Travel updates & reminders
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NATIONAL RAIL RESIDENTIAL PASS RENEWAL 2006-2008 ISSUE As holders will be aware the current issue of National Rail Residential Passes expire on 31 December 2005. It had been the intention that all holders would be in possession of their new Residential Pass by mid-December, however, the printing contractor responsible for the production and despatch of these passes has encountered difficulties which have taken some considerable time to resolve. Consequently, the despatch of the passes has been delayed. Whilst some holders will still receive their new Residential Pass before the end of 2005, it is now increasingly unlikely that all passes will be delivered in time. As such a decision has been taken to extend the validity of the existing passes to 31 January 2006. Steps will be taken to notify all revenue protection staff of this decision to ensure that staff do not encounter difficulties. Rail Staff Travel Limited wishes to apologise for any inconvenience caused, but unfortunately the difficulties encountered were beyond its control. 14 December 2005 |
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ITALIAN RAILWAYS (FS) – WITHDRAWAL FROM ARRANGEMENT WHICH GRANTS FREE TRAVEL TO FAMILIES OF ACTIVE STAFF AND FROM RETIRED STAFF AND THEIR FAMILIES We have been advised by the Italian Railways (FS) that from 1 January 2006 they wish to unilaterally withdraw from the arrangement which grants one free coupon per annum to the families of active staff, and to retired staff and their families. Active staff can still be issued with a free coupon but their families, and retired staff and their families will from that date be entitled to reduced rate travel only (50%) on Italian Railways. As a consequence it is regretted that from 1 January 2006, FS coupons can be issued only to active staff. Any FS coupons for the newly excluded group requested out of the 2005 allocation will be accepted by the FS within their validity up to 31 March 2006 The FS has indicated that it has made this decision for commercial reasons. It has not singled out ATOC for this action but has effected a withdrawal from similar agreements with other FIP Member Railways.
7 December 2005
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PROMOTIONAL FARES - EUROSTAR Eurostar (UK) Limited have advised that as a special promotion, lower fares than the usual FIP concessionary rates are available between London/Ashford and Lille, Marne-la-Vallee, Brussels (and then if required onto any other Belgian station) and Paris on all services from 25 October 2005 to 31 January 2006 inclusive (except for those departing London, Paris and Brussels on Fridays between 17.30 and 19.00 hours). The Company points out that this offer is subject to very limited availability. The fares are as follows:
Bookings should be made in the usual way. If after bookings have been made an individual's travel plans change, it is possible to transfer a booking to another service or obtain a refund as long as this is organised before the departure of the originally booked service. No refunds or exchanges can be allowed on Eurostar tickets booked before this offer was announced.
24 October 2005 |
CALEDONIAN SLEEPERS: STAFF FARESDiscounted fares which are available on First ScotRail's Caledonian Sleepers and are available to both safeguarded and non-safeguarded staff are set out below:
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. 25 September 2005
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USE OF
TRAVEL FACILITIES BETWEEN PADDINGTON AND HEATHROW There are
now two rail services operating between Paddington and Heathrow
Airport, Heathrow Express (non stop) and Heathrow Connect (stops at
intermediate stations between Paddington and Hayes).
20 June 2005 |
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CENTRAL TRAINS JOINS TOC NEW ENTRANT REDUCED RATE SEASON TICKET ARRANGEMENT
From 1 July 2005 Central Trains will join the above-mentioned arrangement under the same terms that apply to other TOCs. This means that from then non-safeguarded employees of other TOCs can purchase quarter rate season tickets for use on Central Trains services for the first time. Also, of course, Central Trains non-safeguarded staff will be able to purchase these tickets for use on other TOCs' services. The main purpose of the arrangement is to allow staff to obtain reduced rate travel between their home and their workplace but in addition these season tickets can be obtained for leisure use by both staff and their eligible dependants. However, whilst dependants may use these tickets for travel to and from an educational establishment, they must not use them for commuting to work. Form RSTL87151 must be completed to obtain a reduced rate season ticket and this form has been amended to take into account Central Trains' participation. 8 June 2005 |
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TRAVEL FACILITIES FOR HOUSEKEEPERS The current level of the maximum permitted gross income used in connection with the issue of travel facilities for housekeepers of staff has been reviewed and it has been decided that this should be increased to £110.45. 20 May 2005
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TRAVEL FACILITIES FOR DEPENDENT CHILDRENThe current level of the child's maximum permitted gross income used in connection with the issue of travel facilities for children of staff has been reviewed and it has been decided that this should be increased from £96.55 to £100.15. 20 May 2005
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COMPULSORY RESERVATIONS ON CERTAIN ITALIAN RAILWAY SERVICES Advice has been received from the Italian Railways (FS) of the need for staff travellers to ensure they obtain reservations in advance when intending to use the following services:
The on train staff will impose fairly hefty surcharges on any traveller who joins these services without previously having made a reservation. 4 March 2005 |
