Staff Travel News

STAFF TRAVEL NEWS

Schweizerische Südostbahn

(This news item only applies to employees eligible for the FIP International Reduced Rate Card.)

Within the pages for Switzerland in the Travel Tips for Europe guide, Schweizerische Südostbahn (SOB) is listed as a carrier within the SP (Swiss Private) group. The listing includes the boundaries of SOB operations within which SP coupons are valid.

SOB branded trains also operate services outside of the boundaries listed in the Travel Tips for Europe guide. These services operate under an SBB licence. SP coupons are not valid on these routes, an SBB coupon (or FIP discounted ticket) is required.

The Travel Tips for Europe guide will be updated to reflect this situation.

From the Rail Delivery Group – 1st September 2025.

Rail Staff Leisure Card renewal for 2025/26

This news item only applies to holders of a Rail Staff Leisure Card (non-safeguarded employees). It does not apply to holders of a Staff Travel Card (safeguarded employees) who have continuous service in the rail industry since at least 31 March 1996 or holders of the RST Online Leisure Card.

Rail Staff Leisure Cards for employees and eligible family members valid from 1 November 2025 to 31 October 2026 will be posted out in early October (when the exact date for dispatch is confirmed we will update this news item).

Once the cards have been posted, we will e-mail you to let you know they are on the way. The e-mail will also provide details about how long to wait to report non-delivery and information on how to report non-delivery to Rail Staff Travel.

Normally cards for all eligible family members will arrive in the same envelope. However, if you have only recently added a new family member to your record, or only recently submitted a Child Declaration, the cards may arrive in separate envelopes on different days.

27 August 2025

TER services operated by Transdev – 26 August 2025

Following a tender process, some TER services between Marseille, Toulon and Nice are now operated by Transdev.

FIP facilities (both FIP discounted tickets and FIP coupons) are not valid on services operated by Transdev.

For the timetable in force to 13 December 2025, all trains numbered from 17466 to 17499 are operated by Transdev. Train numbers are displayed on the video monitors on the platforms of the stations served, as well as in the audio announcements in stations. The front and rear cars display the name of the railway operator.

From the Rail Delivery Group – 26th August 2025.

Priv fares on Hovertravel – updated 11 June 2025

Rail Staff Travel is pleased to announce that staff discounted (priv-rate) fares for leisure travel are available on Hovertravel services between Southsea and Ryde Esplanade.

Holders of the Staff Travel Card, Rail Staff Leisure Card or RST Online Leisure Card can avail themselves of the staff discounted (priv-rate) fares at the Hovertravel terminal at either Southsea or Ryde. Hovertravel operate a connecting bus between Portsmouth Harbour station and Southsea Hovertravel terminal.

Dated boxes on Staff Travel Card, Status Passes, Residential Passes and Duty Authority to Travel (DAT) cards are not valid for any free travel on Hovertravel services.

Update 15 May 2025 – Although it was hoped that you would also be able to buy through tickets to and from Ryde Esplanade from the First Bus Travel Shop at The Hard Interchange (bus terminal) at Portsmouth Harbour station this facility is not currently available.

Update 11 June 2025 – Staff discounted (priv-rate) fares from Portsmouth & Southsea to Ryde Hoverport, Ryde St John’s Road, Smallbrook Junction, Brading, Sandown and Shanklin are now available to purchase through RST Online. Please note that RST Online does not make a reservation on a specific hovercraft service, even if a specific service is selected as part of the journey planning process.

From the Rail Delivery Group – 11th June 2025

Surcharges on Eurostar and Thalys (Eurostar Red)

From 1 May 2025 surcharges were introduced on all staff discounted fares on Eurostar and Thalys.

On Eurostar services a fare surcharge on the reservation fee of £5 / €5 on all routes and in all classes applies.

On Thalys (Eurostar Red) services a fare surcharge on the reservation fee of €5 on all routes and in all classes applies.

From the Rail Delivery Group – 16th May 2025

Updates from Rail Staff Travel

Here is a summary of recent staff travel updates
Download or read online

From the Rail Delivery Group – 23rd April 2025

Summer 2025 Staff Travel Restrictions

The Staff Travel Restrictions for Summer 2025 are available on the Restricitions page.
Having visted this page, it does not appear to presnt downloadable information, so below are links to editable files (to allow members to delete pages irrelevant to them (BUT WATCH PAGE NUMBERS IN THE TOCs index).

OpenDocument text file (ODT)

Microsoft Word document (DOCX)

Portable Document Format (PDF)

2025 Summer Staff Travel Restrictions

The restrictions apply to those using all Staff Travel facilities, including Freight Duty Cards, Duty Authority to Travel (DAT) Cards, Residential Passes, Status Passes, Staff Travel Cards, Rail Staff Leisure Cards, RST Online Leisure Cards, TOC specific and group specific cards.

The requirements also apply to those using staff-discounted (priv-rate) leisure and season tickets, even if the holders of these tickets have made seat reservations.

The Staff Travel Restrictions may be further updated during the period of the Summer 2025 timetable.

From the Rail Delivery Group – 16th April 2025

Online ticket purchasing for DB services

This news item applies only to those who hold a FIP International Reduced Rate Card.

