REPTA – Guide to Travel Facilities

This is a summary of the travel concessions for all rail staff, both active and retired. Full details,
restrictions, latest information and application forms can be found at atoc.org. Click on Rail
Staff Travel for comprehensive details of all entitlements and downloads for application forms,
including lost or stolen documents.
For any further information or clarification contact Rail Staff Travel, PO Box 70159, London
WC1A 9GN. Tel: 0800 6521700. or: rstl@atoc.org. Please communicate by email if possible.
Abbreviations used in this section
• RPMI:
Railway Pensions Management
Investments
• IPTIS:
International Privilege Ticket
Issuing Service
• BR:
British Rail
• STC:
Staff Travelcard
• TOC:
Train Operating Company
• DLR:
Docklands Light Railway
• TOCNE:
Train Operating Company – New
Entrant (post 1996)
• TfL:
Transport for London
(formerly London Transport)
• FIP:
Rail Staff travel in Europe
(translated from French)
• LU:
London Underground
• ATOC:
Association of Train Operating
Companies
REPTA – Guide to Travel Facilities
REPTA – Guide to Travel Facilities
There are three groups of concession holders:
Active safeguarded staff (generally in BR employment before 1 April 1996)
Former BR active staff (safeguarded) who are now in the private sector and granted free and/
or reduced rate travel facilities on many other transport administrations. National Rail free
and reduced rate travel is obtained by use of a STC. In some cases these facilities also apply
to spouse, dependant children (up to 25 years) and widow/ers. In certain cases staff of other
transport administrations such as National Freight Corporation, National Carriers, Stena line
who were formerly BR employees retain their travel facilities.
Retired safeguarded staff (generally in BR employment before 1 April 1996)
National Rail free and reduced rate travel is obtained by use of a STC and generally are able to
receive the same concessions as enjoyed in active service.
Active ‘non safeguarded TOCNE staff’. (Generally employed after 1 April 1996)
TOCNE entrants are granted, upon completion of one month’s service, privilege rate travel for
themselves, their spouse and dependant children on train services of all participating TOCs.
Upon presentation of a valid TOC privilege card at a booking office or on the train if the
booking office is closed, the holder may obtain privilege rate tickets at 75% discount of the
FULL PUBLIC FARE. A TOC Privilege card must be supported by an appropriate Photo Identity
Card (except for dependant children under 16)
TRAVEL
Note that many public fares offered by TOCs are cheaper than concessionary privilege tickets
but may be more restrictive. Visit the appropriate TOC website for details.
REPTA – Guide to Travel Facilities
Travel facilities in Great Britain.
List of Train Operating Companies (TOCs) in Great Britain accurate at time of printing (Dec 2012).
Arriva Trains Wales
arrivatrainswales.co.uk
C2c
c2c-online.co.uk
Cross Country
crosscountrytrains.co.uk
Chiltern Railways
chilternrailways.co.uk
East Coast
eastcoast.co.uk
East Midlands Trains
eastmidlandstrains.co.uk
First Capital Connect
firstcapitalconnect.co.uk
First Great Western
firstgreatwestern.co.uk
First Hull Trains
hulltrains.co.uk
First Trans Pennine Express
tpexpress.co.uk
Gatwick Express
southernrailway.com
Grand Central
grandcentralrail.com
No official concessions but travel is at the discretion of the Train Manager
Greater Anglia
greateranglia.com
Heathrow Connect
heathrowconnect.com
Heathrow Express
heathrowexpress.com
Privilege tickets only
Island line
southwesttrains.co.uk
London Midland
londonmidland.com
London Overground
tfl.gov/overground
See under London
Merseyrail
merseyrail.org
Northern Rail
northernrail.org
ScotRail
scotrail.co.uk
South West Trains
southwesttrains.co.uk
Southeastern
southeasternrailway.co.uk
Southern
southernrailway.com
West Coast Main Line
virgintrains.com
Train information:
For train times and public fares visit nationalrail.co.uk. This site will also give you live train
running information and fares. Similar information is also available on the websites of most
TOCs.
The complete National Railway timetable can be downloaded free from nationalrail.co.uk.
REPTA
Tel: 08457 48 49 50 for train information.
On presentation of a STC at an LU booking office a privilege fare may be obtained equating
to about 75% discount. This includes the DLR and London Overground. A Privilege one day
Travelcard is no longer available.
