Staff travel under GBR

[RexMundi]

Best ideas on what will happen with this? All lines free travel? 1/4 fairs? Working for Avanti now I obviously get free travel with them but when we are all under the same umbrella will my free travel be extended to all the former toc’s as we will all be one happy family

 

[Sly Old Fox]

Probably none. Just priv rate tickets.

 

[greyman42]

Probably none. Just priv rate tickets.

I presume nothing will change for "safeguarded" staff?

 

[Helvellyn]

Best ideas on what will happen with this? All lines free travel? 1/4 fairs? Working for Avanti now I obviously get free travel with them but when we are all under the same umbrella will my free travel be extended to all the former toc’s as we will all be one happy family

No reciprocal agreements between the DOHL TOCs as far as I am aware, so doesn't bode well?

 

[En]

Given that under previous labour Governments we saw regualtiosn which banned 'COurtesy referrals' for NHS staff and banned NHS trusts from providing private healthcare ot staff ... don't hold your breath. It's the kind of thing that is often sacrificed to appease those whose hue is that a cured pork product

 

[FGW_DID]

I think anybody expecting free ‘all lines’ travel is going to be sorely disappointed!
Perhaps, if we’re lucky, they may allow some free travel (say 10 boxes per year).

I don’t think it’s going to be good for us but hopefully I’m proved wrong!

 

[Energy]

Priv rate almost certainly for everyone. I'd imagine the unions will be pushing for say free travel between stations within a 30-mile radius of your house to replace the free travel on whatever TOC you work for.

 

[WAB]

PRIVs would probably stay. Probably free travel in your own territorial unit too.

I think you should then also be allowed to pick one or two other areas to also have free travel within to compensate for the owning group facilities and reciprocal arrangements available at some TOCs currently. You'd hope there would be more flexibility as it would be an internal benefit rather than something 'bought in'.

 

[Shaw S Hunter]

One thing to remember is the current lack of any free or Priv travel for Network Rail staff. It is surely inevitable that the first change to be made will be to provide some sort of facility for those staff. Given the current constraints on public finances I suspect that such a change will prevent any extension of facilities for TOC staff, indeed some scaling back would be more likely. As such I suspect free travel facilities, other than boxes for Safeguarded staff, will be rather limited or possibly withdrawn completely. But I would expect that normal Priv discounting will continue though adjustments to rates and qualifying ticket types could well arise.

 

[WAB]

One thing to remember is the current lack of any free or Priv travel for Network Rail staff. It is surely inevitable that the first change to be made will be to provide some sort of facility for those staff. Given the current constraints on public finances I suspect that such a change will prevent any extension of facilities for TOC staff, indeed some scaling back would be more likely. As such I suspect free travel facilities, other than boxes for Safeguarded staff, will be rather limited or possibly withdrawn completely. But I would expect that normal Priv discounting will continue though adjustments to rates and qualifying ticket types could well arise.

But this assumes that there is a saving to be made. Given it would no longer be bought in, wouldn't reducing free travel facilities not produce any saving?

 

[Shaw S Hunter]

But this assumes that there is a saving to be made. Given it would no longer be bought in, wouldn't reducing free travel facilities not produce any saving?

While it is true the overall take-up of travel facilities among TOC staff is relatively low there is also uncertainty as to what the take-up would be among NR staff. As such it would be just a guess by RST as to the effect on the cost of the scheme under different levels of provision. All options may have similar outcomes but, as per this being a speculative thread, we really don't know. But ISTM that many existing TOC staff will see some sort of change as part of a rebalancing exercise. Given the disparities in pay rates for near identical jobs in different TOCs the issue of future Priv facilities is unlikely to be a significant part of future negotiations on pay and conditions though I'm sure there will be some in HMT/DfT determined to use it as a bargaining chip.

 

[The Planner]

Free travel for NR whilst on business would be a start. You can get lucky and get a pass, otherwise NR pay for the tickets via Agito.

 

[ainsworth74]

One thing to remember is the current lack of any free or Priv travel for Network Rail staff.

No free travel still but Network Rail staff do now have Priv (though it's not quite as good as TOC Priv and doesn't give FIP discounts for international rail travel either).

 

[signed]

Removing the travel facilities will make any current staff shortage even worse.

Most airlines provide free (tax-only) flights in standby seating for airline (non-handler) ground and maintenance staff, and for pilot staff it's usually totally free or token-fee.

The cost and risk of staff travel is usually minimal (being on standby, so if a paying passenger wants the seat, it's not a lost seat), and, despite that most don't take it, it is one of the greatest benefits you can get nowadays.

Which is why there isn't (outside of pilots but that's another can of worms) a shortage of staff at most airlines, but a massive shortage of staff in the railways. Or people care to join some dodgy industries (Oil...) because the perks are on point.

Perks make people choose a company over another.

 

[dk1]

I presume nothing will change for "safeguarded" staff?

Definitely not.

