Priv EL Question

[snakeydave24]

New entrant to rail.

If I were to be travelling for work, SNF to Pad, Using AGA and EL changing at Stratford, is this a valid route for a reduced rate season ticket? and would that make it cheaper or work out the same if I were to get the NR only Priv Discount applied to an Oyster Card?

Let the debate begin as I've been told many things by many people

 

[Watershed]

It's not a question of it being a valid route - the issue you'll face is that there aren't any point-to-point season tickets to London Paddington. The furthest point-to-point season ticket you could get would be to Liverpool Street, but RSTL usually require that any discounted season ticket is issued to the station closest to your work (which is presumably Paddington). So there isn't a fare capable of being discounted; RSTL won't let you get 75% off a Travelcard.

Unfortunately, with most TOCs (it does depend though - so check with your HR department or RSTL), you also can't use the Priv Oyster discount for commuting - it is only for leisure journeys.

Therefore I think you may find that you can't get any discount at all on your commute. RSTL might be prepared to show some discretion here (I've certainly heard of it being exercised in other cases) but you are effectively reliant on their goodwill.

 

[hkstudent]

W

It's not a question of it being a valid route - the issue you'll face is that there aren't any point-to-point season tickets to London Paddington. The furthest point-to-point season ticket you could get would be to Liverpool Street, but RSTL usually require that any discounted season ticket is issued to the station closest to your work (which is presumably Paddington). So there isn't a fare capable of being discounted; RSTL won't let you get 75% off a Travelcard.

Unfortunately, with most TOCs (it does depend though - so check with your HR department or RSTL), you also can't use the Priv Oyster discount for commuting - it is only for leisure journeys.

Unfortunately I think you may find that you can't get any discount at all on your commute. RSTL might be prepared to show some discretion here (I've certainly heard of it being exercised in other cases) but you are effectively reliant on their goodwill.

Wouldn't the policy is to the nearest eligible station, which is London Terminal aka London Liverpool Street? If not, a staff cannot get a commuting discount, which violates the principles of staff discount.

Meanwhile, I am surprised to see there are no season ticket from Brentwood or beyond to Iver or beyond in the west, which the distance is short and still be commutable and have direct train service in May 2023.

 

[Watershed]

W

Wouldn't the policy is to the nearest eligible station, which is London Terminal aka London Liverpool Street? If not, a staff cannot get a commuting discount, which violates the principles of staff discount.

Meanwhile, I am surprised to see there are no season ticket from Brentwood or beyond to Iver or beyond in the west, which the distance is short and still be commutable and have direct train service in May 2023.

It makes the staff travel discounts useless, yes. But it's long been the case that travel discounts are dependent on the range of fares available, and sometimes that means that people lose out.

It's possible to buy cross-London season tickets by adding up the cost of outboundary Travelcard seasons from either side, and then deducting the cost of a Zones 1-6 Travelcard. But that still means a rather expensive commute in most cases.

 

[RJ]

Wouldn't the policy is to the nearest eligible station, which is London Terminal aka London Liverpool Street? If not, a staff cannot get a commuting discount, which violates the principles of staff discount.

Yes. I know a number of people who have a Priv season to London Terminals who then have to cross London to reach the line they're based on. Common sense is applied.

It's possible to buy cross-London season tickets by adding up the cost of outboundary Travelcard seasons from either side, and then deducting the cost of a Zones 1-6 Travelcard. But that still means a rather expensive commute in most cases.

Unfortunately not an option for the OP as there is no Priv concession on Travelcards for TOC New Entrants.

Asides from residing with someone who works for TfL who has a nominee pass going spare, I'm fresh out of ideas. I would love to help more with this query but there aren't any options that are publishable on an open forum. If any season tickets are found that allow this they'll most likely be removed by the powers that be. For now we'll have to live in hope that point to point seasons from one side of the central section to the other are created for travel on the Elizabeth Line, much like those available for Thameslink.