Free travel arrangements for staff on different TOCs.

[pitdiver]

I got the priv rate added to my Oyster at King's Cross travel centre, with no problem at all

 

[dk1]

I got the priv rate added to my Oyster at King's Cross travel centre, with no problem at all

And mine at Liverpool Street a couple of weeks ago. Very helpful staff member at the main tube entrance.

Although I don’t need it so much these days thanks to the excellent Elizabeth Line.

 

[Haywain]

I got the priv rate added to my Oyster at King's Cross travel centre, with no problem at all

Safeguarded, are you? There's nowhere near the same restrictions on where you can get your discount loaded.

 

[Nick7555]

You can but for 'New Entrants' the priv rate applies only to National Rail services (Overground and TOCs).

Right okay does that included the Elizabeth line? Wonder if they will give the priv rate for all of TfL in the future.

Indeed. And trying to find a booking office who can put it on nowadays is like finding a needle in a hay stack.

My dad is safeguarded staff and when he comes down to London always struggles to find someone to do it, he doesn’t bother now.

 

[dk1]

Indeed. And trying to find a booking office who can put it on nowadays is like finding a needle in a hay stack.

Staff around the barriers can do it for you at any automatic ticket machine. Dont need a booking office.

 

[Watershed]

Right okay does that included the Elizabeth line?

Based on my understanding, it depends on the journey you're making.

If you're travelling to, from or via stations in the "core" (Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road, Farringdon, Whitechapel, Custom House and Woolwich), you don't get any discount at all, as this section of the Elizabeth line is deemed by TfL to be an Underground line for ticketing purposes. Hence they charge Tube-scale fares, which cannot be discounted by the "Priv New Entrant" (non-safeguarded) status.

For all other journeys (i.e. travelling to/from stations Paddington and west thereof, or to/from Stratford and east thereof) you do get the discount. For Liverpool Street I think it's even more complicated, as you'd surely get the discount for journeys to/from Stratford and eastwards - but the RSTL guide doesn't spell the details out exactly.

Wonder if they will give the priv rate for all of TfL in the future.

I highly doubt it.

 

[Haywain]

Wonder if they will give the priv rate for all of TfL in the future.

I believe that's planned for when hell freezes over!

Staff around the barriers can do it for you at any automatic ticket machine. Dont need a booking office.

Only if you are safeguarded.

 

[PupCuff]

For those with non-safeguarded facilities trying to load onto Oyster I'd recommend Paddington (Elizabeth Line). As long as you go in the hours stipulated in the document on the Rail Staff Travel website I've always found they've been able to do it without problem.

 

[12LDA28C]

Chiltern's free travel is Residential, Duty and Leisure travel on Chiltern and CrossCountry, but only Leisure travel on Arriva Rail London/London Overground and Grand Central.

Certain grades at Chiltern also get free Duty travel at any 'franchised TOC' which does not include OA operators.

 

[dk1]

Only if you are safeguarded.

Yes obviously. I was referring to the fact that a booking office is irrelevant in updating a priv oyster.

 

[Haywain]

Yes obviously. I was referring to the fact that a booking office is irrelevant in updating a priv oyster.

But the arrangements for non-safeguarded staff do require a booking office, and only at a very limited range of Elizabeth line stations. Therefore it is far from irrelevant.

 

[dk1]

But the arrangements for non-safeguarded staff do require a booking office, and only at a very limited range of Elizabeth line stations. Therefore it is far from irrelevant.

Fair enough. Only going by my own annual update of the Oyster between April & June. Most TfL staff have been exceptionally helpful even when busy. I always try to go off peak usually early to late evening during the first half of the week. I didn’t know booking offices where still a thing on the tube.

 

[PupCuff]

Theres just a bit of confusion I think.

There are two types of rail staff travel, safeguarded (for all intents and purposes, ex-BR) and non-safeguarded (post-BR).

Those with non-safeguarded travel can't have the discount added onto Oyster at tube stations; because the discount isn't valid there TfL don't allow it to be added (sometimes if you get an accommodating staff member they will do it but generally they'll decline which is fair enough, I'd hate to see anyone get in bother over it).

Those with non-safeguarded travel can have the NR only discount added to Oyster at certain Elizabeth Line stations, but it doesn't require a booking office. Indeed, I'm not sure if the booking office can add it, but staff certainly can via the TVMs. The details of which stations can add the discount for non-safeguarded staff (and when the discount can be added) can be found on the Rail Staff Travel website.

 

[Nick7555]

Based on my understanding, it depends on the journey you're making.

If you're travelling to, from or via stations in the "core" (Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road, Farringdon, Whitechapel, Custom House and Woolwich), you don't get any discount at all, as this section of the Elizabeth line is deemed by TfL to be an Underground line for ticketing purposes. Hence they charge Tube-scale fares, which cannot be discounted by the "Priv New Entrant" (non-safeguarded) status.

For all other journeys (i.e. travelling to/from stations Paddington and west thereof, or to/from Stratford and east thereof) you do get the discount. For Liverpool Street I think it's even more complicated, as you'd surely get the discount for journeys to/from Stratford and eastwards - but the RSTL guide doesn't spell the details out exactly.

So if I travelled from Ilford to Bond Street would it discount me for my journey up until Liverpool Street or the whole journey?

I believe that's planned for when hell freezes over!

Never say never!

