Priv Questions

[Thewanderer]

Hi folks,

Quick question:

How much are Priv all line rovers in both 1st and std class? How many days are they vaild for?

Thanks!

The Wanderer

 

[yorkie]

I am sure it's 75% off the public fare, in first and standard (first is only applicable to those with first class facilities and you are asked not to accept food/meals etc).

7 day and 14 day versions are available.

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/promotions/pr20780b0a0400020167ed620a7e504e/details.html

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/promotions/pr569241c35ce74100fb0de1b9798124/details.html

To go on Sleepers you need a berth, approx £30 IIRC.

Some trains are barred with PRIVs, see the staff restrictions details on ATOC site.

 

[Thewanderer]

Yorkie,

Thanks a million. I do have first class priv but none of my mates do yet. 8 of us (7 who work for Iarnrod Eireann) are taking a 5 day trip in May. Some of us are entitled to FIP, some aren't. The all line rover could be a great option instead of a 4 day Brit Rail Pass (£188.00). Going on the 75% off a 7 day std ALR Priv would work out at £93.

Is it just a matter of walking up to Holyhead booking office and asking for it on the day of travel?

Thanks again!

 

[yorkie]

No problem. And yes, it should be! If the ticket office has problems I'm sure the guards will be happy to help. (Some guards are on 5% commission so would welcome it! Not sure if that applies to ATW or Virgin though).

 

[Thewanderer]

Grand so. Thanks for your help!

 

[First class]

Discounted fares which are available on First ScotRail's Caledonian Sleepers and are available to both safeguarded and non-safeguarded staff are set out below:

Journey

Single

Return

Standard Class

London - Edinburgh/Glasgow

£30.25

£42.80

London - Aberdeen/Inverness/Fort William

£37.25

£50.00

First Class (holders of first class facilities only)

London - Edinburgh/Glasgow

£40.25

£59.25

London - Aberdeen/Inverness/Fort William

£46.00

£68.00

These are inclusive rates and are available from normal outlets on production of a Staff Travel Card or TOC Privilege Travel Card - there is no need for boxes on Staff Travel Cards to be dated. All fares are subject to availability and are valid until further notice.

 

[martyn29]

All line rover standard Class Priv £93.75. 1st Class £141.75 valid for 7 days.

 

[Thewanderer]

Yorkie,

Thanks very much for your help the other evening. I have one more question if you don't mind!

Is the priv all line rover available to all staff who can get priv on ATOC services?

The reason I ask is; I work for Iarnrod Eireann in Ireland and I get Priv Fares on ATOC and London Underground services. I asked the question with a friend who works with ATOC. He wasn't able to give me a definate answer if IE staff are entitled to this fantastic value ticket. I take the view I should be as the Priv card is endorsed with ATOC services.

Can you shed any light on this? I don't want to arrive in Holyhead and find out I (and several others) can't buy it.

Thanks,
The Wanderer.

 

[glynn80]

Yorkie,

Thanks very much for your help the other evening. I have one more question if you don't mind!

Is the priv all line rover available to all staff who can get priv on ATOC services?

The reason I ask is; I work for Iarnrod Eireann in Ireland and I get Priv Fares on ATOC and London Underground services. I asked the question with a friend who works with ATOC. He wasn't able to give me a definate answer if IE staff are entitled to this fantastic value ticket. I take the view I should be as the Priv card is endorsed with ATOC services.

Can you shed any light on this? I don't want to arrive in Holyhead and find out I (and several others) can't buy it.

Thanks,
The Wanderer.

Do you have a FIP card or a Privilege Ticket Identity Card?

 

[Thewanderer]

I have a Privilege Ticket Identity Card.

 

[glynn80]

I have a Privilege Ticket Identity Card.

Then yes you can get PRIV discount on ALRs.

 

[Sleepy]

Hi folks Summer 2009 staff travel restrictions now on ATOC site : http://www.atoc.org/rst/Staff_Travel_Restrictions.asp

 

[First class]

It is slightly concerning that some TOCs seem to be abusing the restrictions. Look at Hull Trains. A lot of their services are now barred yet their staff are generally unrestricted elsewhere in the UK.

Does anyone know whether Eurostar will be doing the Summer promo fare this year?