We are set up for life

 

[WAB]

Definitely not.

We are set up for life

Also known as the Old Biddies pass in certain circles

 

[dk1]

Also known as the Old Biddies pass in certain circles

Grandad boxes too!! Call them what they want they are worth their weight in gold

Green eyed monster effect strikes again and again from many.

 

[greatkingrat]

Removing the travel facilities will make any current staff shortage even worse.

Most airlines provide free (tax-only) flights in standby seating for airline (non-handler) ground and maintenance staff, and for pilot staff it's usually totally free or token-fee.

The cost and risk of staff travel is usually minimal (being on standby, so if a paying passenger wants the seat, it's not a lost seat), and, despite that most don't take it, it is one of the greatest benefits you can get nowadays.

Which is why there isn't (outside of pilots but that's another can of worms) a shortage of staff at most airlines, but a massive shortage of staff in the railways. Or people care to join some dodgy industries (Oil...) because the perks are on point.

Perks make people choose a company over another.

There is no shortage of people wanting to join the railway. Even if all free/reduced travel disappeared tomorrow, there would still be more than enough applicants. The issue is that the DfT is limiting recruitment, not that nobody wants to join.

 

[bladerunner99]

Best ideas on what will happen with this? All lines free travel? 1/4 fairs? Working for Avanti now I obviously get free travel with them but when we are all under the same umbrella will my free travel be extended to all the former toc’s as we will all be one happy family

Educated guess - if all TOC's eventually come under GBR and we're one unified company, say in 5 years. I imagine there will be free staff travel throughout the network, as was the case under BR.

 

[Falcon1200]

I imagine there will be free staff travel throughout the network, as was the case under BR.

Although under BR, except for the most senior managers free travel was not unlimited, whereas privilege rate (at 25% of the public price) was.

 

[bladerunner99]

Although under BR, except for the most senior managers free travel was not unlimited, whereas privilege rate (at 25% of the public price) was.

I stand corrected, you are correct, it wasn't 100% free for all.

 

[dk1]

I stand corrected, you are correct, it wasn't 100% free for all.

No it never was. Only your allocated 48hr boxes. Remember too that until the last few years ‘priv’ travel was only available on anytime priced tickets.

 

[CyrusWuff]

No it never was. Only your allocated 48hr boxes. Remember too that until the last few years ‘priv’ travel was only available on anytime priced tickets.

It would be a very courageous decision if the extension of the discount to Off-Peak and Super Off-Peak tickets was withdrawn!

Ditto if an attempt was made to withdraw travel facilities from non-safeguarded staff.

It is to be hoped that if such a proposal was made, it would only take one TOC to vote against to kill it.

 

[dk1]

It would be a very courageous decision if the extension of the discount to Off-Peak and Super Off-Peak tickets was withdrawn!

Ditto if an attempt was made to withdraw travel facilities from non-safeguarded staff.

It is to be hoped that if such a proposal was made, it would only take one TOC to vote against to kill it.

I’m taking it I am set up for the rest of my born days Safeguarded means just that and no offer of payment will buy me out. It was an entitlement from the day I signed up in September 1984.

 

[6Gman]

I’m taking it I am set up for the rest of my born days Safeguarded means just that and no offer of payment will buy me out. It was an entitlement from the day I signed up in September 1984.

I happily followed my mother (daughter of a railwayman who married a railwayman) by having PT facilities (son of a railwayman, became a railwayman) from birth to my eventual demise - which, hopefully, will not be for some years yet!

Add in my grandfather and we have had continuous eligibility since at least 1912 between the three of us!

 

[dk1]

I happily followed my mother (daughter of a railwayman who married a railwayman) by having PT facilities (son of a railwayman, became a railwayman) from birth to my eventual demise - which, hopefully, will not be for some years yet!

Add in my grandfather and we have had continuous eligibility since at least 1912 between the three of us!

That’s just wonderful mate.

 

[renegademaster]

Which is why there isn't (outside of pilots but that's another can of worms) a shortage of staff at most airlines, but a massive shortage of staff in the railways. Or people care to join some dodgy industries (Oil...) because the perks are on point.

There's no training bottleneck because pilots fund it themselves

 

[dk1]

There's no training bottleneck because pilots fund it themselves

Sounds almost Victorian standards if not the Ryanair style of training.

 

[WAB]

There is no shortage of people wanting to join the railway. Even if all free/reduced travel disappeared tomorrow, there would still be more than enough applicants. The issue is that the DfT is limiting recruitment, not that nobody wants to join.

You say that, but for many of the clerical and management grades it's proving very difficult to get suitable applicants. Travel concessions help soften the blow of salaries which are out of whack with the desired calibre of applicant (who are being competed for by other industries), working conditions, nights/on-call/safety-critical responsibilities etc.

Free and discounted travel can be very attractive for graduates looking at a couple of quid more than minimum wage or apprentices looking at a fair bit less than minimum wage.