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PRIV discount holders need to queue (even if the queue is lengthy) in order to obtain 75% discount

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Elecman

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just received next years Staff travel facilities on on reading the additional blurb sheet noticed the cession on buying reduced rate ticket. Interestingly we have to buy a ticket at an open ticket office irrespective of the length of the queue unlike the public who do not need to queue for more than 5-10 minutes
 
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Mag_seven

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Given how generous the discount is (75%) I'd suggest that that restriction is a fairly minor inconvenience in the scheme of things.
 

kieron

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I believe Elecman may have fallen foul of a myth. Station operators do have a duty to ensure that people can buy tickets within 5 minutes, but you don't have any extra rights if they fail to carry it out, whoever you are.
 

theironroad

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just received next years Staff travel facilities on on reading the additional blurb sheet noticed the cession on buying reduced rate ticket. Interestingly we have to buy a ticket at an open ticket office irrespective of the length of the queue unlike the public who do not need to queue for more than 5-10 minutes

Bear in mind safeguarded staff get better travel facilities than newer non safeguarded staff. You have the option of skipping the queue completely by filling in a box, while non safeguarded staff have no such option and have to queue.
 

Aictos

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Bear in mind safeguarded staff get better travel facilities than newer non safeguarded staff. You have the option of skipping the queue completely by filling in a box, while non safeguarded staff have no such option and have to queue.

And then you get people who work for the railways as contractors eg cleaners, gateline staff etc who get no travel facilities at all so for those who might have to wait 5 minutes to buy a ticket isn't really that bad, more so if you are safeguarded and you don't need to buy at a ticket office by using up a box.

Sometimes people really do need to think themselves lucky they get free or discounted travel instead of moaning!
 

matt_world2004

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So just to clarify: someone who is in receipt of a 75% discount is being treated worse than someone who has to pay full price?
Technically priv ticket holders , providing they are fit and able to to have to give up their seat to a paying customer if there is no available seating m so yes. Someone who is in receipt of a staff discount is treated worse than a paying customer
.
 

Intermodal

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Technically priv ticket holders , providing they are fit and able to to have to give up their seat to a paying customer if there is no available seating m so yes. Someone who is in receipt of a staff discount is treated worse than a paying customer
.
You've totally missed my point. Any such inconveniences are more than offset by the huge discount, the option to uses boxes in some cases and of course the option to buy a full price walk up or advance ticket if they really did desire a guaranteed seat. Priv holders are clearly at a net benefit in all circumstances - the clue is in the name "privilege".

To complain about having to queue to buy a ticket like every other passenger in the UK when in receipt of such fantastic benefits is very tone deaf in today's climate of high fares and poor services.

Incidentally, I am a Priv holder, to remove any doubt that I may be some anti-rail staff passenger.
 

185

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Apart from DOO areas, in this current situation, everything is a greyer area than 50 shades despite what is written in the holy RSTL guide. I'd rather *not* have staff, especially operational staff, standing in a sneezing queue of passengers to buy a ticket. Instead (at a distance, preferably of some kilometres) they should approach the conductor, probably at the rear and ask for permission to board satisfying 'with every intention of paying for a priv'.

Packing operational staff into a queue full of sneezing coughing punters only serves to worsen shortages of staff at present. Of note, Priv is for leisure use, and there should be very little at present, given that journeys should really be undertaken only if absolutely necessary.
 

gazthomas

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Doubt you'll have any problems at the moment, assuming you'll be using your PRIV for only critical travel
 

bunnahabhain

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Technically priv ticket holders , providing they are fit and able to to have to give up their seat to a paying customer if there is no available seating m so yes. Someone who is in receipt of a staff discount is treated worse than a paying customer
.
I always understood that to apply only when using boxes or a pass, not when you've purchased a ticket even a Q-rate.
 

Deerfold

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I always understood that to apply only when using boxes or a pass, not when you've purchased a ticket even a Q-rate.

I wasn't rail staff, but was entitled to a quarter fare season ticket due to an agreement between East Coast and my employer.

I was not supposed to sit if other passengers were standing.
 

Goldfish62

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Technically priv ticket holders , providing they are fit and able to to have to give up their seat to a paying customer if there is no available seating m so yes. Someone who is in receipt of a staff discount is treated worse than a paying customer
.
The answer then is not to use the staff discount and elect to be a paying customer. Simples. :D
 

theironroad

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The answer then is not to use the staff discount and elect to be a paying customer. Simples. :D

If staff buy a ticket then they become a paying customer , in some cases paying more than non staff on the same train on advance tickets (which staff aren't able to get discounts on). Staff are also eligible for delay repay as any other customer on a ticket they've purchased.
 