 

[Watershed]

So if I travelled from Ilford to Bond Street would it discount me for my journey up until Liverpool Street or the whole journey?

Unfortunately you get no discount at all if the journey is deemed to include "Tube" travel. So it may be cheaper to touch out and back in at the last station to which you get a discount (Liverpool Street, I think).

 

[transportphoto]

So if I travelled from Ilford to Bond Street would it discount me for my journey up until Liverpool Street or the whole journey?

This is likely to be at Priv rate if travelling on an Oyster Pay as you Go with NR Only Priv discount.
I’ve seen people travel from Liverpool Street to Tottenham Court Road/similar journeys for 65p recently off peak.

But the arrangements for non-safeguarded staff do require a booking office, and only at a very limited range of Elizabeth line stations.

As has been mentioned above, but for clarity, it’s usually the station supervisor or similar who will come out and load NR Only Priv onto an Oyster. They’re usually quite specific about adhering to the published times! They’ll use a public facing ticket machine much similar to LUL’s approach.

 

[Haywain]

Unfortunately you get no discount at all if the journey is deemed to include "Tube" travel. So it may be cheaper to touch out and back in at the last station to which you get a discount (Liverpool Street, I think).

Checking my records, I have had a couple of journeys on the Elizabeth line (Abbey Wood - Farringdon, and Ealing Broadway - Farringdon) that have been charged at the priv rate, so it should it is considered a National Rail line for priv travel purposes.

 

[iphone76]

For the Elizabeth Line, we randomly got given GA smart passes for residential travel between Shenfield and Liverpool Street. These expired on 28th May 2024, but have recently been extended.

 

[Watershed]

Checking my records, I have had a couple of journeys on the Elizabeth line (Abbey Wood - Farringdon, and Ealing Broadway - Farringdon) that have been charged at the priv rate, so it should it is considered a National Rail line for priv travel purposes.

Ah, that is good news. Wonder what happens if you enter or exit using one of the 'unusual' entrances, e.g. the Bakerloo line one at Paddington, Barbican having got off the eastern end at Farringdon, and so forth.

 

[Sleepy]

Based on my understanding, it depends on the journey you're making.

If you're travelling to, from or via stations in the "core" (Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road, Farringdon, Whitechapel, Custom House and Woolwich), you don't get any discount at all, as this section of the Elizabeth line is deemed by TfL to be an Underground line for ticketing purposes. Hence they charge Tube-scale fares, which cannot be discounted by the "Priv New Entrant" (non-safeguarded) status.

For all other journeys (i.e. travelling to/from stations Paddington and west thereof, or to/from Stratford and east thereof) you do get the discount. For Liverpool Street I think it's even more complicated, as you'd surely get the discount for journeys to/from Stratford and eastwards - but the RSTL guide doesn't spell the details out exactly.


I highly doubt it.

A paper ticket is available for all PRIV holders for Paddington to Liverpool St (and Abbey Wood branch stations) for £1.65 just set destination as Zone U1234 (0792) route Elisabeth line only.
Paper tickets exist for journeys East from Liverpool St. (to Shenfield) and West from Paddington on Elisabeth line but Priv loaded Oyster fares will be cheaper in many cases.

 

[CloudyManday]

I

Except those working on it (via whoever has the concession agreement) - although I don't imagine it's very useful, after the first few times!

For ScotRail, I think they also get the Glasgow Subway.

Unfortunately we don't get free travel on the Subway. Just ScotRail and The Sleeper.

 

[Joshua_Harman]

Thameslink staff pass holders (I presume all GTR now) get free travel on the Croydon trams, an old agreement from the ‘First’ days

 

[Sleepy]

Thameslink staff pass holders (I presume all GTR now) get free travel on the Croydon trams, an old agreement from the ‘First’ days

So do all Rail Staff Leisure card holders.

 

[Joshua_Harman]

So do all Rail Staff Leisure card holders.

I had heard that but wasn’t sure how true it was or not.

Until it ceased recently I know the Luton airport to parkway shuttle bus used to accept them too!

 

[High Dyke]

So do all Rail Staff Leisure card holders.

I had heard that but wasn’t sure how true it was or not.

Yes, as mentioned in the RST Leisure Card Holders information NB: This travel concession is not available for holders of the RST Online Leisure Card (issued to Network Rail employees.)

 

[gner43008]

It is also worth knowing that NEXUS Tyne and Wear Metro staff, along with their free and discounted rail travel.
Also get free travel onboard local buses in the North East Area.

Go North East.
Stagecoach North East.
Arriva Northumbria.
Arriva North East.

 

[Joshua_Harman]

It is also worth knowing that NEXUS Tyne and Wear Metro staff, along with their free and discounted rail travel.
Also get free travel onboard local buses in the North East Area.

Go North East.
Stagecoach North East.
Arriva Northumbria.
Arriva North East.

They also accept our (Stagecoach) passes along with the other bus companies too

 

[Ticket_man]

GTR staff can get a ptac card that gives discount on oyster fares on the tube and DLR. Can be used for duty, residential and leisure travel.

 

[Joshua_Harman]

GTR staff can get a ptac card that gives discount on oyster fares on the tube and DLR. Can be used for duty, residential and leisure travel.

I believe LNER Staff are entitled to this also.

 

[puffpuffgive]

Am I wrong in thinking that all toc staff (drivers at least) get free duty travel on all other tocs (excluding London Underground)?