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CONCESSIONS FOR STAFF BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA Both the ŽFBH and ŽRS railways in Bosnia-Herzegovina have agreed to exchange FIP travel at 50% reduced rate. This is available to all holders of FIP International Reduced Rate Cards. FIP cards for those staff wishing to travel on these services must be updated to include these titles. Times for these services can be found in the Thomas Cook timetables. 4 February 2005 |
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CONCESSIONS FOR STAFF ON ATTICA FERRIES Attica Ferries have agreed to provide a 50% reduction in fares for foot passengers on their ferries. This is available to all holders of FIP International Reduced Rate Cards. FIP cards for those staff wishing to travel on these services must be updated to include this title. The routes available are:- Rosyth – Zeebrugge * Rostock – Hanko (Finland) * Bari/Ancona – Patras ** Reductions are available in all cabins no matter which class of rail travel is held. Booking agents in the United Kingdom are:-
In London: VIAMARE TRAVEL Ltd Graphic House, 2 Sumatra Road London NW6 1PU Tel: 0870 410 6040 Fax: 0207 431 5456 Free phone (from UK only) 0800 068 1676 E-mail: viamaretravel@superfast.com In Rosyth: SUPERFAST FERRIES The Terminal Building Port of Rosyth Fife, KY11 2XP Tel: 0870 234 0870 Fax: 0138 360 8020 E-mail: info.Scotland@superfast.com * Attica subsiduary Superfast Ferries ** Attica subsidiaries Superfast Ferries & Blue Star Ferries 4 February 2005 |
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TRAVEL FACILITIES ON CANADIAN RAILWAYS (applies to safeguarded staff only) For the last 18 months the arrangements for safeguarded staff wishing to obtain travel facilities in Canada have been complicated by the withdrawal of Leisurail from the booking procedure chain. Notwithstanding this, it has been possible to continue the concession with safeguarded staff making their own bookings. Discussions have taken place with the Canadian Railways and it is clear they are not in a position to appoint a replacement travel agent for Leisurail so instead the self booking arrangement will have to be continued. Details of how this works is set out on the revised Canadian Travel Facilities form (RSTL 6591) which can be found on this web site under 'Application Forms' 31 January 2005 |
TOC NEW ENTRANTS - REDUCED RATE SEASON TICKETARRANGEMENT ON NORTHERN RAILYou will know that Northern Rail was recently created, taking over the operation of the former First North Western and Arriva Trains Northern TOCs. As will be known Arriva Trains Northern were participants in the TOC New Entrants Reduced Rate Season Ticket Arrangement, whereas First North Western were not. Northern Rail have advised RSTL that from 1 January 2005 they are happy for all of their train services to be made available to holders of Reduced Rate Season Tickets. This means that TOC staff who have entered employment since 1 April 1996 can, for the first time, now purchase these tickets for use on former First North Western services. The usual form should be completed and submitted for this purpose (RSTL 87151 - see 'Application Forms' on this web site).
1 January 2005
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GERMAN RAILWAYS (DB)The DB have advised that with immediate effect supplements are no longer payable on ICE, EC and IC trains by holders of DB AG FIP coupons. As previously advised, if you require details of staff travel restrictions on German Railways, click the Staff Travel Restrictions heading on this website. 16 August 2004
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PLEASE GIVE PRIORITY TO THE FARE-PAYING PUBLICStaff travellers are reminded that to ensure priority is given to fare-paying passengers, they should, whenever possible, seek to travel on lightly loaded services. When this is not possible and travel is undertaken on a crowded train, it is expected that they should stand back to allow fare-paying passengers to obtain seats. Those entitled to travel in first class accommodation may, on former Inter-City services, be asked by on-train staff to vacate their first class seat in favour of a standing fare-paying passenger. Retired staff or widow(er)s will not be asked to vacate a first class seat in these circumstances.
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INTERNATIONAL BOOKINGS BY TELEPHONE As an added convenience you will be pleased to note it is possible to make staff bookings by telephone for journeys involving any of the following: 1. Eurostar – London to Lille/Paris/Brussels 2. Travel on SNCF trains within France using International Coupons for free travel (requiring reservations/TGV supplements only) or using an FIP card for discounted journeys 3. Lyria* TGV services between France and Switzerland 4. Thalys* services between France/Belgium and the Netherlands and Germany 5. Artesia* day and night services between France and Italy 6. Elipsos* trainhotel overnight services between France and Spain 7. AVE** internal services within Spain 8. TALGO* internal services within Spain and between Spain and Portugal 9. RENFE internal services within Spain and services between Spain and Portugal. Please note: On services marked * the operators grant FIP Leisure Fares which include travel ticket and seating/overnight accommodation. International Coupon Tickets are not valid. On the service marked ** special FIP Leisure Fares which include travel ticket and reservation are payable by holders of International Coupon tickets and International Reduced Rate Cards. To book, please call 01732 526742. Have your International Reduced Rate Card and debit/credit card details ready. Bookings for any other journey must be submitted on an IPTIS booking form at least 14 days before the intended date of departure. Please see the Travel Facilities Guides on this website (go back to RST home page).
21 January 2005
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