Oyster: By far the easiest and cheapest way to use London’s transport services is to obtain
an Oyster Card. This is a type of credit card and can be used on the Underground, DLR,
Overground, most National Rail suburban trains in the London area and London Buses (at
public fare). As an example central area privilege Oyster fares are about half of the privilege
fare purchased at a booking office. Bus fares too are cheaper than when paid to the driver.
The credit on an Oyster never expires and can be topped up quickly at any station so even if
you only visit London occasionally it is worth getting as it avoids queues at booking offices at
main stations. In addition there are often special discounts on attractions in London for Oyster
users. Go to tfl.gov.uk/oyster for full details.
Those wishing to obtain a privilege ‘Pay as you go’ Oyster card will need to register their STC
at a LU Booking Office using the appropriate form. One form is for National Rail Employees
(RSTL 90051) for active staff and their dependants and the other ‘National Rail Retired
Employees’ (RSTL 90052) for retired staff and their dependants. Forms can be downloaded
from atoc.org and must be authorised by the applicants employing company or RPMI and
then taken to an LU booking office for the Oyster card to be issued. The Oyster card must be
revalidated each year when a new STC is issued otherwise public fares will be charged. We
recommend that booking offices at main line stations are used.
REPTA – Guide to Travel Facilities
Travelling in London
Croydon Tramlink (part of Tfl)
Free use by all in possession of a valid STC plus photocard where appropriate. No need to
date a box.
UK Tram services
Other than Croydon Tramlink (see under london) no concessions are offered to rail staff.
Local or national bus passes my be accepted - enquire locally.
Tyne & Wear Metro
Free leisure travel is granted and privilege tickets are issued only to staff and their dependants
who entered employment prior to 11 August 1980. To obtain free travel those eligible must
use their appropriately dated STC. Only SINGLE privilege tickets are available and to obtain
these, eligible staff should press the CHILD fare button on ticket issuing machines. When
travelling they should carry their STC with them to support the ticket.
On Tyne & Wear Metro’s Heworth to Sunderland service the same ticketing arrangements
apply. However, exceptionally, they apply also to retired safeguarded staff who entered
employment on or after 11 August 1980.
Travelling on Eurostar
Special rate tickets are available on presentation of an International Reduced Rate Card
(granted to TOCNE staff after 12 months employment) or STC (if used this must be carried
and a box dated but may not be accepted on journeys from Europe). TOC Privilege cards are
not valid for purchase of Eurostar tickets. Tickets can be booked direct with
Eurostar (in person
at St Pancras) or through IPTIS (Deutsche Bahn UK Booking Centre, PO Box 687A, Surbiton
KT6 6UB. Tel: 08444 99 71 71, railstaff@bahn.co.uk) using form RSTL 1213. See under
‘Travelling within Europe’ for other agents who can book
Eurostar.
TRAVEL
REPTA – Guide to Travel Facilities
Railways in Ireland: see European section.
Shipping lines operating from ports in the British Isles
Stena Line Irish Services
STCs and TOC Privilege cards issued to active and retired safeguarded and TOCNE staff and
their dependants may travel free. Port taxes must be obtained in advance from Stena Central
Concessions Team on 0844 847 1471. A copy of the STC and Photo Identity card must be
faxed or scanned and emailed and these cards carried during travel.
A concession for accompanied cars is also available equating to 50% discount for return trips
of 5 days or more or 25% reduction on shorter trips. Booking arrangements as above.
Irish Ferries – not available to TOCNE staff
Free travel is available to Active full time salaried staff eligible to National Rail travel facilities
and their legally married spouses and dependants on two occasions a year. Privilege tickets
must be obtained from the company’s offices in Dublin, Pembroke or Cork and are issued to
retired staff, their legally married spouses and dependant children. Use form RSTL 1209 giving
eight weeks notice.
Wightlink – not available to TOCNE staff
Only active and retired staff who were in service before 1 April 1985 are eligible for travel
facilities on Wightlink (Portsmouth – Ryde and Lymington – Yarmouth only). Free travel is
obtainable by using a dated STC. Privilege travel may be purchased using an STC. A 50%
reduction is available for private cars on Portsmouth – Fishbourne route. Other passengers in
the car may travel at the appropriate reduction or full fare. There are no restrictions for foot
passengers but cars cannot be taken a reduced rate at peak times. Bookings and restrictions
on 0871 376 1000.
Isle of Man Steam Packet – not available to TOCNE staff
Privilege tickets are issued to active and retired staff for return journeys at single fare and these
must be obtained from the embarkation port. Free travel (excluding port taxes) is granted on
two occasions per year to full time active salaried staff only. Apply on form RSTL 1209 giving 6
weeks notice.