Finally, I've only just sort of worked this whole FIP out- New entrants also appear to get vouchers valid for so many occassions of FREE travel abroad, not just the reduced rate card. Do I get one voucher per year, or one voucher per country? I want to go Liverpool-London-Paris-Amsterdam. Then Amsterdam-Moscow sleeper, which passes through Germany, Poland and Belarus. Any ideas where FIP is/isnt valid for this journey?

Thanks!

 

[glynn80]

Finally, I've only just sort of worked this whole FIP out- New entrants also appear to get vouchers valid for so many occassions of FREE travel abroad, not just the reduced rate card. Do I get one voucher per year, or one voucher per country? I want to go Liverpool-London-Paris-Amsterdam. Then Amsterdam-Moscow sleeper, which passes through Germany, Poland and Belarus. Any ideas where FIP is/isnt valid for this journey?

Thanks!

The last pages of this document show you what you are entitled to with regard to FIP (http://www.atoc.org/rst/_download/rules_guides/SRLS034_08 03_ TOCNE.pdf)

Germany and Poland you get 1 free voucher per year but not in Belarus or Russia. It may be pretty tricky for you to just buy tickets for your travel in those countries on a through sleeper train.

Also your journey via Paris to Amsterdam is a bit convoluted, Eurostar offer a through ticket via Brussels to Amsterdam for pretty much the same price as their Brussels ticket (sometimes can be £10 extra) and is much better value than a London to Paris ticket and then a Paris to Amsterdam ticket (obviously you could use your FIP coupons on the Paris to Amsterdam journey but you'd be wasting three countries' vouchers on one train).

 

[martyn29]

Question for you regarding sleepers (Euston-Edinburgh)
One and adult and child both have privs. How do you book them so you are in the same twin cabin, or so you are in seperate ones as I have tried to do both this on the computer and it wont let me do this.It keeps saying there is no coach P on this service

 

[First class]

Are you using a STAR machine for this?

If so, look for ticket type 'CSL' (for 2 adults) > get fares and from EUS-INV (example) You should see a ticket called 2 for £89 return. Check Availability and then book reservation as per usual for sleeper.

CSL - 2 AT 89 SLP RTN
00345 - CAL SLEEPER

1 Package @£ 89.00 = £ 89.00
__________
£ 89.00

Standard Class Return
From : 1072 LONDON TERMINALS

DON'T ADD THE PRIV THOUGH.

SO: GET THE TICKETS, BUT DON'T ISSUE RESERVATION FOR ROUTE CALSLEEPER. THEN MAKE A RESERVATION VIA A PUBLIC FARE.


Something very unusual is going on in the fares manual for staff sleepers atm:

1st class return is cheaper than a standard class single??

SPB - SLEEPER 1ST RTN
00345 - CAL SLEEPER

1 Adult @£ 34.00 = £ 34.00
__________
£ 34.00

First Class Return
From : 1072 LONDON TERMINALS

ALL THE WAY TO INVERNESS!
The 1st class single is £10 more expensive than the return!

 

[martyn29]

I am using a tribute machine, thanks for the ideas though! last time I went inverness it cost me £25 single

 

[37372]

Just a quick question... I was told yesterday that if I write the date in a PRIV box, it is not only valid for that day, but the whole of the next day too.
I'd never been told this before, is it true?

 

[glynn80]

Just a quick question... I was told yesterday that if I write the date in a PRIV box, it is not only valid for that day, but the whole of the next day too.
I'd never been told this before, is it true?

Yes this is correct.

The FRPP (Online Fares Manual) states the following

Using the Staff Travel Card to obtain free travel

The Staff Travel Card is for leisure use only.

Holders of Staff Travel Cards must enter in ink the date of travel before starting a journey in the first or next available box on their cards. Numerals only are to be used and single figure numbers must be prefixed by '0', e.g. 7th June to be shown as 07·06 and the 15th December as 15·12. Single digits such as 1, 2 or 3, etc., are not acceptable.

Having entered the date in the box the holder is entitled to free travel over all National Rail services (subject to certain restrictions) on that day and up to 2400 hrs on the day following. The first day's validity starts at 22.00 hrs the previous evening for overnight journeys.

 

[37372]

Wow, never knew that, thanks!

 

[Sleepy]

Hi guys
anyone got their new TOCNE PRIV card in the post yet ?

 

[First class]

Not had mine- don't think anybody on Merseyrail has either. Safeguarded staff have received their new, (green and salmon coloured), box priv though.

If nothing has arrived by Friday, I'll give ATOC RST a call. I suspect most TOCs are in a similar position though.

