Changes to Rail Staff Travel Concessions - 12 Months Trial

 

 

 

 

 

 

Circular No IR/213/14

 

 

To All Branches, Regional Offices & Regional Councils

 

 

Our Ref: BR1/12/2

21st August 2014

 

 

Dear Colleagues

 

CHANGES TO RAIL STAFF TRAVEL CONCESSIONS – 12 MONTHS TRIAL

 

I am pleased to bring to your attention an important change to the calculation of privilege fares for eligible railway staff which is to be trialled for a 12 month period from this September. The discount available for eligible rail staff, known as the "Priv" rate has been set at 75% of the full-price fare ever since it was established under British Rail and subsequently incorporated into the Rail Staff Travel Scheme when this was set up. Using the current fare names, this means the Anytime Fare is used to calculate the "Priv" fare.

 

On and from 7th September 2014 (date of sale), a 12 months' trial is to commence and the fare on which a "Priv" fare is to be calculated is being expanded to include day and period walk-up off-peak fares (including super off-peak fares). The time restrictions applying to these tickets will also apply to the "Priv" discounted ticket. "Priv" fares continue to be available at ticket offices and on train (if the ticket office is not open on at the departure station).

 

However, the following fares are not covered under this trial:-

 

•

Advance Purchase fares

•

Season Tickets

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Any fares that include a London Travelcard

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Non-safeguarded (i.e. TOC staff only) any fares that include London Underground zone fares unless making a through-London journey.

 

This new "Priv" rate fare will be available for leisure travel by:-

 

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Safeguarded staff using their Staff Travel Card (no need to date a box).

•

Non-safeguarded staff using the TOC Privilege Car

•

FIP card holders will also now be eligible for discounts on the additional fare types at their prevailing discount rate - typically 50%.

 

Two examples of the new discounts are shown below (standard class return journey):-

 

1. Carmarthen to Abergavenny

 

Current situation

 

£38.40 ​Fare available to the public for this journey (Off-Peak Return).

£17.20 ​"Priv" fare- based on "Anytime" fares

 

From 7th September 2014

 

£38.40 ​Fare available to the public for this journey (Off-Peak Return).

£9.60 ​​New "Priv'' fare based on "Off-Peak" fares

 

Reduction in "Priv'' fare of £7.60 (44%)

 

2. London to Manchester

 

Current situation

 

£79.70 ​Fare available to the public for this journey (Off-Peak Return)

£80.25 ​"Priv'' fare- based on "Anytime" fares

 

From 7th September 2014

 

£79.70 ​Fare available to the public for this journey  (Off-Peak Return)

£19.95 ​New "Priv" fare based on "Off-Peak" fares

 

Reduction in "Priv'' fare of £60.30 (75%)

 

I would be most grateful if you could bring this matter to the attention of your members.

 

Yours sincerely

Mick Cash

Acting General Secretary