Free travel arrangements for staff on different TOCs.

[stadler]

Following on from the thread last week about free travel on DFT owned TOCs i thought i would create a thread giving an overview of which TOCs staff get free travel on which other TOCs. I know it was mentioned that a master thread would be useful regarding free travel and reciprocal agreements. So i thought i would create one giving an overview.

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FREE TRAVEL:

AVANTI WEST COAST STAFF:

Free Travel (Leisure and Residential and Duty):
• Avanti West Coast

Limited Free Travel (Ten Boxes each year):
• Great Western Railway
• Hull Trains
• Lumo
• South Western Railway

C2C STAFF:

Free Travel (Leisure and Residential and Duty):
• C2C
• Greater Anglia

CALEDONIAN SLEEPER STAFF:

Free Travel (Leisure and Residential and Duty):
• Caledonian Sleeper
• Scotrail

CHILTERN RAILWAYS STAFF:

Free Travel (Leisure and Residential and Duty):
• Chiltern Railways
• Cross Country
• Grand Central
• London Overground

CROSS COUNTRY STAFF:

Free Travel (Leisure and Residential and Duty):
• Chiltern Railways
• Cross Country
• Grand Central
• London Overground

CROYDON TRAMLINK STAFF:

Free Travel (Leisure and Residential and Duty):
• Croydon Tramlink
• Docklands Light Railway
• Elizabeth Line
• London Buses
• London Overground
• London Underground

DOCKLANDS LIGHT RAILWAY STAFF:

Free Travel (Leisure and Residential and Duty):
• Croydon Tramlink
• Docklands Light Railway
• Elizabeth Line
• London Buses
• London Overground
• London Underground

EAST MIDLANDS RAILWAY STAFF:

Free Travel (Leisure and Residential and Duty):
• East Midlands Railway
• Greater Anglia
• London North Western Railway
• Merseyrail
• West Midlands Railway

Free Travel (Leisure and Duty only):
• London North Eastern Railway

Free Travel (Residential only):
• Gatwick Express
• Great Northern
• Southern
• Thameslink

ELIZABETH LINE STAFF:

Free Travel (Leisure and Residential and Duty):
• Croydon Tramlink
• Docklands Light Railway
• Elizabeth Line
• London Buses
• London Overground
• London Underground

EUROSTAR STAFF:

.

EUROTUNNEL STAFF:

.

GATWICK EXPRESS STAFF:

Free Travel (Leisure and Residential and Duty):
• Gatwick Express
• Great Northern
• Southeastern
• Southern
• Thameslink

Free Travel (Residential only):
• East Midlands Railway
• London North Eastern Railway (London Kings Cross to Newark North Gate only)

GRAND CENTRAL STAFF:

Free Travel (Leisure and Residential and Duty):
• Chiltern Railways
• Cross Country
• Grand Central
• London Overground
• Northern
• Tyne & Wear Metro

Free Travel (Duty only):
• Gatwick Express
• Great Northern
• London North Eastern Railway
• Southern
• Thameslink

GREAT NORTHERN STAFF:

Free Travel (Leisure and Residential and Duty):
• Gatwick Express
• Great Northern
• Southeastern
• Southern
• Thameslink

Free Travel (Residential only):
• East Midlands Railway
• London North Eastern Railway (London Kings Cross to Newark North Gate only)

GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY STAFF:

Free Travel (Leisure and Residential and Duty):
• Great Western Railway

Limited Free Travel (Ten Boxes each year):
• Avanti West Coast
• Hull Trains
• Lumo
• South Western Railway

GREATER ANGLIA STAFF:

Free Travel (Leisure and Residential and Duty):
• C2C
• East Midlands Railway
• Greater Anglia
• London North Western Railway
• Merseyrail
• West Midlands Railway

HEATHROW EXPRESS STAFF:

Free Travel (Leisure and Residential and Duty):
• Heathrow Express

HULL TRAINS STAFF:

Free Travel (Leisure and Residential and Duty):
• Hull Trains

Limited Free Travel (Ten Boxes each year):
• Avanti West Coast
• Great Western Railway
• Lumo
• South Western Railway

IRISH RAIL STAFF:

Free Travel (Leisure and Residential and Duty):
• Irish Rail
• Translink Buses (Goldline & Metro & Ulsterbus)
• Translink Northern Ireland Railways

LONDON NORTH EASTERN RAILWAY STAFF:

Free Travel (Leisure and Residential and Duty):
• London North Eastern Railway

Free Travel (Leisure and Duty only):
• East Midlands Railway

Free Travel (Residential and Duty only):
• Northern (Leeds to York only)

Free Travel (Duty only):
• Grand Central

Free Travel (Residential only):
• Gatwick Express
• Great Northern
• Southern
• Thameslink

LONDON NORTH WESTERN RAILWAY STAFF:

Free Travel (Leisure and Residential and Duty):
• East Midlands Railway
• Greater Anglia
• London North Western Railway
• Merseyrail
• West Midlands Railway

LONDON OVERGROUND STAFF:

Free Travel (Leisure and Residential and Duty):
• Chiltern Railways
• Cross Country
• Croydon Tramlink
• Docklands Light Railway
• Grand Central
• London Buses
• London Overground
• London Underground

LONDON UNDERGROUND STAFF:

Free Travel (Leisure and Residential and Duty):
• Croydon Tramlink
• Docklands Light Railway
• Elizabeth Line
• London Buses
• London Overground
• London Underground

LUMO STAFF:

Free Travel (Leisure and Residential and Duty):
• Lumo
• Northern (Newcastle to Morpeth only)

Limited Free Travel (Ten Boxes each year):
• Avanti West Coast
• Great Western Railway
• Hull Trains
• South Western Railway

MERSEYRAIL STAFF:

Free Travel (Leisure and Residential and Duty):
• East Midlands Railway
• Greater Anglia
• London North Western Railway
• Merseyrail
• Northern
• West Midlands Railway

NETWORK RAIL STAFF:

.

NORTHERN STAFF:

Free Travel (Leisure and Residential and Duty):
• Grand Central
• Lumo (Newcastle to Morpeth only)
• Merseyrail
• Northern
• Tyne & Wear Metro

Free Travel (Residential and Duty only):
• London North Eastern Railway (Leeds to York only)

Free Travel (Residential only):
• Trans Pennine Express

SCOTRAIL STAFF:

Free Travel (Leisure and Residential and Duty):
• Caledonian Sleeper
• Scotrail

SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY STAFF:

Free Travel (Leisure and Residential and Duty):
• South Western Railway

Limited Free Travel (Ten Boxes each year):
• Avanti West Coast
• Great Western Railway
• Hull Trains
• Lumo

SOUTHERN STAFF:

Free Travel (Leisure and Residential and Duty):
• Gatwick Express
• Great Northern
• Southeastern
• Southern
• Thameslink

Free Travel (Residential only):
• East Midlands Railway
• London North Eastern Railway (London Kings Cross to Newark North Gate only)

SOUTHEASTERN STAFF:

Free Travel (Leisure and Residential and Duty):
• Gatwick Express
• Great Northern
• Southeastern
• Southern
• Thameslink

THAMESLINK STAFF:

Free Travel (Leisure and Residential and Duty):
• Gatwick Express
• Great Northern
• Southeastern
• Southern
• Thameslink

Free Travel (Residential only):
• East Midlands Railway
• London North Eastern Railway (London Kings Cross to Newark North Gate only)

TRANS PENNINE EXPRESS STAFF:

Free Travel (Leisure and Residential and Duty):
• Trans Pennine Express

Free Travel (Residential only):
• Northern

TRANSLINK NORTHERN IRELAND RAILWAYS STAFF:

Free Travel (Leisure and Residential and Duty):
• Irish Rail
• Translink Buses (Goldline & Metro & Ulsterbus)
• Translink Northern Ireland Railways

TRANSPORT FOR WALES STAFF:

Free Travel (Leisure and Residential and Duty):
• Transport For Wales

TYNE & WEAR METRO STAFF:

Free Travel (Leisure and Residential and Duty):
• Grand Central (but restrictions on certain Friday / Saturday / Sunday services)
• Northern (only valid in the NE area - this is the area between Newcastle / Carlisle / Chathill / Bishop Auckland / Darlington / Whitby / Ashington - not valid on other routes)
• Tyne & Wear Metro

WEST MIDLANDS RAILWAY STAFF:

Free Travel (Leisure and Residential and Duty):
• East Midlands Railway
• Greater Anglia
• London North Western Railway
• Merseyrail
• West Midlands Railway

--------------------------------

DISCOUNTED TRAVEL:

EMPLOYEES OF ALL NATIONAL RAIL TOCS:

Almost all employees of National Rail TOCs will receive a staff travel card giving them PRIV rate fares on many tickets.

