Reciprocal Staff Travel

[broomster]

Hi,
I recently became aware that CrossCountry staff now have free travel on Grand Central Services, along with the existing agreement for ATW and LOROL services.

Now, my question is, are ATW staff allowed free travel on Grand Central also, or is the agreement solely between XC and GC??

Anyone know?

Sent from my GT-I9100P using Tapatalk 2

 

[Lrd]

I think it's a DB thing as XC staff also get free travel on Chiltern, can't confirm nor deny about GC though...

 

[broomster]

I forgot to mention Chiltern..

I have seen XC staff bulletins confirming it, but nothing regarding ATW.. I suspect it will be mutual in all directions but would like confirmation first!

Sent from my GT-I9100P using Tapatalk 2

 

[gimmea50anyday]

As they are all DB companies then travel arrangements should be across all member companies.

Realistically, however, you know 98% of train managers/conductors/guards will allow you to travel when you flash your pass and ask, regardless of company. Not that I am promoting such behaviour of course......

 

[LCC106]

I have previously always approached the guard at our unmanned station before getting on and said that I understand I need to buy a ticket on the train, since the machine on the platform doesn't do privs. Having been told on every occasion just to sit down and then NOT been issued with a ticket, on the 1 occasion I sat straight down I was embarrassed to be told I should have asked first. I pointed out that I had always fully intended to pay but after the lecture I got I shan't do THAT again!

General consensus at our depot is that guards let people from other TOCs travel free on the basis that they are commuting to or from work or, if travelling for leisure, can be called upon for assistance in the (unlikely) event of problems such as the need to detrain...

Just wish that everyone was consistent. Either charge or don't charge (although I must admit it would be nice if we all got free travel on the national network )

 

[DarloRich]

Not everyone who works for the railways gets free or discounted travel

 

[LCC106]

What, not even discounted? Is that freight maybe? Or network rail? If network rail, is this because a lot of the on track workers are from private companies? I'd be interested to learn more.

 

[gimmea50anyday]

No they don't, and that's a shame. We need some consistency across the industry. All TOC's. shouldn't be hard to implement. One pass, one set of docs. Not 6 or 7 as we do now. Might save the industry a few quid!

 

[KingBruss]

LO staff have been getting free travel on XC, Chiltern & ATW for about a year, via the recip card. I've been told this has now been extended to include Grand Central and Tyne & Wear Metro, but haven't seen anything official yet.

http://www.employeebenefits.co.uk/e...-pool-free-travel-for-employees/14147.article

 

[ANorthernGuard]

Hi,
I recently became aware that CrossCountry staff now have free travel on Grand Central Services, along with the existing agreement for ATW and LOROL services.

Now, my question is, are ATW staff allowed free travel on Grand Central also, or is the agreement solely between XC and GC??

Anyone know?

Sent from my GT-I9100P using Tapatalk 2

Northern staff also get free travel on GC

My personal opinion is that all rail staff should get free travel regardless of track or staion/on train staff.

 

[Mojo]

Agreed. I think it is very unfortunate that the only perk non-safeguarded Network Rail (NwR) staff get is an extremely limited, and taxable, discount off an annual season ticket (subject to certain limits). Even worse is how non-safeguarded staff who were previously employed by Tocs can find themselves overnight transferred to NwR and consequently lose all of their concessions.

Signallers, controllers, planners and P-Way staff employed by NwR are equally as involved in the operation of the railway as booking clerks, drivers, station staff, etc. and arguably some of them have to do the job under much worse conditions.

 

[ANorthernGuard]

Agreed. I think it is very unfortunate that the only perk non-safeguarded Network Rail (NwR) staff get is an extremely limited, and taxable, discount off an annual season ticket (subject to certain limits). Even worse is how non-safeguarded staff who were previously employed by Tocs can find themselves overnight transferred to NwR and consequently lose all of their concessions.

Signallers, controllers, planners and P-Way staff employed by NwR are equally as involved in the operation of the railway as booking clerks, drivers, station staff, etc. and arguably some of them have to do the job under much worse conditions.

I couldn't do a p-way job. Way too tough for my delicate hands lol

 

[gimmea50anyday]

The industry is full of odd reciprocal arrangements between certain operators, such as TPE northern and T&W metro get free travel, TPE can specify a specific northern route on their passes, EC and FCC between Peterborough and London to name a few, but why should there be these odd arrangements in place when a far simpler across the board arrangement would make things much easier to understand. The vast majority of traincrew don't give a focker what colour the uniform is, even ballast monkeys, and will welcome them onboard regardless. Perhaps the sooner the NR and the TOCs realise this and standardise staff travel arrangements, the better for the industry!

 

[Latecomer]

LO staff have been getting free travel on XC, Chiltern & ATW for about a year, via the recip card. I've been told this has now been extended to include Grand Central and Tyne & Wear Metro, but haven't seen anything official yet.

http://www.employeebenefits.co.uk/e...-pool-free-travel-for-employees/14147.article

It is official. It was in the latest staff bulletin. I queried if we need a new card referencing the Grand Central and T&W Metro but was advised that the old reciprocal card would be valid and it would simply be updated when it expires.