 

[glynn80]

Not had mine- don't think anybody on Merseyrail has either. Safeguarded staff have received their new, (green and salmon coloured), box priv though.

Correct, they were issued back in April.

 

[martyn29]

I havent had mine yet (not safeguarded)

 

[Bayum]

I got mine a while back...

And it's orange and green =/

Unless you guys are talking about something different

 

[First class]

I got mine a while back...

And it's orange and green =/

Unless you guys are talking about something different

Yeah this thread is about TOCNE Privellege Staff Travel Cards- something different.

You have a "safeguarded" staff travel card (AKA Box-Priv). These are issued to all the old-timers who worked during the BR era, and to the dependants (kids, partner, housekeeper) etc... This affords you a limited amount of free travel per period. I think these passes are issued towards the end of March.

The Privs in question are the Train Operating Company New Entrants variant, known as TOCNE. These are issued to staff who have started employment after BR. This gives a discount of 75%. It is made clear, however, that they are not valid for any amount of free travel. The current privellege travel cards are due to expire on 30 June 2009- and eligible staff do not seem to have received their new pass.

Out of interest, does anybody know whether the TOCNE Priv colour is always red, or does this change like the safeguarded versions?

 

[Bayum]

Yeah this thread is about TOCNE Privellege Staff Travel Cards- something different.

You have a "safeguarded" staff travel card (AKA Box-Priv). These are issued to all the old-timers who worked during the BR era, and to the dependants (kids, partner, housekeeper) etc... This affords you a limited amount of free travel per period. I think these passes are issued towards the end of March.

The Privs in question are the Train Operating Company New Entrants variant, known as TOCNE. These are issued to staff who have started employment after BR. This gives a discount of 75%. It is made clear, however, that they are not valid for any amount of free travel. The current privellege travel cards are due to expire on 30 June 2009- and eligible staff do not seem to have received their new pass.

Out of interest, does anybody know whether the TOCNE Priv colour is always red, or does this change like the safeguarded versions?

Actually, the thread in general is to do with any PRIV. I know what my Priv entitles me to as well... thanks...

It's just the last few posts which were on about this TOCNE thing, which is why I asked.

 

[Aictos]

I used the overnight sleeper from Edinburgh to Euston and despite only permitted to buy a standard priv single berth and offering to pay the excess to upgrade it to a 1st priv single berth - only £10 difference, I was told I had to pay the full public fare if I wanted to travel 1st class or pay out nearly twice my original fare if I wanted a standard berth to myself!

So why couldn't I just pay the excess? I can upgrade to 1st on other services okay....

 

[Bayum]

I used the overnight sleeper from Edinburgh to Euston and despite only permitted to buy a standard priv single berth and offering to pay the excess to upgrade it to a 1st priv single berth - only £10 difference, I was told I had to pay the full public fare if I wanted to travel 1st class or pay out nearly twice my original fare if I wanted a standard berth to myself!

So why couldn't I just pay the excess? I can upgrade to 1st on other services okay....

Dunno...

I know with mine for instance, you can get Standard Class Free, but your supposed to pay the full fare for first class, as we tried upgrading once to get home from penzance!!

 

[First class]

Dunno...

I know with mine for instance, you can get Standard Class Free, but your supposed to pay the full fare for first class, as we tried upgrading once to get home from penzance!!

Because your PRIV does not entitle you to purchase First class tickets.

Just because it's an excess doesn't change the fact you would be obtaining a ticket for 1st class travel.

Although I'm not entirely sure on the safeguarded staff, here is an example with a TOCNE Standard Class Priv.

Liverpool-London SOR priced at £57.75
I decide I want to go first class so ask the TM for an upgrade to 1st. He informs me my Priv does not entitle me for 1st class priv rate tickets. Therefore the excess would be between the discounted (priv) fare and the full public fare of the FOR. Therefore an excess of £312.25 would be payable (£370-£57.75) .

My only question would be does the 'box' count as a Standard Open ticket priced at Priv rate? Therefore, are you able to excess in the first place? What is this box worth as a price?

On another note, some managers work very hard. They are rewarded with 1st class travel facilities as part of their benefits package. Although I'm not saying staff with standard privs don't work as hard- it would be unreasonable for every member of staff to travel 1st class as there is far less capacity in the superior accomodation. The only way I can think of distributing these passes fairly is to go on 'grade' as per the present system. Therefore that is why I think staff should not be allowed to upgrade unless they have full 1st facilities.