This entitles you to 75% off the following tickets:

• Single Tickets
• Return Tickets
• Ranger Tickets
• Rover Tickets

Note that it can only be used for leisure travel.

EMPLOYEES OF ALL FIRST GROUP TOCS:

All employees of First Group owned TOCs are entitled to purchase the following tickets each year:

• 48x One Day Rover (STD Class) tickets for Avanti West Coast (costs £6 Adult or £3 Child each)

• 48x One Day Rover (STD Class) tickets for Great Western Railway (costs £6 Adult or £3 Child each)

• 48x One Day Rover (STD Class) tickets for South Western Railway (costs £6 Adult or £3 Child each)

• 20x Weekly First Bus Rover M tickets (valid on all First Bus services in the UK for one week) (costs £8 each)

• 12x One Day Rover (STD Class) tickets for both Great Western Railway & South Western Railway (valid on both) (costs £10 Adult or £6 Child each)

• 12x One Day Rover (1ST Class) tickets for Great Western Railway (costs £30 Adult or £15 Child each)

• 12x One Day Rover or Three Day Rover tickets for Lumo (costs £14 each for One Day ticket or £21 each for Three Day ticket)

• 8x One Day Rover (STD Class) tickets for Hull Trains (costs £12 Adult or £6 Child each)

To be eligible for the above you must work for one of the five First Group TOCs (or any other part of First Group too):

• Avanti West Coast
• Great Western Railway
• Hull Trains
• Lumo
• South Western Railway

Additionally if you work for any other part of First Group such as, First Rail, First Bus, Corporate, FTS, SPS, etc, then you are also entitled. All employees of any part of First Group can purchase these.

You also must have been employed for at least six months before being eligible to purchase these.

CERTAIN TOC STAFF WHO LIVE IN LONDON:

Employees of some TOCs who live within the Greater London border are entitled to a London Underground PTAC (Privilege Travel Authority Card) card.

This gives a 75% discount on Pay As You Go fares on London Underground / London Overground / Elizabeth Line / Docklands Light Railway services. However it is not valid for Croydon Tramlink / London Buses / Cable Car / River Boat services.

To be eligible for this PTAC you must work for one of these six TOCs:

• Eurostar
• Gatwick Express
• Great Northern
• London North Eastern Railway
• Southern
• Thameslink

Additionally you must live within the Greater London county border. It is not available to staff who live outside of the Greater London area.

It is only available for staff members and not for dependents. However the one exception to this Eurostar which does allow dependents to receive one.

--------------------------------

Leisure means being able to travel free on your days off or when you are not working.

Residential means free travel between your home and work or vice versa only.

Duty means free travel while you are on duty for example travelling between stations to get to your next train.

I will attempt to keep this list updated if things change in the future.

If anyone can help with any information to complete the above data that would be much appreciated. Some of the information above is not complete for all TOCs. Also feel free to point out any errors.

 

[greatkingrat]

London Underground / London Overground / Elizabeth Line all have reciprocal travel on each others services via the Staff Oyster card (including the bits outside London).

 

[LowLevel]

EMR - free duty and leisure travel on LNER, *not* residential (also the other way round) - don't ask me why residential travel is omitted but it is.

EMR/GTR (All brands) reciprocal - free residential travel only - no leisure or duty travel.

 

[scrapy]

Northern staff also get Grand Central, Merseyrail and Tyne and Wear Metro, plus Lumo (Morpeth to Newcastle only). These are both residential and leisure travel.

Consequently these TOCs staff also get to use Northern.

 

[tiptoptaff]

HeX is now a part of GWR and so you can take it under the GWR umbrella

 

[moonie95]

London Underground / Elizabeth Line / London overground get free bus travel with buses with TfL roundel via the staff oyster, staff pass is also valid on routes on Thameslink for example Farringdon to London Bridge. Also some of the core of Great Northern services which terminate at Moorgate.
Also DLR is included and Trams.
Certain routes to Watford on London Northwestern from Euston

 

[stadler]

London Underground / London Overground / Elizabeth Line all have reciprocal travel on each others services via the Staff Oyster card (including the bits outside London).

Thank you. I have added those. Do you know is there any arrangements with Croydon Tram and Docklands Light Railway and London Buses staff getting free travel on Elizabeth Line and London Overground and London Underground too and vice versa? They come under TFL too so i would be surprised if not?

