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Rail Staff Photo Identification

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reb0118

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Should staff receive new photo id whenever their franchise changes or is it acceptable to retain the old id be it ex BR or defunct TOC?

My personal photocard refers to a defunct TOC but I have been informed that it is still valid (the card shows a valid from date NOT a valid to) however I am now being increasingly challenged by booking office clerks when attempting to purchase "priv" tickets and have also been refused discounts at third party operators who have deals in place with my employer because my photo id is not recognised.

Do any other staff out there still officially retain photo id for defunct TOCs as their official id?
 
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barrykas

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Do any other staff out there still officially retain photo id for defunct TOCs as their official id?

There are plenty of staff still holding British Rail photo IDs who don't have any problems.

If you want to get a new photocard though, you can do so at any staffed ticket office unless you work for Great Western, Southern, Chiltern, ScotRail or East Midlands Trains where you have to get one through your Personnel Department.

Cheers,

Barry
 

hairyhandedfool

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Generally speaking, Safeguarded (BR) staff keep their old photocards, but TOC (new entrants) have TOC specific passes. In some cases, safeguarded staff have both.

Priv tickets should only be issued upon production of either a 'boxes' (BR) card or a TOCNE (ATOC) card, not a photocard. If you do not have one of these, but believe you should, contact your HR department.
 

RJ

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Should staff receive new photo id whenever their franchise changes or is it acceptable to retain the old id be it ex BR or defunct TOC?

My personal photocard refers to a defunct TOC but I have been informed that it is still valid (the card shows a valid from date NOT a valid to) however I am now being increasingly challenged by booking office clerks when attempting to purchase "priv" tickets and have also been refused discounts at third party operators who have deals in place with my employer because my photo id is not recognised.

Do any other staff out there still officially retain photo id for defunct TOCs as their official id?

You need the Priv railcard to buy discounted tickets, not just the photocard alone. If you have the railcard then get an ordinary public season ticket ID card which is officially accepted with a Priv.
 
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Trog

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I am still using a 1987 issued BR photo ID card, it is somewhat battered after spending a quarter of a century in my trouser pockets.
 

reb0118

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Thanks for replies gents. I have a up to date TOCNE card (which I show when requesting privs) but I believe this must be supported with a photocard? Admin have offered me a new photo id for £15 but I don't see why I should have to pay when I have not "lost" the old one but rather the franchise holder has changed whilst I am in service.

To put this in perspective the queries from booking office staff/ third party retailers has only started recently even though the franchise changed hands a good few years back, and although I have been challenged I have never been refused a ticket - esp when I show all my other railway IDs - I have found my FIP card to be most helpful in those cases.

Cheers

ps. We have three distinct groups re photocards at my place of work:-

1) ex BR boys with BR ID & passes,
2) ex National Express employees with the old TOC logo, &
3)those employed since First took over with First ID.
 

RJ

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Thanks for replies gents. I have a up to date TOCNE card (which I show when requesting privs) but I believe this must be supported with a photocard? Admin have offered me a new photo id for £15 but I don't see why I should have to pay when I have not "lost" the old one but rather the franchise holder has changed whilst I am in service.

To put this in perspective the queries from booking office staff/ third party retailers has only started recently even though the franchise changed hands a good few years back, and although I have been challenged I have never been refused a ticket - esp when I show all my other railway IDs - I have found my FIP card to be most helpful in those cases.

Cheers

ps. We have three distinct groups re photocards at my place of work:-

1) ex BR boys with BR ID & passes,
2) ex National Express employees with the old TOC logo, &
3)those employed since First took over with First ID.

You must've missed my post - you may obtain a normal season ticket photo ID as it's valid for use with the Priv.
 

reb0118

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You must've missed my post - you may obtain a normal season ticket photo ID as it's valid for use with the Priv.

I've not missed this one though :roll: I'll pop up my local booking office tomorrow as on day off and get one. Although when they see me approaching is has been known for the shutters to come down - I keep them on their toes with unusual requests.

Thanks again
 

9K43

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I have an upto date photo id card, as I lost mine a couple of years ago.
To replace it, I had to stump up £10 for it.
My wife has an id card that is from around 1982 ish.
We use our Rail cards nearly every week, and have had no problems at all on any TOC we travel on.

Some folk with 40 years service in still have the original cards from that era, cos when we go for a railway day out, it always gets a laugh from the younger guards.
 

Urban Gateline

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Although when they see me approaching is has been known for the shutters to come down - I keep them on their toes with unusual requests.

Sounds like you're a close relative of RJ's then? :lol:

Seriously though, I had a similar problem in that I was never issued a photocard in the first place, only a SWT security ID pass (which has my pic on it) which is apparently not acceptable to get PRIV or use with my SWT travel pass (No pic). I never had any problems though, it was only my manager who pointed it out.

I did then go to the ticket office and brought a passport size photo and they were quick to make a Photocard for me, as RJ says its the same as the Season ticket ones, pink colour, disappointingly not the red BR ones!
 

RJ

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Sounds like you're a close relative of RJ's then? :lol:

Yeah yeah :p Some ticket office staff have me on speed dial in case they need a hand with any especially complex customer queries! Even the on board staff have backed off now - they must have finally twigged that if I say it's valid then it probably is, especially now that I've found public rate tickets that are even cheaper than the Priv ticket I was using for my intercity commute :p

Anyways, now that I'm using public rate tickets, there's no need for me to use ticket offices any more ;).
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
I've not missed this one though :roll: I'll pop up my local booking office tomorrow as on day off and get one. Although when they see me approaching is has been known for the shutters to come down - I keep them on their toes with unusual requests.

Thanks again

Word of warning - you might experience some problems. A member of staff and their supervisor in the London Midland ticket office at Euston flat out refused to issue me with a Photocard ID, because I wasn't buying a season ticket, even though I explained I needed it to go with the brand new Priv I was issued with.

I then went up to the Virgin ticket office and they didn't know that it was permitted either, but they asked a Team Leader, who checked it out and verified it was ok.

Consequently, it may help to know where to point them to to verify that it's ok;

http://www.atoc.org/about-atoc/rail-staff-travel/forms

It's shown towards the bottom of the page.
 
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hairyhandedfool

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.... I have a up to date TOCNE card (which I show when requesting privs) but I believe this must be supported with a photocard?....

I've never needed to show a photo ID with my TOCNE card (In fact, in 14 years on the railway I've never had one, just a TOC pass), however the Rail Staff ID pass shown in 'The Manual' is no longer produced AFAIAA, just the regular photo ID.
 
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