P&O Ferries: Dover – Calais, Hull – Zeebrugge/Rotterdam
STC and TOC Privilege Cards are valid without the requirement to date a box. To make a
booking and obtain port taxes a Concessionary Travel Application form RSTL90020 must be
completed and sent together with a photocopy of the employees Photo Identity Card where
appropriate and STC/TOC Privilege card to: Staff Travel Administrator, P&O Ferries, Channel
House, Dover CT17 9TJ. rts.supportgroup@poferries.com. Tel: 0871 664 8005.
P&O also offers a concession for conveyance of vehicles. The current offer is 25% discount off
5 or more days trips. Details and bookings as above.
Caledonian MacBrayne – not available to TOCNE staff
REPTA
Only available to those who entered service before 1971. For a list of routes and conditions
visit atoc.org. Apply on form RSTL 1209
Unlimited free travel is granted to all active, retired and TOCNE staff and their dependants.
Before boarding these services, a Boarding Pass must be obtained by producing a valid STC at
the Company’s booking offices at Ambleside, Bowness or Lakeside. There is no requirement to
date a box on the STC to obtain this facility.
Private Tourist Railways in Great Britain
The following Private Heritage Railways offer a discount to those in possession of a STC
including TOCNE. Contact the railway concerned for details. Others not listed here may offer
a discount - enquire locally.
01678 540666
Bala Lake Railway
bala-lake-railway.co.uk
Bodmin and Wenford Railway
bodminandwenfordrailway.co.uk 01208 73666
Brecon Mountain Railway
breconmountainrailway.co.uk
01685 722988
Bure Valley Railway
bvrw.co.uk
01263 733858
Colne Valley Railway
colnvalleyrailway.co.uk
01787 461174
Crich Tramway Village
tramway.co.uk
01773 854321
East Lancs Railway
east-lancs-rly.co.uk
0161 764 7790
Embsay Steam Railway
embsayboltonabbeyrailway.co.uk 01756 710654
Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Rly festrail.co.uk
01766 516000
Great Central Railway
gcrailway.co.uk
01509 230726
Isle of Wight Steam railway
iwsteamrailway.co.uk
01983 882204
Kent and East Sussex Railway
kesr.org.uk
01304 832042
Lakeside and Haverthwaite Rly
lakesiderailway.co.uk
015395 31594
Llanberis Railway
lake-railway.co.uk
01286 870549
Mid-Hants Railway
watercressline.co.uk
01962 733810
North Norfolk Railway
nnr.co.uk
01263 820 600
North Yorkshire Railway
nymr.co.uk
01751 472508
Paignton and Dartmouth Railway
dartmouthrailriver.co.uk
01803 555872
Peak Rail
peakrail.co.uk
01629 0580381
Ravenglass and Eskdale railway
ravenglass-railway.co.uk
01229 717171
Romney Hythe and Dymchurch Rly rhdr.org.uk
01797 362353
Severn Valley Railway
svr.co.uk
01299 403816
Snowdon Mountain Railway
snowdonrailway.co.uk
0871 720 0033
South Devon Railway
southdevonrailway.org
0845 345 1466
Strathspey Railway
strathspeyrailway.co.uk
01479 810725
Swanage Railway
swanagerailway.co.uk
01929 0425800
Talyllyn Railway
West Coast Railways
West Somerset Railway
REPTA – Guide to Travel Facilities
Lake Windermere
TRAVEL
talyllyn.co.uk
01654 710472
westcoastrailways.co.uk
0845 1284681
west-somerset-railway.co.uk
01643 704996
REPTA – Guide to Travel Facilities
Travelling within Europe (FIP Arrangements)
Everything you need to know about travelling by rail in all countries of the world is available
on seat61.com. This is a public website and has no information about rail staff discounts.
A useful publication is Thomas Cook European Rail Timetable showing most train times in
Europe and other useful information about rail travel. Available from Thomas Cook outlets or
from thomascookpublishing.com.
Reduced rate travel is granted by administrations under FIP arrangements to Active and
Retired Safeguarded staff and TOCNE, their bone fide partners and dependant children. An
International Reduced Rate card must be obtained on form RSTL 1209 through an employees
travel facilities administration centre or atoc.org for retired staff. New look FIP cards will be
introduced for 2013. If you have a valid card, a new style one will be sent automatically.
New applicants or those with expired cards can apply on form RSTL 1209. Full details of the
changes can be found on atoc.org.
