Staff Travel News
STAFF TRAVEL NEWS
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
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.
The current FIP Cards for 2023/24 are valid for use until 31 January 2025.
FIP Cards for 2025/26 are scheduled for renewal in December 2024. As soon as we have an exact date for dispatch we will update this news item. Once the FIP cards have been posted, we will e-mail you to let you know they are on the way.
They 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.
If you have not received them 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.
If you know you are moving house between now and 31 December 2024 but do not have the address details yet, or a confirmed move date, then please advise us by email and we will put a temporary hold on your record. You can then complete the Change of Address form (XX15) online once you have moved and we will issue cards to you and any current cardholders. A replacement fee will be charged if you have moved address, not advised RST and cannot retrieve your card(s).
If you have a child dependant aged 18 or over in receipt of a Status Pass, a Child Declaration may be necessary for them to receive a card in the renewal. If this is the case, we will contact you by e-mail in October to request you submit one.
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 – 27th September 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.
From the Rail Delivery Group – 19th September 2024
Fairbourne Railway
Staff discounted (priv-rate) fares are now available on the narrow-gauge Fairbourne Railway in Gwynedd, one of the Great Little Trains of Wales. It’s easily accessible from Fairbourne railway station, on the Cambrian Coast Line.
Just present your Staff Travel Card, Rail Staff Leisure Card or RST Online Leisure Card at the booking office.
From the Rail Delivery Group – 27th August 2024
Summer 2024 Staff Travel Restrictions – Update
The Staff Travel Restrictions for Summer 2024 are available on the Where Can I Go and Restrictions page.
Version 3 has just been published. It has changes to the wording in the section “Restrictions on all services”, subsection “General” on page 7. This wording now reads:
When travelling using your staff travel facilities, priority should be given to fare-paying passengers. Whenever possible, cardholders should travel on lightly-loaded trains. If a train is crowded it is expected that when boarding a train all staff travel facilities holders should stand back to allow fare-paying passengers to obtain seats first.
Active Staff and dependants must vacate seats on request where fare paying passengers are standing.
Retired Staff and dependants may be asked to vacate their seat but they do not have to.
There is no longer any distinction in these restriction requirements between staff travelling in First and Standard accommodation.
The requirements 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 2024 timetable.
From the Rail Delivery Group – 8th August 2024
Non-Cohabiting Partners
RST has now confirmed that form XX04 applies to retired staff as well as active staff, though it only quotes ’employees’ on that form.
Rail Staff Travel (RST) is now able to accept applications from active and retired employees for a partner that they do not live with. If this applies to you, please complete the Non-Cohabiting Partner Declaration (XX04) available on the forms page www.raildeliverygroup.com/rst/forms.html#family.
The form requires employees to make a statutory declaration in front of a qualified legal person (Solicitor, Notary Public, Justice of the Peace or Commissioner for Oaths) to confirm that they are in a meaningful relationship with their partner. Once completed just attach it to the Add Spouse or Partner (XX02a) form and submit it online.
The non-cohabiting partner will get the same staff travel benefits as the employee would get for a cohabiting partner/spouse, with two exceptions:
- The non-cohabiting partner cannot get FIP facilities for international travel. The FIP rules do not permit non-cohabiting partners.
- Children of the non-cohabiting partner will not be eligible. As they don’t live with the employee they cannot be considered dependant on the employee.
RST will not hold the address of the non-cohabiting partner or deal directly with non-cohabiting partners. All communication and enquiries must come from the employee and staff travel facilities issued to the non-cohabiting partner will be sent to the employee’s home address. There will be no exceptions to this rule.
The employee remains responsible for informing RST if the relationship ends and retrieving the staff travel facilities issued to the former partner.
We hope that employees find this a useful enhancement to the Rail Staff Travel scheme.
From the Rail Delivery Group – 5th August 2024
Rail Staff Leisure Card renewal for 2024/25
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 2024 to 31 October 2025 will be posted out in October before the current ones expire. Once the exact date for dispatch is confirmed, we will update this news item.
