17.00 hrs	10.00 – 17.00 hrs

At stations marked with a * you will need to ask to speak to a manager so they can set the discount.

If you have any issues getting the discount set please contact TfL directly via tfl.gov.uk/help-and-contact/contact-us-about-tube-and-rail

If your query is not resolved by TfL you can contact London Travel Watch. Their details can be found at www.londontravelwatch.org.uk/

Well yesterday I went to Paddington Elizabeth Line ticket area to get my National Rail discount added to my Oyster, I was going Paddington to Hackney Central changing at Stratford via Elizabeth Line and London Overground.

After finding a staff member I was morosely told "the manager is in a meeting and she can't be disturbed, I radioed to ask for someone else earlier", I asked when was she available (could have had breakfast etc) I was told "probably not all day" and nobody else is trained to put the discount on.

Really ? Yesterday cost me £5.60 public rate vice 25% of that.

On a better note my ex BR safeguarded companion had no issue getting his type of PRIV added at the main London Underground ticket area at Paddington. In addition he touched in when he didn't need to because his box covered our journey, the man at Hackney Central told him not to tap out and call today where the errant touch in was ungrudgingly cancelled and the incomplete journey refunded.

 

[virgintrain1]

If they can't load the discount, you cannot purchase the correct ticket. As you came in the advisied time I'd just remind them on the conditions of carriage and asked to be let through the gates

 

[Class800]

'trained to put a discount on' - to be honest that shows many of the issues on the railways these days. Most of what I do at work I've never been trained to do and would never dream of being asked to be

 

[MikeWh]

I have to admit to being bemused by this situation. I gather that the limited number of people able to set the discount is due to the union (rmt?) failing to come to agreement with the TOC. The problem I have is that many of the people being inconvenienced by this are members of the same union.

I seriously would be inclined to write a strong letter of complaint to my union rep.

 

[Surreytraveller]

It seems ridiculous to me. When I get my discount renewed every year, the choices all come up on the screen. Surely any member of staff can do it at any station, be it Overground, Underground or Elizabeth Line.
I don't understand why additional training is required to push a different button on a touch screen

 

[Haywain]

'trained to put a discount on' - to be honest that shows many of the issues on the railways these days.

I don't understand why additional training is required to push a different button on a touch screen

This is all about how heavily unionised London Underground is. When union reps from the TOC I worked for went on union training courses that had TfL reps attending, they always came back shocked by how strict the TfL reps were about sticking to rules and agreements. I expect the TfL reps were equally shocked by the flexibility of TOC reps.

 

[Surreytraveller]

I just don't understand how setting a discount on an Oystercard has such strict rules about who can do it. Why would a union get involved in it? Either a member of staff is trained how to use a machine or they're not?

 

[Haywain]

Why would a union get involved in it?

Because under a collective bargaining agreement they agree to the scope of what forms the duties of each role. It appears that in TfL this is done in great detail and every opportunity is taken to block changes.