-
Our booking engine at tickets.railforums.co.uk (powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!
Priv Questions
- Thread starter Gizmogle
- Start date
- Status
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R
RailUK Forums
T
Tom
Guest
Well your priv is only a standard class one, no? 
EDIT:
You can actually upgrade a PRIV SOR though to first class by paying full fare 1ST upgrade.
EDIT:
You can actually upgrade a PRIV SOR though to first class by paying full fare 1ST upgrade.
It is indeed.
But I could still get discounted first class tickets, right? I just can't go sit in first class for free.
So I just wondered whether I could pay a priv discount for the upgrade. Not that it matters, as I'm happy with standard
But I could still get discounted first class tickets, right? I just can't go sit in first class for free.
So I just wondered whether I could pay a priv discount for the upgrade. Not that it matters, as I'm happy with standard
T
Tom
Guest
Technically speaking, at weekends SORs are valid in FC anyway on Virgin... not sure whether it matters what discount you have on it mind.
T
Tom
Guest
Correct.
T
Tom
Guest
Be a manager.
disabled railcard excluded, i believe...
I thought that 1st class privs were just like the standard ones with free travel, but you could go and sit in first class instead of standard class?
T
Tom
Guest
A priv and boxes are different. You can get a priv without the boxes - but you need a priv to have the boxes.
W14Fishbourne
Member
- Joined
- 20 May 2007
- Messages
- 212
To clarify for those entitled to privs or thinking of working for the railway and to make the rest of you jealous:
In all cases priv travel is subject to the latest set of restrictions which are published on the ATOC Rail Staff Travel website and in Rail News.
Anyone who worked for the railway before 1 April 1996 is termed "safeguarded" and, broadly speaking, is entitled to privilege travel across the whole franchised rail network as a right. This priv travel comes in two forms.
One is what are termed the "boxes" on the Staff Travel Card. Each box has to be dated before use and is valid for that day and the day after. The number of boxes allowed each year depends on (a) your grade and (b) your length of service. The maximum is 20, giving up to 40 days free travel a year. Partners of employees get the same number of boxes.
Safeguarded staff can also use the Staff Travel Card to obtain tickets at 25% of the normal cost of an SDR or SOR anywhere on the franchised network or on LU for leisure journeys only.
Safeguarded staff (but not partners) can also obtain discounted season tickets for travel to work. There are also travel benefits for dependants.
Staff Travel Cards are normally Standard Class only but First Class cards may be issued to senior managers and their partners. Only holders of First Class STCs can buy First Class tickets or travel for free in First Class but holders of Standard Class STCs can usually pay the Weekend First supplement (or similar) to upgrade. Standard Class tickets cannot otherwise be upgraded to First.
Safeguarded staff graded at MS4 or above (senior managers, usually those who report to a director) may be entitled to All Stations National Rail "Status" Pass for themselves (and, if their salary is above a specified level, for their partners). This entitles them to unlimited free First Class travel anywhere on the franchised network for leisure journeys or for travel to work. (There used to be Standard Class versions and Regional versions but I don't think they're issued any more.) There's a limit to the number of Status Passes that a TOC can issue - once they've all been issued a newly-promoted employee has to wait until a pensioner dies off or someone resigns. Status passes come in Silver and Gold versions, the only difference being that Gold Passes (normally issued to directors) include free Sleeper berths.
Safeguarded staff normally retain their travel privileges on retirement.
Anyone who joined the railway on or after 1 April 1996 is not entitled to priv travel as a right. However, a concessionary scheme for TOC New Entrants (TOCNE) has been operated since privatisation but could be withdrawn at any time. This gives quarter-rate travel on most franchised services (the major current exception being Strathclyde area services). Staff graded MS4 or above may buy discounted First Class tickets.
TOCNE do not keep their travel privileges on retirement.
All TOCs except First ScotRail participate in the Reduced Rate Season Ticket arrangement, which enables TOCNE staff of participating TOCs to purchase Reduced Rate Season Tickets at a 75% discount over the price of full fare Season Tickets for travel to work.
On top of this, most TOCs allow some degree of free travel to their staff on their own services. The precise nature of the arrangement varies between TOCs and will change when franchises change. Some allow unlimited free travel on its services, others operate a box arrangement giving limited free travel. Some TOCs restrict free travel to its own services, others allow it on other TOCs in the same owning group.
TOC free passes come in both Standard and First Class versions and many TOCs allow First Class to staff at a lower grade than applies under the ATOC safeguarded staff scheme - some TOCs also give First Class passes to long-serving staff. This means that someone may be entitled to First Class travel on his or her own TOC's services but Standard Class on all other TOCs.
Staff do not normally keep their TOC free passes on retirement though the unions have been trying to win this concession.
On top of these benefits there are also discounts on a range of heritage railways and on foreign railways for all staff.
In all cases priv travel is subject to the latest set of restrictions which are published on the ATOC Rail Staff Travel website and in Rail News.
Anyone who worked for the railway before 1 April 1996 is termed "safeguarded" and, broadly speaking, is entitled to privilege travel across the whole franchised rail network as a right. This priv travel comes in two forms.
One is what are termed the "boxes" on the Staff Travel Card. Each box has to be dated before use and is valid for that day and the day after. The number of boxes allowed each year depends on (a) your grade and (b) your length of service. The maximum is 20, giving up to 40 days free travel a year. Partners of employees get the same number of boxes.
Safeguarded staff can also use the Staff Travel Card to obtain tickets at 25% of the normal cost of an SDR or SOR anywhere on the franchised network or on LU for leisure journeys only.
Safeguarded staff (but not partners) can also obtain discounted season tickets for travel to work. There are also travel benefits for dependants.