If you know you are moving house between now and the 31 October but do not have the address details yet, or a confirmed move date, then please advise us by email and we will put a temporary hold on your record. You can then complete the Change of Address form (XX15) online once you have moved and we will issue cards to you and any current cardholders. A replacement fee will be charged if you have moved address, not advised RST and cannot retrieve your card(s).
If you have a child dependant aged 18 or over in receipt of a Rail Staff Leisure Card, a Child Declaration may be necessary for them to receive a card in the renewal. If this is the case, we will contact you by e-mail in early August to request you submit one.
From the Rail Delivery Group – 31st July 2024
Train delays and service disruptions
Extract from Rail Staff Travel Guide for holders of a Staff Travel Card
When employees using their national leisure or residential travel concessions are subject to train delays and service disruptions, they should be dealt with no less favourably than the public insofar as the provision of alternative transport, overnight accommodation or compensation (based on actual fare paid if appropriate) is concerned.
Employees should apply for ‘Delay/Repay’ on the website of the TOC they were travelling on.
Sources – RST Refs: 90-011-032/D7602INC, 90-003-003/D7581INC and 90-003-003/D8250INC)
Extract from Rail Staff Travel Guide for holders of a Staff Travel Card version 27. Click to download.
Lithuanian Railways – update
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.
FIP cards and FIP coupons are now valid on LTG-Link services.
FIP coupons can be ordered using the International Coupon application forms.
From the Rail Delivery Group – 30th May 2024
2024 European Footbll Championship in Germany
Due to the 2024 European Football Championship in Germany, DB AG expects exceptionally high demand on its international services.
To ensure a reliable and comfortable journey, the reservation requirement (which already exists on some international journeys to and from Germany) will be extended to the majority of countries bordering Germany.
From 1 June to 1 September 2024 inclusive, a seat reservation will be mandatory for the use of all cross-border long-distance trains between Germany and neighbouring countries (except on trains to Switzerland via Lindau-Reutin – St. Margrethen and trains to Luxembourg).
The reservation requirement is shown in the timetable information on bahn.de.
Tickets for this travel period are automatically issued with a free reservation when purchased (including by presenting the international discount card) (digitally or through staff-operated sales).
Holders of FIP coupons or International Senior Manager Free Passes must purchase a paid reservation via commercial booking channels.
If a reservation is not made, a reservation fee plus a processing fee of Euro 30.00 will be charged on board the train.
P&O Ferries
Rail Staff Travel is ending its reciprocal travel agreement with P&O Ferries.
Rail Staff Leisure Cards and Staff Travel Cards will not be valid for any free or discounted travel on the P&O Dover to Calais and Hull to Rotterdam ferry services after 31 October 2024.
From the Rail Delivery Group – 16th May 2024
Staff Travel Card renewal for 2024/25 – updated 20 March 2024
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 2024 to 30 June 2025 were posted out starting on 19 March. If we hold an email address for you, we will email you to let you know when they have been sent.
Please allow Royal Mail sufficient time to deliver these. We are not able to start issuing replacements for cards not received until 4 April. If you haven’t received them by this date, please contact us by email at rst@raildeliverygroup.com confirming:
- your full name, address and postcode
- which member of your family has not received their passes.
Please do not contact us before 4 April to report non-delivery as we are not be able to issue replacements until after that date.
If you don’t receive your cards, you must let us know by 31 July 2024 providing the information as detailed above for us to issue replacements for free. Any emails received after 31 July 2024 reporting non receipt of Staff Travel Cards will incur a replacement fee per card. A replacement fee will also be charged per card if you have moved address and not advised RST and cannot retrieve your card(s).
Cards will arrive in the same envelope, unless:
- you have a child dependant aged 18 or over and you had to submit a child declaration. These will generally be sent a little later, but we will email you once they have been posted to you.
- you have submitted an application to add a new family member to your record in the last few weeks. Again, we will email you once they have been posted to you.
From the Rail Delivery Group – 20th March 2024
Luton DART – Update
Luton DART is a private commercial service between Luton Airport Parkway station and Luton Airport.