EMR - free duty and leisure travel on LNER, *not* residential (also the other way round) - don't ask me why residential travel is omitted but it is.

EMR/GTR (All brands) reciprocal - free residential travel only - no leisure or duty travel.

Thank you for the information. That arrangement with EMR and LNER allowing leisure travel and duty travel but not residential travel is very odd. I could certainly understand if it was the other way round but this way makes no sense.

Northern staff also get Grand Central, Merseyrail and Tyne and Wear Metro, plus Lumo (Morpeth to Newcastle only). These are both residential and leisure travel.

Consequently these TOCs staff also get to use Northern.

Thank you. I have added these. Northern staff get free travel on a lot more than i thought.

HeX is now a part of GWR and so you can take it under the GWR umbrella

Is that all Heathrow Express staff now? I might be wrong but i thought it was just the drivers that were GWR now but Heathrow Express still had their own staff for most other roles?

London Underground / Elizabeth Line / London overground get free bus travel with buses with TfL roundel via the staff oyster, staff pass is also valid on routes on Thameslink for example Farringdon to London Bridge. Also some of the core of Great Northern services which terminate at Moorgate.
Also DLR is included and Trams.
Certain routes to Watford on London Northwestern from Euston

Does the opposite also apply? So bus drivers get free travel on Elizabeth Line and London Overground and London Underground services?

So for TFL TOCs staff they get free travel on LNWR between Euston and Watford and TL between London Bridge and Farringdon (or St Pancras possibly) and GN between Moorgate and Finsbury Park only? I just want to make sure i get the information correct? Also is this a reciprocal agreement? So these National Rail TOCs staff also get free travel on certain TFL routes?

Also does anyone know whether the Arriva TOCs staff get free travel on Arriva buses or if the First TOCs staff get free travel on First buses? Or any other similar arrangements anywhere in the UK with rail staff getting free bus travel or vice versa?

 

[greatkingrat]

All staff employed on any TfL mode get free travel on all other TfL modes.

As for routes like Moorgate-Finsbury Park or the Thameslink core, this is just the standard interavailability of Tube/NR tickets and applies to anyone, staff or not. So it probably doesn't need to be listed here.

 

[moonie95]

Does the opposite also apply? So bus drivers get free travel on Elizabeth Line and London Overground and London Underground services?

So for TFL TOCs staff they get free travel on LNWR between Euston and Watford and TL between London Bridge and Farringdon (or St Pancras possibly) and GN between Moorgate and Finsbury Park only? I just want to make sure i get the information correct? Also is this a reciprocal agreement? So these National Rail TOCs staff also get free travel on certain TFL routes?

Also does anyone know whether the Arriva TOCs staff get free travel on Arriva buses or if the First TOCs staff get free travel on First buses? Or any other similar arrangements anywhere in the UK with rail staff getting free bus travel or vice versa?

Yeah TfL Bus Operators also get free travel on Underground/DLR/London overground/Elizabeth Line/Croydon Trams as well, it’s all part of the TfL network. Only things TfL staff have to pay for is the TfL river boats and Emirates Cable car.

I don’t think there’s reciprocal travel for staff between Finsbury Lark and Moorgate on great northern or Kings Cross to London Bridge via using London Underground.

 

[Ses16]

Good this got a pin, very handy!

 

[OliverH68]

SWR staff get special rates on Hovertravel/Wightlink/Red Funnel.

All FirstGroup TOCs also get £6 day rover tickets on all FirstGroup TOCs for themselves/friends/family.

All Arriva TOCs get travel on NEXUS Tyne & Wear Metro as well.

 

[168lover]

Thank you. I have added those. Do you know is there any arrangements with Croydon Tram and Docklands Light Railway and London Buses staff getting free travel on Elizabeth Line and London Overground and London Underground too and vice versa? They come under TFL too so i would be surprised if not?


Thank you for the information. That arrangement with EMR and LNER allowing leisure travel and duty travel but not residential travel is very odd. I could certainly understand if it was the other way round but this way makes no sense.


Thank you. I have added these. Northern staff get free travel on a lot more than i thought.


Is that all Heathrow Express staff now? I might be wrong but i thought it was just the drivers that were GWR now but Heathrow Express still had their own staff for most other roles?