DB Fernverkehr AG has provided Rail Staff Travel with some information about their website which retails FIP discounted tickets. The website will let you buy FIP discounted tickets for journeys in Germany, and also for international journeys on DB services which originate or terminate in Germany.

This is the link to the website int.bahn.de/en/buchung/start?KL=2&ET=FIP_SONSTIGE

It is only necessary to specify the journey you wish to make to see the FIP discounted fares. You do not have to select a FIP Card in the “Passenger, bicycles, BahnCards” section on the main search page. FIP discounted fares will be shown once the train service has been selected.

Those travelling with FIP coupons can book seat reservations only using the “Book seat only” selector.

It is not possible for those holding 2nd class FIP facilities to purchase upgrades to travel in 1st class.

Barcode format tickets are delivered by e-mail. They can be printed off or presented on screen using a mobile device. An alternative for users who have created a registered account with DB is to receive tickets directly in the DB Navigator app.

The site is provided as a goodwill gesture by DB without any service level guarantees in relation to the availability of the site. Rail Staff Travel cannot answer any queries in relation to the site or deal with any enquiries in relation to tickets purchase through the site. Employees need to contact DB Fernverkehr AG directly with any booking, refund or ticket usage issues.

From the Rail Delivery Group – 26th March 2025

Staff Travel Card renewal for 2025/26 – updated 19 March 2025

This news item applies only to safeguarded staff who entered rail service on or before 31 March 1996 and hold a Staff Travel Card. This news item does not apply to those who hold the Rail Staff Leisure Card or RST Online Leisure Card.

Staff Travel Cards for employees and eligible family members valid from 1 April 2025 to 30 June 2026 were posted out starting from Tuesday 18 March 2025.

There is an additional letter in the envelope. Please read this as it explains changes coming to the card in March 2026 and what may be required of some card holders.

If you have not received a card for a family member you have only recently completed an application for, these cards will arrive slightly later, and we will email you once they have been posted. There is no need to contact us.

A replacement fee will be charged if you have moved address and not advised RST and cannot retrieve your card(s).

Card holders living in the UK

if you have not received any card(s) by Tuesday 8 April, please complete the Renewal Post Loss form XX47. If you do not do this by 31 July 2025 you will have to pay a replacement fee for new cards to be issued.

Card holders living in the Royal Mail Europe Zones:

if you have not received any card(s) by Tuesday 15 April, please complete the Renewal Post Loss form XX47. If you do not do this by 31 July 2025 you will have to pay a replacement fee for new cards to be issued.

Card holders living overseas in the Royal Mail Rest of the World zones:

if you have not received any card(s) by Tuesday 29 April, please complete the Renewal Post Loss form XX47. If you do not do this by 31 July 2025 you will have to pay a replacement fee for new cards to be issued.

From the Rail Delivery Group – 19th March 2025

Winter 2024-25 Staff Travel Restrictions

The Staff Travel Restrictions for Winter 2024-25 are available on the Where Can I Go and Restrictions page.

The requirements also apply to those using staff-discounted (priv-rate) leisure and season tickets, even if the holders of these tickets have made seat reservations.

The Staff Travel Restrictions may be further updated during the period of the Winter 2024-25 timetable.

From the Rail Delivery Group – 13th January 2025

Finland (VR Group)

This news item applies only to those who hold a FIP International Reduced Rate Card.

Finland (VR Group) has withdrawn from the FIP association.

The information arrived too late to remove VR Group from the FIP International Reduced Rate Card for 2025-2026. Despite VR Group being listed on the FIP card, the FIP discount is no longer available in Finland.

We will no longer issue FIP coupons for VR Group.

From the Rail Delivery Group – 16th December 2024

Recent updates by email from Rail Staff Travel

Restrictions

The new restrictions in place from 15 December are on the RST website. www.raildeliverygroup.com/rst/where-can-i-go.html#Restrictions

Granting family members access to RST Online

You can provide your family members access to RST Online for them to purchase their own priv-rate tickets. If you would like to do this, please submit an XX40 form via www.raildeliverygroup.com/rst/forms.html .

Please note that all requests for RST Online access must come from the record-holder.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI)

Within the wider rail industry work is underway to make workplaces, safe, inclusive spaces by embracing the differences within a diverse workforce. We want to create an environment where employees are happy to come to work safe in the knowledge that they will be valued, that they will have the opportunity to develop and grow, and they will be treated fairly.

Rail Staff Travel is committed to support this work. If you have a specific issue that you would like to discuss with us, you can contact us in confidence to explore how we can best help you or a family member.

Cardholders who are transitioning

We can help with re-issuing cards and passes if any cardholder is transitioning or has transitioned. If it’s for a child, and there is no official documentation, please contact RST for further advice.

Children

Children aged 5 to 15 are eligible for child discounted tickets on National Rail services. When buying staff discounted (priv rate) tickets for them, the same ages apply for them to benefit from child priv rate fares.

Any child aged 16 or older is required to purchase adult tickets.

