Staff Travel on the Caledonian Sleeper

[daniel97]

I was looking at the Staff T&Cs for travel on the Sleeper, and the RDG website tells me only to book First Class (single occupancy birth and what not) only if I have the First Class entitlement

I haven't been in the railway long so a lot of this is still foreign to me, I would just like to know if this is something on-board staff also know of, and how to find out if I have the entitlement in the first place.

Seeing as it is leisure, I don't see why I would be unable to book first class

Thanks

 

[AlterEgo]

Yes the on board staff know that your ticket class must match your travel facilities.

If you’re not senior management you probably won’t have first class facilities. Put it this way, you’d know if you did. It will be indicated on your TOC Discount Card though (also known as a Priv).

 

[daniel97]

Yes the on board staff know that your ticket class must match your travel facilities.

If you’re not senior management you probably won’t have first class facilities. Put it this way, you’d know if you did. It will be indicated on your TOC Discount Card though (also known as a Priv).

Thank you

 

[greatkingrat]

However the booking system is changing next year.

Currently you have the choice of "First Class", "Standard Class" or "Seat", but after 25th Feb 2018, this changes to "Classic Solo", "Classic Standard" or "Seat". As there is no longer any reference to classes of travel does this mean that any Priv holder can book a solo berth?

 

[ag51ruk]

The staff travel restriction for Winter 2017/18 don't mention any changes to berth/seat types - as you would expect, they do specifically say:

"Holders of STD facilities may not travel in 1stClass accommodation, at a discounted rate. Those with STD facilities wishing to travel in 1st Class should pay the full public price."

 

[Flying Snail]

The staff travel restriction for Winter 2017/18 don't mention any changes to berth/seat types - as you would expect, they do specifically say:

"Holders of STD facilities may not travel in 1stClass accommodation, at a discounted rate. Those with STD facilities wishing to travel in 1st Class should pay the full public price."

It would hardly be the first time that ATOC/RDG have been behind the curve when it comes to accurate information.

Seats have always been Std class only.

For Berth bookings for travel after Feb 2018 the class based fares have been replaced as they are moving to an interim format to cope with the phasing in new of the stock and the removal of the current "Std Class" shared cabin for solo travellers.

Once the new stock is fully operational the additional option of the larger en-suite cabins will be added, presumable for a period in the transition phase these cabins will be available at the standard rates.

The current 1st class only option of single use of a cabin will be the only option available to solo travellers so keeping this as 1st Class would mean that only couples could travel Std. There is no question that from March 2018 onwards the 1st class designation no longer applies.

 

[causton]

The current 1st class only option of single use of a cabin will be the only option available to solo travellers so keeping this as 1st Class would mean that only couples could travel Std. There is no question that from March 2018 onwards the 1st class designation no longer applies.

Welcome news, as I would like to travel on the Sleeper with my dog at some time in the future and at the moment, without paying the full public rate, I cannot have a berth to myself and therefore book the pet space! Of course, with the new stock they may decide that it costs a lot more to clean up after pets and raise the charges back up...

 

[ag51ruk]

It would hardly be the first time that ATOC/RDG have been behind the curve when it comes to accurate information.

Seats have always been Std class only.

And the full restriction (which didn't seem relevant to the original question) says

"Seated Accommodation
Staff travel holders are not permitted to travel in the overnight seated accommodation on these services. However, they may travel in the seated accommodation on the legs of the journey between Fort William and Edinburgh and vice versa, and Kingussie and Inverness where the sleeper train forms a day service (reservations are not required). Free or privilege rate travel facilities can be used on these services. It should be noted that the seated section of the train is STD Class only"

The restrictions are specified by the TOC, not RDG.

 

[Sleepy]

Will be great if no longer STD or 1st designated berths, GWR did this several years ago, Solo cabins with PRIV rate is great !

 

[High Dyke]

And the full restriction (which didn't seem relevant to the original question) says

"Seated Accommodation
Staff travel holders are not permitted to travel in the overnight seated accommodation on these services. However, they may travel in the seated accommodation on the legs of the journey between Fort William and Edinburgh and vice versa, and Kingussie and Inverness where the sleeper train forms a day service (reservations are not required). Free or privilege rate travel facilities can be used on these services. It should be noted that the seated section of the train is STD Class only"

The restrictions are specified by the TOC, not RDG.

The Mem and I did that a few months back. Admittedly we travelled together, but we only have Standard PRIV travel - so we knew we weren't allowed to book the seated coach or 1st class. We'll use the service again when the new stock arrives.