Does the opposite also apply? So bus drivers get free travel on Elizabeth Line and London Overground and London Underground services?

So for TFL TOCs staff they get free travel on LNWR between Euston and Watford and TL between London Bridge and Farringdon (or St Pancras possibly) and GN between Moorgate and Finsbury Park only? I just want to make sure i get the information correct? Also is this a reciprocal agreement? So these National Rail TOCs staff also get free travel on certain TFL routes?

Also does anyone know whether the Arriva TOCs staff get free travel on Arriva buses or if the First TOCs staff get free travel on First buses? Or any other similar arrangements anywhere in the UK with rail staff getting free bus travel or vice versa?

Hex staff the hosts on the trains and at the selling podiums at Heathrow Central, T5 and Paddington. Airport stations are owned and operated directly by the airport who's staff get free travel on Hex and I believe 50% off eliz line between Heathrow and Paddington

 

[puffpuffgive]

Do TOC staff get any discounts on other TOCs, or is it just the free passes on their own TOCs (and reciprocal deals set out above)?

 

[stadler]

Do TOC staff get any discounts on other TOCs, or is it just the free passes on their own TOCs (and reciprocal deals set out above)?

Almost all rail staff have a priv pass giving 75% off all train tickets. So even without free travel they do get a very generous 75% discount.

 

[puffpuffgive]

Almost all rail staff have a priv pass giving 75% off all train tickets. So even without free travel they do get a very generous 75% discount.

Oh ok, that’s great, thanks for letting me know.

 

[Watershed]

As for routes like Moorgate-Finsbury Park or the Thameslink core, this is just the standard interavailability of Tube/NR tickets and applies to anyone, staff or not. So it probably doesn't need to be listed here.

There isn't always full interavailability for staff passes, so it's probably worth specifying to avoid any doubt.

Also does anyone know whether the Arriva TOCs staff get free travel on Arriva buses or if the First TOCs staff get free travel on First buses? Or any other similar arrangements anywhere in the UK with rail staff getting free bus travel or vice versa?

In addition to the free travel you've listed, I understand that FirstGroup TOC staff can buy up to 25 × £6(?) day tickets for each FG TOC each year. These can be for family/friends or the staff member themselves (if they've run out of FG boxes).

Each day ticket is valid for the chosen FG TOC, but there is also a slightly dearer GWR + SWR combined day ticket (£10?) for which there's a separate annual allowance. There's also a first class version for some of the FG TOCs.

In addition to the above I believe it's possible to buy day tickets valid on all FG bus services across the country. Also in the region of £6 I believe.

 

[tiptoptaff]

There isn't always full interavailability for staff passes, so it's probably worth specifying to avoid any doubt.


In addition to the free travel you've listed, I understand that FirstGroup TOC staff can buy up to 25 × £6(?) day tickets for each FG TOC each year. These can be for family/friends or the staff member themselves (if they've run out of FG boxes).

Each day ticket is valid for the chosen FG TOC, but there is also a slightly dearer GWR + SWR combined day ticket (£10?) for which there's a separate annual allowance. There's also a first class version for some of the FG TOCs.

In addition to the above I believe it's possible to buy day tickets valid on all FG bus services across the country. Also in the region of £6 I believe.

The bus tickets are weekly

 

[dodecahedron67]

All FirstGroup UK colleagues who have completed six months’ service are eligible for FirstGroup TOC rail discounts shown below. These are in addition to any offers they may be entitled to locally.

​

Each year, eligible colleagues can purchase:

• 48 x 1 Day Rover rail tickets for Great Western Railway, Avanti West Coast or SWR. These cost £6 per adult and £3 per child.
• 8 x 1 Day Rover rail tickets for Hull Trains. These cost £12 per adult and £6 per child.
• 12 x GWR First Class Day Rover tickets. These cost £30 per adult and £15 per child.
• 12 x Combined Day Rover Rail tickets for South Western Railway & GWR. These cost just £10 per adult and £6 per child.
• 12 x Lumo tickets per employee per year (regardless of whether 1 day rover or 3-day rover) £14 per person for 1 day rover ticket or £21 per person for 3 day rover ticket.

All UK employees who have completed six months’ service with FirstGroup are eligible for these discounts. These are in addition to any local offers.

Each year, you can purchase 20 FirstWeek bus mTickets, at £8 each. (Scratchcard tickets are no longer avalible)

These will be automatically emailed and once the mTicket code is activated on the First Bus app, it's valid for seven consecutive days and can be used by one person on First Bus services.

