I have recently tried to use a Rail Staff Pass (Safeguarded Retired ex BR) at Tottenham Court Road on Elizabeth line to travel to Ealing. Told categorically they are not valid at the Underground Stations. First trip to London for a few years. Checked before on Rail Delivery Group site and it said Staff Pass with box completed valid on all sections of Elizabeth Line. Does anyone know the correct rules on this?
By rail staff pass, I assume you mean a pass entitled Staff Travel Card with boxes? If so, when correctly dated, this is valid on all National Rail operators, including Elizabeth Line services throughout the 'core'. The
RSTL Safeguarded "Where Can I Go" guide refers (pp. 44, 61, 68).
It is, in fact, also valid for travel on certain Underground lines, as well as for entry and exit at certain Underground stations (see
this map - note, it was produced before the Elizabeth Line 'core' opened, so doesn't reflect its opening). Therefore the claim that it's categorically not valid at Underground stations couldn't be further from the truth!
You should
raise a complaint with TfL regarding the incorrect rejection. Sadly this isn't the first time we've heard of Underground staff at EL 'core' stations making nonsensical claims about ticket validity, as they can't seem to get their head around the notion that a National Rail ticket/pass might be valid at their Underground station.
If you bought a new ticket, or used PAYG Oyster/contactless to travel instead, you would also be entitled to claim back the cost of this, and should enclose details of this with your complaint to TfL.
Aren't blue status passes only valid on certain sections of the line depending on what region issued them? Eg eastern region is only valid to whitechapel
Yes, regional blue status passes are only valid on certain sections of the Core:
- Eastern Region – between Shenfield and Farringdon, and London Liverpool Street and Custom House for Excel
- London Midland Region – between Paddington and Whitechapel
- Southern Region – between Abbey Wood and Farringdon
- Western Region – between Reading, Heathrow and London Paddington
- Scottish Region – not valid