There are no agreements in place for the acceptance of any rail staff travel product on Luton DART services to allow for free travel. If you are using a staff travel product for free travel (i.e. Status Pass, Staff Travel Card with a dated box, or a TOC specific product) on National Rail services to Luton Airport Parkway and wish to use the Luton DART service to travel to Luton Airport, you must obtain a ticket at the public rate from the Luton DART company.
Until 3 March 2024 you can purchase staff discounted (priv-rate) through tickets to travel from National Rail stations via Luton Airport Parkway to Luton Airport, which includes travel on Luton DART, but the pricing of that ticket only provides the staff discount (priv-rate) on the National Rail leg of the journey.
From 3 March 2024 Luton DART will accept priv-rate tickets. You will be able to purchase staff discounted (priv-rate) through tickets to travel from National Rail stations via Luton Airport Parkway to Luton Airport, which includes travel on Luton DART. All other staff travel products for free travel will not be accepted.
From the Rail Delivery Group – 14th February 2024
Priv rate on Caledonian Sleeper
To enable a full review of the available capacity on Caledonian Sleeper services, new bookings for berth-inclusive priv fares on Caledonian Sleeper won’t be taken for the next 3 weeks. We will update this news page once we have further information.
From the Rail Delivery Group – 13th February 2024
Travel Tips for Europe updated
A new version of the Travel Tips for Europe has been uploaded to the Where Can I Go and Restrictions page. The main updates in this version are:
- A list of stations in the Netherlands where FIP discounted tickets can be purchased at a ticket office.
- Updates to pages on travel in Norway on Vy Group services.
- Significant updates to pages on travel in France on SNCF services.
From the Rail Delivery Group – 18th January 2024
New ticket types with staff discount (priv rate) on some LNER routes
As part of the simpler fares initiative, LNER are introducing new ticket types on some routes from 16 January 2024 for travel from 5 February 2024 and withdrawing Off-Peak tickets. Anytime ticket types will still be available on all routes.
As an alternative to Off-Peak tickets, staff discounts (priv rate) will be available on a particular 70min Flex price point, and also an Advance Purchase price point. For more details on the terms and conditions associated with the 70min Flex fare please see this page on the National Rail website www.nationalrail.co.uk/ticket-types/tickets/dma
Details of the terms and conditions associated with Advance Purchase ticket types are available at www.nationalrail.co.uk/tickets-railcards-and-offers/ticket-types/advance-tickets
The terms and conditions attached to the staff discounted (priv rate) 70min Flex fare and Advance Purchase fare, including the rules around refunds and changes, are the same as those which apply to public rate versions of these ticket types. These tickets are quota controlled, so subject to availability and Break of Journey is not permitted.
You will be able to purchase these tickets through RST Online. If you hold a Staff Travel Card or Rail Staff Leisure Card, then you can also purchase them from a National Rail ticket office. Please note that these ticket types cannot be sold on board a train.
The announcement on the LNER website about the public versions of these ticket types is here www.lner.co.uk/news/lner-launches-pioneering-pilot-to-further-simplify-fares
From the Rail Delivery Group – 16th January 2024
Lithuanian Railways
IMPORTANT – see updated information 6th February 2024
LTG-Link, the passenger division of Lithuanian Railways, is joining the FIP scheme from 1 January 2024.
FIP International Reduced Rate Cards issued by Rail Staff Travel held by active and retired employees and their dependents will be valid for discounted travel on LTG-Link services from 1 January 2024. The list of carriers on the FIP International Reduced Rate Card does not currently include LTG-Link but the cards will be accepted for discounted travel. When the FIP cards are renewed in December 2024, LTG-Link will be added to the list of carriers.
FIP coupons are available for active employees only with a travel date of 1 January 2024 or afterwards. The allocation is one per calendar year.
FIP Coupons are not available to:
- Retired employees (including those who retire before the 1 January 2024 and use coupons from their 9 or 45 month allocations)
- The dependants of active or retired employees