These perks are for ALL FirstGroup employees, regardless of if employed by First Bus, Rail, Corporate, or alternative (like FTS or SPS)
There are various restrictions of certain trains (Avanti, Lumo), times (SWR, HT), or both (GWR) which are not valid

 

[Horizon22]

Almost all rail staff have a priv pass giving 75% off all train tickets. So even without free travel they do get a very generous 75% discount.

Be careful with ALL - it's for leisure travel only.

Discounted rate season tickets are available although that is a slightly different process.

 

[baz962]

Be careful with ALL - it's for leisure travel only.

Discounted rate season tickets are available although that is a slightly different process.

Yes I had a priv season ticket before. Still 75% off , but you have to fill out a form and it's between your home station and nearest to work. You can deviate slightly with the nearest to work , but rst will possibly question you about it.
Also at the start of the thread with duty travel , EMR have duty authority to travel cards.

 

[Haywain]

LNER staff also get free residential travel on Thameslink and Great Northern services. The free travel between Leeds and York is with Northern only, unless something has changed in the last 18 months.

All FirstGroup TOCs also get £6 day rover tickets on all FirstGroup TOCs for themselves/friends/family.

After completing 6 months service.

 

[Tazi Hupefi]

These perks are for ALL FirstGroup employees, regardless of if employed by First Bus, Rail, Corporate, or alternative (like FTS or SPS)
There are various restrictions of certain trains (Avanti, Lumo), times (SWR, HT), or both (GWR) which are not valid

It's also not a flat £6 across the board as far as I'm aware.

£6.00 Avanti Standard Class Day Rover
£6.00 SWR Standard Class Day Rover
£6.00 GWR Standard Class Day Rover
£30.00 GWR First Class Day Rover
£10.00 GWR+SWR Combined Standard Class Day Rover

Lumo and Hull have special pricing - Lumo has (or did have) a 3 day rover available too. Think these ones are between £10-20.

£8.00 All First Buses mTicket (Weekly). Includes RailAir services.

Some staff also get an unlimited First Bus staff pass depending on their contract/location.

Now that First Group rail division operate the TfL cable car, those staff will probably get TfL benefits plus the above. No reciprocal travel on the cable car for everyone else though, yet.

 

[moonie95]

Now that First Group rail division operate the TfL cable car, those staff will probably get TfL benefits plus the above. No reciprocal travel on the cable car for everyone else though, yet.

TfL staff don’t even get free travel on cable car.

 

[Tazi Hupefi]

I

TfL staff don’t even get free travel on cable car.

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.

 

[Horizon22]

TfL staff don’t even get free travel on cable car.

Would be a useless benefit anyway - its more of a glorified tourist attraction than a useful transport mode but I digress!

 

[dodecahedron67]

O

It's also not a flat £6 across the board as far as I'm aware.

£6.00 Avanti Standard Class Day Rover
£6.00 SWR Standard Class Day Rover
£6.00 GWR Standard Class Day Rover
£30.00 GWR First Class Day Rover
£10.00 GWR+SWR Combined Standard Class Day Rover

Lumo and Hull have special pricing - Lumo has (or did have) a 3 day rover available too. Think these ones are between £10-20.

£8.00 All First Buses mTicket (Weekly). Includes RailAir services.

Some staff also get an unlimited First Bus staff pass depending on their contract/location.

Now that First Group rail division operate the TfL cable car, those staff will probably get TfL benefits plus the above. No reciprocal travel on the cable car for everyone else though, yet.

I literally copypasted the prices and everything from our rewards website immediately above the message you responded to.

Per year

48x £6 GWR/SWR/Avanti
8x £12 Hull Trains
12x £10 GWR+SWR
12x £30 GWR 1st Class
12x Lumo (either £14 1-day, or £21 3-day)

20x £8 FirstBus week tickets

I am unaware of any non-corporate (i.e non-MD) rail staff having a free FirstBus staff pass unless through redundancy agreement, long service*, or by their partner working for FirstBus. Bus staff are not instructed to give FirstRail staff free travel, so anything is unofficial and discretionary

We get nothing for the cable car, nor are there plans to integrate it as far as I understand

*you can apply for a “retiree” staff bus pass if you serve 20 years at FirstBus, regardless of your age. Someone who worked on the buses from 18-38, then moved onto the railway for example, would qualify for a retiree bus staff pass, and a regular employee rail one

 

[Tazi Hupefi]

O

I literally copypasted the prices and everything from our rewards website immediately above the message you responded to.