Help with travelling

Cardholders with a Staff Travel Card, Rail Staff Leisure Card or RST Online Leisure Card unable to travel alone and needing someone to travel with them can have their card endorsed to allow an attendant to travel with them on National Rail services. This provision does not extend to reciprocal carriers (i.e. ferries or heritage railways), or international travel.

The cardholder must meet the eligibility criteria for a Disabled Persons Railcard (they do not have to purchase the Disabled Persons Railcard). The eligibility criteria is here www.disabledpersons-railcard.co.uk

The primary cardholder will need to provide proof of this to RST. Please submit the Attendant Request XX45 form and attach an image of the relevant proof. www.raildeliverygroup.com/rst/forms.html#details

If you hold a Staff Travel Card and apply before 17 February 2025, then the attendant wording will be added to your Staff Travel Card for 2025/26 which will be issued in March 2025.

If you hold a Rail Staff Leisure Card or RST Online Leisure Card, when we process your application, we will contact the primary cardholder to swap out the card and issue a new one.

Rail 200

As you may know the railway in Britain is celebrating its 200^th anniversary in 2025. There are lots of events planned so if you want to see what is happening, there is a dedicated website for it at https://railway200.co.uk/

From Rail Staff Travel by email – 11th December 2024

Other items sent by email are already included below until they lapse.

Rigi Bahnen (Rigi Mountain Railways)

This news item applies only to who hold a FIP International Reduced Rate Card.

Rigi Bahnen is joining the Swiss Private (SP) membership of FIP from 1 January 2025. FIP discounted travel with the FIP International Reduced Rate Card and free travel with a FIP Coupon for Swiss Private (SP) will be available on the following stretches of route:

Vitznau – Rigi Kulm (rack railway)
Goldau – Rigi Kulm (rack railway)
Weggis – Rigi Kaltbad (cable car)
Kräbel – Rigi Scheidegg (cable car)

FIP facilities are not valid on other Rigi Bahnen services, including:

Obergschwend – Rigi Burggeist (cable car)
Küssnacht – Seebodenalp (cable car)
Vitznau – Hinterbergen (cable car)
Vitznau – Wissifluh (cable car)
Brunnen – Urmiberg (cable car)

From the Rail Delivery Group – 22nd November 2024

Renewal of FIP International Reduced Rate Cards

This news item applies only those who already hold a FIP card and also either a Staff Travel Card or Rail Staff Leisure Card. This news item does not apply to those who hold the RST Online Leisure Card.

FIP Cards for 2023/24 are valid for use until 31 January 2025.

FIP Cards for 2025/26 will start to be dispatched on Monday 18 November.

If you do not received all the cards you are expecting by 2 January 2025, please contact us at rst@raildeliverygroup.com confirming which family members haven’t received their FIP cards.

Please do not contact us before 2 January 2025 to report missing cards as we will not action any requests to investigate missing cards until then.

The FIP Cards for 2025/26 are valid for two calendar years from 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2026. The FIP rules allow an additional 1 month of validity either side, so you can use them until 31 January 2027.

For child dependents aged 18 or over in receipt of a Status Pass, if you have only submitted a Child Declaration in the last few weeks their cards may arrive later.

Information for all active and retired employees:

If you have moved home address and not let RST know and you are unable to retrieve your card(s) , we will charge a replacement fee per card to send them to your new address.
If you do not receive your cards at the address we hold for you, we will replace them free of charge if you tell us before 31 January 2025. After this date we will charge a replacement fee to send them to you.

From the Rail Delivery Group – 13th November 2024

Western Region Blue Status Pass update

This news item applies only those who already hold a Western Region Blue Status Pass.

Starting in November 2024, some GWR services which normally arrive or depart from London Paddington will be diverted into London Euston. This is due to engineering works at Old Oak Common. You can find more information about this on the GWR website here www.gwr.com/travel-information/travel-updates/planned-engineering/oldoakcommon

Holders of Western Region Blue Status Passes will be able to use these on GWR services which are diverted in and out of London Euston, even though London Euston is not covered by the geographical area allowed for Western Region passes. Your Western Region Blue Status Pass should operate the ticket barriers at London Euston.

Avanti West Coast and London North Western Railway employees who may staff ticket barriers at London Euston at platforms where GWR services arrive and depart from have been briefed on this temporary easement.

Please note that you may only use your Western Region Blue Status Pass at London Euston if you are arriving or departing on an GWR service which is diverted from its usual terminus of London Paddington.

We will not be updating the maps on our website which show the geographical availability of the Western Region Blue Status Pass as this arrangement for accepting passes at London Euston is a temporary measure.

From the Rail Delivery Group – 15th October 2024

Eurostar classes of travel

This news item applies only to safeguarded staff who entered rail service on or before 31 March 1996 and hold a Staff Travel Card, or those non-safeguarded staff who hold the Rail Staff Leisure Card. This news item does not apply to those who hold the RST Online Leisure Card.

Eurostar has renamed its classes of travel for services which arrive or depart from London St Pancras. The arrangements for discounted travel are unchanged.

Standard is now Eurostar Standard
Standard Premier is now Eurostar Plus
Business Premier is now Eurostar Premier

RST documentation on this site referring to Eurostar classes of travel will be updated shortly with the new names.