Rail Staff Travel 2011

[Sleepy]

Summer travel restrictions for PRIV holders now published on ATOC RST web site.

 

[First class]

Link: http://www.atoc.org/clientfiles/Fil...2011 STAFF TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS - APPROVED.pdf

DOES NOT BECOME VALID UNTIL 21 MAY 2011

The SET Pricing Manager has had a change of heart hasn't he, now only 5 banned HS1 trains and only applies between Ebbsfleet and London

All TOCs appear to have banned you from having free food/drink with a PRIV ticket. East Coast want you to pay £12.50 Monday-Friday for a "catering voucher" or the weekend first supplement on Sat/Sun.

 

[schwa]

Just to dig up a thread- does that mean if I was to buy a Priv First Class Anytime Single from Glasgow to Bristol via Birmingham New Street or Glasgow to London that I would have to pay for the 'free' catering?

If so I think I'll take the similarly priced aircraft...

 

[schwa]

Just to clarify- it is not possible to buy a First Class Ticket with the usual PRIV 75% discount?

 

[Mojo]

If you have a First class endorsed Priv then you are entitled to First class discounts. Either ''STD'' or ''1ST'' would appear on the pass.

With regards to food and drink, here is the policy of the companies you wish to travel with: (taken from http://www.atoc.org/clientfiles/Fil...11 STAFF TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS - APPROVEDv4.pdf)

CrossCountry: ''Staff with First Class travel facilities may partake of complimentary tea, coffee and soft drinks on CrossCountry services. Acceptance of alcohol or complimentary food is not permitted.''

Virgin Trains: ''First Class travel facilities holders may partake of complimentary tea, coffee and soft drinks on West Coast services. However, regardless of the type of staff travel facilities document held acceptance of alcohol or complimentary food is not permitted.''

However in my experience if you ask nicely you will get something. I have never been declined but YMMV.

With regards to ticket prices, I doubt buying a ticket the entire way is the cheapest. It will almost certainly be cheaper splitting.

 

[Mr Spock]

If you have a First class endorsed Priv then you are entitled to First class discounts. Either ''STD'' or ''1ST'' would appear on the pass.

With regards to food and drink, here is the policy of the companies you wish to travel with: (taken from http://www.atoc.org/clientfiles/Fil...11 STAFF TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS - APPROVEDv4.pdf)

CrossCountry: ''Staff with First Class travel facilities may partake of complimentary tea, coffee and soft drinks on CrossCountry services. Acceptance of alcohol or complimentary food is not permitted.''

Virgin Trains: ''First Class travel facilities holders may partake of complimentary tea, coffee and soft drinks on West Coast services. However, regardless of the type of staff travel facilities document held acceptance of alcohol or complimentary food is not permitted.''

However in my experience if you ask nicely you will get something. I have never been declined but YMMV.

With regards to ticket prices, I doubt buying a ticket the entire way is the cheapest. It will almost certainly be cheaper splitting.

The staff on Virgin do not ask what ticket you have and will give you food on thier way round, the trouble is there are more and more TM's telling staff that they must not take food and tell you off if you do.

 

[schwa]

Makes sense now. Thanks all.

 

[YorkshireRider]

On EC you can buy a voucher from the buffet which is now £5. It depends on what train and what you want whether its really worth it. Out of intrest do XC give free alcohol in first?

 

[Ferret]

Out of intrest do XC give free alcohol in first?

No they don't.

 

[DS]

Sorry to bump this - but it seemed the most appropriate place to put it. Just wondering if any XC staff or anyone else could help with the following.

Travelled Tamworth - Nottingham on an XC 170 on Saturday morning, was asked by the catering person if we had 1st tickets to which we replied yes, and asked for two coffees. When they arrived we were informed we would have to pay as we had passes and not tickets, and that complimentary tea/coffee has never been available on the (presumably Turbo-operated) services for free travel facilities holders.

I was more confused than anything else, given the ATOC restrictions state ''Staff with First Class travel facilities may partake of complimentary tea, coffee and soft drinks on CrossCountry services." According to the crew, the restrictions are wrong in what they state?

I very rarely travel on the XC 170s, and this was the first time I've been on one with catering so would like some clarification that the above is correct, or if anyone has had a similar experience?