Per year

48x £6 GWR/SWR/Avanti
8x £12 Hull Trains
12x £10 GWR+SWR
12x £30 GWR 1st Class
12x Lumo (either £14 1-day, or £21 3-day)

20x £8 FirstBus week tickets

I am unaware of any non-corporate (i.e non-MD) rail staff having a free FirstBus staff pass unless through redundancy agreement, long service*, or by their partner working for FirstBus. Bus staff are not instructed to give FirstRail staff free travel, so anything is unofficial and discretionary

We get nothing for the cable car, nor are there plans to integrate it as far as I understand

*you can apply for a “retiree” staff bus pass if you serve 20 years at FirstBus, regardless of your age. Someone who worked on the buses from 18-38, then moved onto the railway for example, would qualify for a retiree bus staff pass, and a regular employee rail one

Sorry the forum quote preview seems to have truncated your response on my device, have to expand to see if all.

The bus travel pass is relatively new but tends to be for specific grades who have reason to visit South Yorkshire or Aberdeen. It is not a routine benefit, but there are a considerable number with the passes. It's a smart card posted out from Scotland.

 

[dodecahedron67]

The bus travel pass is relatively new but tends to be for specific grades who have reason to visit South Yorkshire or Aberdeen. It is not a routine benefit, but there are a considerable number with the passes. It's a smart card posted out from Scotland.

These are corporate FirstGroup staff, as FirstRail is HQ’d in Sheffield, and FirstBus in Aberdeen.

‘Regular’ FirstGroup TOC employees do not get this benefit so it is irrelevant to the discussion

I am well aware of how the smartcard works, given I work with both Bus and Rail

 

[Falcon1200]

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

Are you sure about that? Pre-privatisation BR staff in Scotland got nothing for the Subway, it is, and always has been, a totally separate operation from the main line railway.

 

[stadler]

Hex staff the hosts on the trains and at the selling podiums at Heathrow Central, T5 and Paddington. Airport stations are owned and operated directly by the airport who's staff get free travel on Hex and I believe 50% off eliz line between Heathrow and Paddington

Thank you. That makes sense as i thought they still employed their own staff. I have added the Heathrow Express details. As the drivers are employed by GWR i will keep the Heathrow Express section to just showing details for the Heathrow Express employed staff.

These perks are for ALL FirstGroup employees, regardless of if employed by First Bus, Rail, Corporate, or alternative (like FTS or SPS)
There are various restrictions of certain trains (Avanti, Lumo), times (SWR, HT), or both (GWR) which are not valid

Thank you for the detailed breakdown. I have added those. Even though it is not free First Group employees do get a very generous discount on these tickets. I am surprised even bus drivers can buy these as i believe most others like Arriva Group do not give their bus drivers any rail discount.

LNER staff also get free residential travel on Thameslink and Great Northern services. The free travel between Leeds and York is with Northern only, unless something has changed in the last 18 months.


After completing 6 months service.

Is the GN/TL and LNER agreement reciprocal? So do GN/TL staff get free residential travel on LNER services? Also as GTR is one TOC does this include GX/SN services too like the EMR agreement? Or are GX/SN not part of the agreement?

I thought the Leeds to York agreement was with LNER and TPE only. I was told by someone a while ago that it was LNER and TPE and doing a quick search online i found an FOI request on WDTK which confirms this. Although maybe it has changed or maybe there is another agreement between LNER and Northern too? Or perhaps it is a three way agreement between LNER and Northern and TPE that they can all use each others trains on the Leeds to York route? I am not entirely sure. If anyone can confirm that would be great.

Does anyone know what the arrangements between Translink Northern Ireland Railways and Irish Rail are? Do they get free travel on each other?

Also with Eurostar and Eurotunnel do they have any free travel? I presume with Eurostar being owned by SNCF and SNCB/NMBS/NGBE they may possibly get free travel on the French and Belgian railways?

Is there any reciprocal agreements or discounts between Avanti and C2C (as both are part owned by Trenitalia) or between Elizabeth Line and South Western Railway (as both are part owned by MTR) or is there no such agreements?

Also with Network Rail not running passenger trains would i be correct in presuming they get no free travel on any trains?