RJ

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Instead (at a distance, preferably of some kilometres) they should approach the conductor, probably at the rear and ask for permission to board satisfying 'with every intention of paying for a priv'.

I've tried that before boarding a few times and had a few negative responses ranging from telling me to go and buy a Priv ticket from a TVM if the ticket office is closed, to being offered a £140 Penalty Fare if I stepped aboard, to being told to buy at destination because they'd cashed up - and that caused problems at the destination ticket office. So it's not a foolproof way of getting a ticket unfortunately.

The problem is probably caused by innumerable instances of staff who aren't actually entitled to free travel assuming they will be let off without getting permission before boarding. I don't really agree with staff doing this because it puts the guard in an awkward position that staff of all people shouldn't be putting them in. Ask before boarding if it's a train with a guard on board, or otherwise buy a ticket if there's an open ticket office.
 
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Goldfish62

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If staff buy a ticket then they become a paying customer , in some cases paying more than non staff on the same train on advance tickets (which staff aren't able to get discounts on). Staff are also eligible for delay repay as any other customer on a ticket they've purchased.
I know staff who have privs who buy advance tickets when they're cheaper. Being staff does not mean you are beholden to always buy priv tickets. :)
 

185

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I've tried that before boarding a few times and had a few negative responses ranging from telling me to go and buy a Priv ticket from a TVM if the ticket office is closed, to being offered a £140 Penalty Fare if I stepped aboard, to being told to buy at destination because they'd cashed up - and that caused problems at the destination ticket office. So it's not a foolproof way of getting a ticket unfortunately.

Under normal circumstances, maybe - but my response is in relation to the current situation... given the current pandemic, if any traincrew are involving themselves with 'protecting revenue', they do need to have a word with themselves. Priority is staying safe, isolated and keeping the trains moving for fellow key workers - this includes ensuring fellow traincrew don't get stuck in queues for tickets. And ensuring a well stocked Netflix download. Ahem. :)
 

Haywain

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Under normal circumstances, maybe - but my response is in relation to the current situation... given the current pandemic, if any traincrew are involving themselves with 'protecting revenue', they do need to have a word with themselves. Priority is staying safe, isolated and keeping the trains moving for fellow key workers - this includes ensuring fellow traincrew don't get stuck in queues for tickets. And ensuring a well stocked Netflix download. Ahem. :)
“Fellow train crew” shouldn’t be queuing to buy private rate leisure tickets to get to or from work, either currently or at any other time.
 

185

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Fellow train crew do get days off you know, and many live in secondary accomodation.

Besides @Haywain well said. When asked for one, I don't where the priv button is on envoy so unfortunately have to move on to the next customer.
 

matt_world2004

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“Fellow train crew” shouldn’t be queuing to buy private rate leisure tickets to get to or from work, either currently or at any other time.
Given how limited the scope is for leisure travel at the moment they shouldn't be buying them at all . And given how railway revenues are traincrew shouldn't be fare evading under any circumstances but especially under a crisis where rail revenues have dropped significantly
 

yorkie

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Given how limited the scope is for leisure travel at the moment they shouldn't be buying them at all . And given how railway revenues are traincrew shouldn't be fare evading under any circumstances but especially under a crisis where rail revenues have dropped significantly
Travelling to help a vulnerable/injured/ill/elderly person would qualify as "leisure" for PRIV discount purposes (it's not for work!) and would be legitimate at the current time.

Normally this would require a ticket but my understanding is that from most stations it is impossible to do so before boarding; stating this intention to train crew and not being sold a ticket would not be "fare evading".
 

thedbdiboy

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That also includes travel for volunteering in relation to the crisis; or travel to/from a place of education if you fall within the child of a keyworker category.
 

matt_world2004

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Travelling to help a vulnerable/injured/ill/elderly person would qualify as "leisure" for PRIV discount purposes (it's not for work!) and would be legitimate at the current time.
Yes it would and so would shopping but given that almost all other activities that would be defined as "leisure" are banned or subject to heavy restrictions the phrase "limited scope for leisure travel" still stands
 

Bungle965

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I don't where the priv button is on envoy so unfortunately have to move on to the next customer.
Enter the two desired stations and then click the funnel, top right hand corner. There it should give various discounts, you can either type PRV into the search box, or it may already be one of the ones listed (see attached photo)
Sam
 

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theironroad

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Enter the two desired stations and then click the funnel, top right hand corner. There it should give various discounts, you can either type PRV into the search box, or it may already be one of the ones listed (see attached photo)
Sam

Don't think 185 actually meant he or she didn't know where the button was :) :):)
 
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