Generally free travel is granted on one occasion per year to staff and in some cases to their
spouse/partner and dependant children. For this concession an International Free Coupon
ticket is required and can be applied for on form RSTL 1209 through an employees travel
facilities administration centre or atoc.org for retired staff.
Free travel coupons are in the same class as an employee is granted in the UK. However it is
possible to upgrade or purchase 1 st class privilege tickets provided this is done before travel.
There are many restriction and special staff fares for travel on premium trains which must be
booked in advance (eg TGV, ICE). For details visit atoc.org.
You may book reduced rate and full fare travel (including
Eurostar) through the following
agents: You may need completed form RSTL 1213 downloaded from atoc.org.
IPTIS, DB-UK Booking Centre
Rail Canterbury rail-canterbury.co.uk
Trains Europe trainseurope.co.uk
Ffestiniog Travel ffestiniogtravel.com
PO Box 687A, Surbiton KT6 6UB
Tel: 08444 99 71 71 (premium rate)
railstaff@bahn.co.uk
4 Station Approach, March PE15 8SJ
Trains Europe also has a counter at St Pancras
International in the East Midlands Trains
booking office. Tel: 0871 700 7722
enquiries@trainseurope.co.u
REPTA
39 Palace Street, Canterbury CT1 2DZ
Tel:01227 450088
rail@rail-canterbury.co.uk
Ffestiniog Travel, First Floor Unit 6,
Snowdonia Business Park,
Penrhyndeudraeth, LL48 6LD
Tel: 01766 772957
info@ffestiniog.co.uk
The following grant free and/or reduced rate travel.
operator
Retired
free
safeguarded
Reduced rate
Active
free
safeguarded
Reduced rate
TOCNE
free
Reduced rate
Attica Ferries
Austria
Belgium
Bern Lotschberg
Simplon
Bosnia Herzegovina
Bulgaria
Croatia
Czech Republic
Denmark
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Gyor Sopron
Ebenfurth
Hungary
Italy
Lake Constance
ships
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Montenegro
Netherlands
Northern Ireland
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Serbia
Slovakia
Slovenia
Southern Ireland
Spain
Stena line
Sweden
Swiss Railways *
Swiss Private
Rail ways*
none
C
EF
none
F
F
F
F
none
A
AE
A
A
A
A
A
none
A
AE
A
A
A
A
A
none
none
none
none
none
none
none
none
F
none
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
none
A
D
D
D
D
AE
D
A
D
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
none
A
D
D
D
D
AE
D
A
D
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
none
F
none
F
F
F
D
A
D
A
A
A
D
A
D
A
A
A
F
none
none
F
F
none
none
F
none
none
none
none
f
none
EF
none
none
none
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
none
F
F
A
D
D
A
AE
D
D
A
D
D
D
D
AE
D
A
none
D
D
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
none
A
A
A
D
D
A
AE
D
D
A
D
D
D
D
AE
D
A
none
D
D
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
none
A
A
Notes
A Employee and eligible family members
B Active/retired employee only
C Retired employee only
D Active Employee only
E Two coupons per year for salaried staff
F Retired staff and all eligible family members
* For full details of Swiss Private Railways visit atoc.org
REPTA – Guide to Travel Facilities
FIP administrations
TRAVEL
REPTA – Guide to Travel Facilities
Global fares within Europe
Many principal trains in Europe require advance reservations and staff booking these will
be charged a special fare even if they hold a free coupon. Almost all high-speed services,
sleepers, and hotel trains fall into this category. Included are TGV, ICE, ARTESIA, AVE, TALGO,
TRENOTEL, THALYS. Full details on atoc.org.
Administrations outside Europe
There are NO concessions to TOCNE staff.
Where concessions are granted they include legally married spouses and dependant children
provided they have not taken up residence in the county in which the concession is granted.
Applications should be made on form RSTL 1209 from atoc.org or from employees travel
facilities department (10 weeks notice required).
Administration
Algeria
Australia
Canada
Egypt
India
Iran
Iraq
Israel
Lebanon
Morocco
New Zealand
South Africa
Syria
Tunisia
Turkey
USA (AMTRAK)
Zimbabwe
Retired safeguarded
Active safeguarded
Active safeguarded
reduced rate
free travel
reduced rate
50% 2 journeys
50% not all lines
none
none
50%
none
none
none
None
50%
none
50%
none
50%
none
none
50%
none
none
none
employee
none
none
employee
employee
employee
none
none
none
employee
none
none
none
none
50% 2 journeys
50%
none
50%
50%
50%
50%
50%
50%
50%
50%
50%
50%
50%
50%
50%
50%
REPTA