Thanks

 

[Mr Spock]

Sorry to bump this - but it seemed the most appropriate place to put it. Just wondering if any XC staff or anyone else could help with the following.

Travelled Tamworth - Nottingham on an XC 170 on Saturday morning, was asked by the catering person if we had 1st tickets to which we replied yes, and asked for two coffees. When they arrived we were informed we would have to pay as we had passes and not tickets, and that complimentary tea/coffee has never been available on the (presumably Turbo-operated) services for free travel facilities holders.

I was more confused than anything else, given the ATOC restrictions state ''Staff with First Class travel facilities may partake of complimentary tea, coffee and soft drinks on CrossCountry services." According to the crew, the restrictions are wrong in what they state?

I very rarely travel on the XC 170s, and this was the first time I've been on one with catering so would like some clarification that the above is correct, or if anyone has had a similar experience?

Thanks

I have been told the same thing, I travelled from Stansted Airport to Peterborough and was talking to the trolley person before we left who said that it was not free to pass holders.

Originally I think it was not even free to ticket holders as I often saw people being charged.

I suppose that you could read into the conditions what you want as it could mean that you can only partake of the comp drinks only where they are available although it does not actually say this.

 

[All Line Rover]

Sorry to bump this - but it seemed the most appropriate place to put it. Just wondering if any XC staff or anyone else could help with the following.

Travelled Tamworth - Nottingham on an XC 170 on Saturday morning, was asked by the catering person if we had 1st tickets to which we replied yes, and asked for two coffees. When they arrived we were informed we would have to pay as we had passes and not tickets, and that complimentary tea/coffee has never been available on the (presumably Turbo-operated) services for free travel facilities holders.

I was more confused than anything else, given the ATOC restrictions state ''Staff with First Class travel facilities may partake of complimentary tea, coffee and soft drinks on CrossCountry services." According to the crew, the restrictions are wrong in what they state?

I very rarely travel on the XC 170s, and this was the first time I've been on one with catering so would like some clarification that the above is correct, or if anyone has had a similar experience?

Thanks

The catering in Turbostar services is not run by CrossCountry, but by a third-party (Rail Gourmet, I think).

They've decided not to offer free drinks to people with PRIV, and that's their decision. I too have seen one or two surprised First Class PRIV holders being denied a free drink on Turbostar services!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

If you have a First class endorsed Priv then you are entitled to First class discounts. Either ''STD'' or ''1ST'' would appear on the pass.

With regards to food and drink, here is the policy of the companies you wish to travel with: (taken from http://www.atoc.org/clientfiles/Fil...11 STAFF TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS - APPROVEDv4.pdf)

CrossCountry: ''Staff with First Class travel facilities may partake of complimentary tea, coffee and soft drinks on CrossCountry services. Acceptance of alcohol or complimentary food is not permitted.''

Virgin Trains: ''First Class travel facilities holders may partake of complimentary tea, coffee and soft drinks on West Coast services. However, regardless of the type of staff travel facilities document held acceptance of alcohol or complimentary food is not permitted.''

However in my experience if you ask nicely you will get something. I have never been declined but YMMV.

With regards to ticket prices, I doubt buying a ticket the entire way is the cheapest. It will almost certainly be cheaper splitting.

I have noticed in the document you quote that catering is not "barred" on the Arriva Premier Service. £18.80 for a PRIV FDS with a "complimentary" 3-course meal included isn't bad in my opinion, but it sounds too good to be true! Does anyone know what actually happens on this service?

Since you have "experience" of this, Mojo, does that mean that you have a First Class PRIV, or have you just observed other staff?

 

[premier01]

No they don't.

Another reason not to travel with XC-the 1st class tickets aren't cheap at all!


--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I have been told the same thing, I travelled from Stansted Airport to Peterborough and was talking to the trolley person before we left who said that it was not free to pass holders.

Originally I think it was not even free to ticket holders as I often saw people being charged.

I suppose that you could read into the conditions what you want as it could mean that you can only partake of the comp drinks only where they are available although it does not actually say this.

No free tea or coffee then if on a PRIV! No free alcohol on VT I can understand but not to give out a cup of flavourless coffee is taking it too far-it doesn't even taste good