Staff Travel Cards are normally Standard Class only but First Class cards may be issued to senior managers and their partners. Only holders of First Class STCs can buy First Class tickets or travel for free in First Class but holders of Standard Class STCs can usually pay the Weekend First supplement (or similar) to upgrade. Standard Class tickets cannot otherwise be upgraded to First.
Safeguarded staff graded at MS4 or above (senior managers, usually those who report to a director) may be entitled to All Stations National Rail "Status" Pass for themselves (and, if their salary is above a specified level, for their partners). This entitles them to unlimited free First Class travel anywhere on the franchised network for leisure journeys or for travel to work. (There used to be Standard Class versions and Regional versions but I don't think they're issued any more.) There's a limit to the number of Status Passes that a TOC can issue - once they've all been issued a newly-promoted employee has to wait until a pensioner dies off or someone resigns. Status passes come in Silver and Gold versions, the only difference being that Gold Passes (normally issued to directors) include free Sleeper berths.
Safeguarded staff normally retain their travel privileges on retirement.
Anyone who joined the railway on or after 1 April 1996 is not entitled to priv travel as a right. However, a concessionary scheme for TOC New Entrants (TOCNE) has been operated since privatisation but could be withdrawn at any time. This gives quarter-rate travel on most franchised services (the major current exception being Strathclyde area services). Staff graded MS4 or above may buy discounted First Class tickets.
TOCNE do not keep their travel privileges on retirement.
All TOCs except First ScotRail participate in the Reduced Rate Season Ticket arrangement, which enables TOCNE staff of participating TOCs to purchase Reduced Rate Season Tickets at a 75% discount over the price of full fare Season Tickets for travel to work.
On top of this, most TOCs allow some degree of free travel to their staff on their own services. The precise nature of the arrangement varies between TOCs and will change when franchises change. Some allow unlimited free travel on its services, others operate a box arrangement giving limited free travel. Some TOCs restrict free travel to its own services, others allow it on other TOCs in the same owning group.
TOC free passes come in both Standard and First Class versions and many TOCs allow First Class to staff at a lower grade than applies under the ATOC safeguarded staff scheme - some TOCs also give First Class passes to long-serving staff. This means that someone may be entitled to First Class travel on his or her own TOC's services but Standard Class on all other TOCs.
Staff do not normally keep their TOC free passes on retirement though the unions have been trying to win this concession.
On top of these benefits there are also discounts on a range of heritage railways and on foreign railways for all staff.
westcoaster
Established Member
matryn dont forget that mml are about to undergo a big change im not suprissed everything is up in the air if you ask me i think you will get it when the new franchise will start.
FlyingCucumber, a FirstGroup employee also agrees with what I posted earlier about tickets - rather than boxes - being valid: http://www.railchat.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=12323&p=193022#p193022
Although I accept that may be wrong, I do believe that if you were to purchase a priv-rate SOR then it would be accepted on the sleeper.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
http://www.virgintrains.co.uk/buy_tickets/first_class_upgrade/default.aspx
"On weekends and Bank Holidays, you can upgrade to First Class free of charge if you hold a Standard Open or Business Saver ticket by informing the Train Manager."
That's "informing", not "asking", and they can't charge for something that is advertised as being free of charge!
Did you see someone get refused? Perhaps the TM was Gordon - he had a reputation for making rules up as he went along.
Although I accept that may be wrong, I do believe that if you were to purchase a priv-rate SOR then it would be accepted on the sleeper.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
No it isn't.
http://www.virgintrains.co.uk/buy_tickets/first_class_upgrade/default.aspx
"On weekends and Bank Holidays, you can upgrade to First Class free of charge if you hold a Standard Open or Business Saver ticket by informing the Train Manager."
That's "informing", not "asking", and they can't charge for something that is advertised as being free of charge!
Did you see someone get refused? Perhaps the TM was Gordon - he had a reputation for making rules up as he went along.
W14Fishbourne
Member
- Joined
- 20 May 2007
- Messages
- 212
Sorry, you're wrong. Read your Staff Travel Restrictions:
A means "All First Class National Rail free and privilege travel facilities (including privilege season tickets) barred"
E means "All Standard National Rail free and privilege travel facilities (including privilege season tickets) barred"
In other words you cannot use Privs, free or quarter rate, in Sleeper seated accommodation but you can use them in berths, subject to payment for the berth (if applicable).
There's no need to go round in circles again - I already stated that I accept it may be wrong, but it is true to state that such tickets are extremely likely to be accepted, and First staff state such tickets have been accepted.
I posted what my experiences are (and no, I'm not staff so I personally have not held a priv ticket) based on what other passengers were doing when I used the sleeper fairly regularly, and also based on what people have said. That doesn't mean it's valid, it does mean it's accepted. Not always the same thing, and indeed sometimes guards claim valid tickets are invalid.
W14Fishbourne
Member
- Joined
- 20 May 2007
- Messages
- 212
So you'd suggest that someone should try travelling in seated accommodation with a priv pass/ticket with the risk that they'll be surcharged up to the full open fare? As you say, some staff may accept them. On the other hand, some may not!
Another priv question 
How much do I have to pay for the Eurostar to France?
Standard and First prices please.
I seem to recall an offer last summer for priv holders where we only had to pay £12 for the journey. Does that come about much? Or was it just a one off?
How much do I have to pay for the Eurostar to France?
Standard and First prices please.
I seem to recall an offer last summer for priv holders where we only had to pay £12 for the journey. Does that come about much? Or was it just a one off?
T
Tom
Guest
T
Tom
Guest
Think you can also contact Rail Europe - Karl will be able to help on that one...
- Status