Working for South West Trains

[Class 455]

I understand employees of South West Trains get free travel on SWT and EMT but was wondering if they also get discounted travel on other TOCs?

I know that several other TOCs give their employees discounted travel with other operators but haven't been able to tell if this is standard practice or not.

 

[causton]

All TOCs (don't know if that includes Hull Trains and Grand Central) will give a 75% off card which can only be used on Anytime tickets. Therefore it helps on some short local services, or when you have little notice, but for long distances or in some areas Advances and off-peak tickets will beat it!

And yes, you will get a free SWT/EMT/Island Line pass.

 

[1e10]

All TOCs (don't know if that includes Hull Trains and Grand Central) will give a 75% off card which can only be used on Anytime tickets. Therefore it helps on some short local services, or when you have little notice, but for long distances or in some areas Advances and off-peak tickets will beat it!

And yes, you will get a free SWT/EMT/Island Line pass.

So free travel with SWT anytime and 75% off advance purchases with other TOCs?

 

[MidnightFlyer]

So free travel with SWT anytime and 75% off advance purchases with other TOCs?

Nope, the 'Priv' card only allows 75% off Anytime fares, most non-PTE rovers and rangers, and season tickets in excess of a certain length of time (IIRC).

 

[1e10]

Nope, the 'Priv' card only allows 75% off Anytime fares, most non-PTE rovers and rangers, and season tickets in excess of a certain length of time (IIRC).

Causton mentions some sort of pass specifically for SWT though?

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Causton mentions some sort of pass specifically for SWT though?

Yes, the OP would receive a pass allowing free unlimited travel on all SWT / Island Line services and presumably EMT too, as part of working for the company. The 'Priv' covers travel on any other TOC (i.e. non-Stagecoach franchises), with the features I mentioned.

NB - I'm not sure what the situation is with other companies - whilst Stagecoach seem to allow free travel across all their franchises IIRC First only give out a certain number of boxes to use on sister companies...

 

[Matt Taylor]

Causton mentions some sort of pass specifically for SWT though?

There are some discussions at the moment regarding the issue of discounted tickets for friends and family of SWT employees (for use on SWT only) however full details are not yet available.

 

[Aictos]

Yes, the OP would receive a pass allowing free unlimited travel on all SWT / Island Line services and presumably EMT too, as part of working for the company. The 'Priv' covers travel on any other TOC (i.e. non-Stagecoach franchises), with the features I mentioned.

NB - I'm not sure what the situation is with other companies - whilst Stagecoach seem to allow free travel across all their franchises IIRC First only give out a certain number of boxes to use on sister companies...

You're quite right, First only allow rail employees a certain number of boxes to use on sister TOCs and if a rail employee wants to use First buses they have to apply for a discounted weekly ticket...

However, unofficially most First staff use discretion towards other First colleagues but you will come across one who insists on following the rule book to the letter...

 

[Class 455]

All TOCs (don't know if that includes Hull Trains and Grand Central) will give a 75% off card which can only be used on Anytime tickets. Therefore it helps on some short local services, or when you have little notice, but for long distances or in some areas Advances and off-peak tickets will beat it!

And yes, you will get a free SWT/EMT/Island Line pass.

Thanks for the reply. I actually thought it might be for off peak only, a little bit surprised to discover its the reverse. That would definitely limit its use on long distance services.

However I did a little quick check on a journey planner and when used in conjunction with free EMT travel it could be beneficial on some long distance journeys. For example: travelling from London to Edinburgh. You could travel from St Pancras to Sheffield with EMT and get a cheap ticket from there to Doncaster. Then get an anytime open return from there to Edinburgh (normally £116.50) which presumably you could get discounted down to £29.12. I'm sure there must be other such examples as well.

There are some discussions at the moment regarding the issue of discounted tickets for friends and family of SWT employees (for use on SWT only) however full details are not yet available.

Thats something I've been wondering about as well.

 

[142094]

Arriva Trains UK staff should get free travel on group TOCs - so CrossCountry, ATW, Chiltern, LOROL and Tyne and Wear Metro. Some will also get PRIV passes, but depends on local conditions (e.g. Tyne and Wear Metro staff get PRIV for Northern and TPE only).

 

[causton]

In addition First get free travel on all their TOCs AFAIK and the staff member can buy discounted tickets (on FGW in the form of a whole-network day ranger, on other TOCs I believe it may be only a designated single/return journey) for people accompanying them such as friends or family

 

[142094]

Would be quite good to work for an Arriva group TOC and have a spouse working for First. Pretty much covers everywhere.

 

[Lrd]

Arriva Trains UK staff should get free travel on group TOCs - so CrossCountry, ATW, Chiltern, LOROL and Tyne and Wear Metro.

Also Grand Central as well I believe.

 

[142094]

Also Grand Central as well I believe.

Indeed, not sure how I left that one out.

 

[Aictos]

In addition First get free travel on all their TOCs AFAIK and the staff member can buy discounted tickets (on FGW in the form of a whole-network day ranger, on other TOCs I believe it may be only a designated single/return journey) for people accompanying them such as friends or family

Free travel is restricted to 16 boxes however each box allows travel from 00:00 on the dated box to end of service on the following day

So unofficially about 32 days worth

 

[jc1]

Do you also get discounts with tfl also?

 

[Stuart-h]

what about people who are contractors for network rail?