 

[NLC1072]

Does anybody have a complete list of who can travel on whos services in reciprocal agreements?

 

[ANorthernGuard]

The industry is full of odd reciprocal arrangements between certain operators, such as TPE northern and T&W metro get free travel, TPE can specify a specific northern route on their passes, EC and FCC between Peterborough and London to name a few, but why should there be these odd arrangements in place when a far simpler across the board arrangement would make things much easier to understand. The vast majority of traincrew don't give a focker what colour the uniform is, even ballast monkeys, and will welcome them onboard regardless. Perhaps the sooner the NR and the TOCs realise this and standardise staff travel arrangements, the better for the industry!

Totally agree! But can't see it happening while accountants run things

 

[Roverman]

Speaking as someone currently 'on the outside' (hurry up LM and offer me a job!!) it does seem a bit mad the whole Priv Travel system in its current form.

Is it beyond the control of DfT to make it a condition of any franchise that all railway staff get a set discount off travel, regardless of what TOC they travel on?

Its also really mean that staff at places like Network Rail get no disccount.

 

[pitdiver]

I must admit I feel embarrassed when I hear of some railway staff not getting any discounted travel concessions. Whereas I am an ex Booking Clerk from LUL who kept his PTAC when accepting VS. Funnily enough I managed to get a job interview with FCC and they said at the interview I would get certain concessions. When I replied I can get 75% on National rail already she was extremely surprised.

As a matter of interest I did get offered a job but turned it down as I didn't fancy doing 9 shifts on the trot 2 lates then 7 nights. at BDM

 

[the sniper]

It's not even like it'd require a whole new system. At least they could just role the Priv passes with boxes out to non safeguarded staff. I don't see where the expense is in that for any of the TOCs, as all would receive a similar benefit and I can't imagine to that the loss suffered would be too big.

The more difficult aspect is whether ATOC would be willing to extend their generosity to the likes of NR and BTP. They should, but the largely inconsequential cost will probably be too big for TOC bean counters to swallow.

 

[87015]

It's not even like it'd require a whole new system. At least they could just role the Priv passes with boxes out to non safeguarded staff. I don't see where the expense is in that for any of the TOCs, as all would receive a similar benefit and I can't imagine to that the loss suffered would be too big.

The more difficult aspect is whether ATOC would be willing to extend their generosity to the likes of NR and BTP. They should, but the largely inconsequential cost will probably be too big for TOC bean counters to swallow.

There were some discussions a year or so back which got quite far at ATOC, some owning groups were been pushing for it others against it, some not too fussed. From what came back to our outfit, Virgin were very, very anti over percieved revenue loss, despite the PRIV fares on most of their services being so expensive most don't bother anyway and were the biggest opposition to any scheme.

Yes, it would be a good move for staff and the industry alike IMO but sadly I very much doubt it will happen anytime soon.

 

[GNERman]

I can confirm that GC staff can travel with Northern, Cross Country, LOROL, Arriva Trains Wales, Chiltern and Tyne and Wear Metro. Reciprocal agreements with Arriva franchises started on January 7th.

 

[Mugby]

Unless there's been a change, BR safeguarded staff don't get any concessions on GC.

About a year ago, I boarded one of their trains at Pontefract Monkhill for travel to Doncaster. I honestly didn't know there was no concession and was charged the full single fare.

 

[Skoodle]

LOROL staff get free travel on LOROL, Chiltern, Arriva Trains Wales, Cross Country, Grand Central, Tyne & Wear Metro and a full unrestricted staff Oyster card.

 

[broomster]

I can confirm that GC staff can travel with Arriva Trains Wales

Thats the bit I'm interested in, as it should work the other way as well Ta


Sent from my GT-I9100P using Tapatalk 2

 

[Smudger105e]

As they are all DB companies then travel arrangements should be across all member companies.

My colleagues who are not safeguarded and work for DB FOC, do not get any travel facility discounts on other DB Operated services...

 

[Mr Spock]

Unless there's been a change, BR safeguarded staff don't get any concessions on GC.

About a year ago, I boarded one of their trains at Pontefract Monkhill for travel to Doncaster. I honestly didn't know there was no concession and was charged the full single fare.

I have travelled on their services a few times and never been charged perhaps because I always ask first.

 

[dk1]

Greater Anglia staff where told they can use MerseyRail & Northern by Abellio aswell as additional dated travel in the Netherlands. There is also an agreement that we can continue to use C2C while NX continue to hold the franchise. Must try & look up any official document on this as only seen it in the company rag & i seem to remember, on work noticeboards.

 

[142094]

Tyne and Wear Metro get free, unlimited travel on Grand Central, Chiltern, ATW, LOROL and CrossCountry, the agreement has been in place since the back end of last year. Also get PRIV discount on Northern and Transpennine Express. Worth its weight in gold.

 

[leedstraindude]

The letter we got given at XC implied that it was a fully reciprocal agreement, and that all all staff of the companies listed got free travel on all the other companies, either way about time they made the GC one official!!

 

[142094]

GC will have to get some extra services to cater for all the staff that want to use it to and from London!