Staff Travel News
STAFF TRAVEL NEWS
Winter 2023-24 Staff Travel Restrictions
The Staff Travel Restrictions for Winter 2023-24 are available on the Where Can I Go and Restrictions page.
There are some CrossCountry, GWR and Hull Trains services on which the use of Staff Travel facilities is barred, so please check before travelling.
The Staff Travel Restrictions may be updated during the period of the Winter 2023-24 timetable.
From the Rail Delivery Group – 29th November 2023
Luton DART
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.
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 the Rail Delivery Group – 17th November 2023
Rail Staff Leisure Card renewal for 2023/24
(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 2023 to 31 October 2024 will be posted out around mid-October 2023.
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 at www.raildeliverygroup.com/rst/forms.html#details once you have moved and we will issue cards to you and any current cardholders.
A replacement fee will be charged per card if you have moved address and not advised RST and cannot retrieve your card(s).
Once the date for dispatch is confirmed, we will update this news item. If we hold an email address for you, we will also email you once they have been posted to you.
If you have not received any card(s) by 20 October, please contact us by email at rst@raildeliverygroup.com stating your full name and address and confirming who has not received their card(s). If you do not do this by 30 November 2023 you will have to pay a replacement fee for new cards to be issued.
If you have not received a card for a child who is aged 18 or over and have not submitted a Child Declaration, please submit form xx05 from via our website www.raildeliverygroup.com/rst/forms.html#family and provide the appropriate evidence to support your application.
From the Rail Delivery Group – 11th September 2023
Rovers and Rangers in RST Online
It is now possible to purchase staff discounted (priv rate) Rovers and Rangers from RST Online. You can do this if you hold a Staff Travel Card, a Rail Staff Leisure Card or an RST Online Leisure Card.
If you are not sure what Rovers and Rangers are, there is more information on the National Rail page here www.nationalrail.co.uk/tickets-railcards-and-offers/ticket-types/ranger-and-rover-tickets/
The option to purchase is available in the desktop version of the website. The ability to purchase in the mobile version of the website will follow later. If you are using a smartphone or tablet you can access the desktop view of the website using the menu option on the top right hand side of the screen.
Only Rovers and Rangers which can be sold with the staff discount (priv rate) are available. Those which have no staff discount (priv rate) are not sold by RST Online.
You can purchase a Rover or Ranger with a start date of between 7 and 14 days from the date of purchase. Rovers and Rangers are printed and posted to you by 1st class post. There is no other fulfilment option available.
If you purchase a Rover or Ranger and no longer require it, then you can apply for a refund up to the start date.
From the Rail Delivery Group – 4th August 2023
New RST PO Box and address
Following an office move, RST has a new PO Box for the receipt of items via Royal Mail. Please use this address to post letters or passes to us:
From the Rail Delivery Group – 1st August 2023
DB-AG Staff Travel restrictions
The DB-AG Staff Travel Restrictions are now provided online and have been updated for the second half of 2023. The link is available on the Where Can I Go and Restrictions page.
From the Rail Delivery Group – 2nd June 2023
Recent news reminders from RST
Staff Travel Restrictions for Summer 2023
The Staff Travel Restrictions valid from 21 May 2023 have now been published on the RST website at www.raildeliverygroup.com/rst/where-can-i-go.html#Restrictions.
The services which are barred with the use of Staff Travel facilities are listed in this document. There are some changes on Avanti West Coast to the use of Standard Premium and also the use of Seatfrog for upgrades.
Please ensure you and eligible family members are familiar with and abide by the Staff Travel restrictions. You should always check which refreshments, if any, you are eligible to accept if travelling in First Class. Even if the First Class host offers them to you, you should only accept what you are eligible to as detailed in the Restrictions document. These differ by TOC.
RST Online
If you haven’t yet registered to use RST Online, please send an e-mail to rst@raildeliverygroup.com confirming your name and address with “RST Online Registration” in the subject. We will then send you your one-time code to allow you to register.
When using RST Online please be aware that some operators are only releasing booking quotas a few days before travel, so tickets and reservations may not be available more than a few days ahead.
Lynton And Barnstaple Railway
A Staff Travel Card, or Rail Staff Leisure Card can now be used to obtain a privilege rate on standard class fares on the Lynton and Barnstaple Railway www.lynton-rail.co.uk which operates near Exmoor in North Devon.
You can obtain the discount from the ticket office at Woody Bay station by presenting your Staff Travel Card or Rail Staff Leisure Card.
Please note that Status Passes, TOC specific passes and other Staff Travel documentation will not be accepted.
Information on Staff Travel Facilities
The RST website has documents which can answer queries you might have about using your facilities. They cover the types of travel and concession available, eligibility of family members, buying tickets and travelling, sleeper services, lists of operators which accept facilities, Eurostar, ferry companies etc, and foreign undertakings. It’s worth having a read of these.
If you receive a Rail Staff Leisure Card, then the document which provides information on your facilities is the Rail Staff Travel guide for holders of the Rail Staff Leisure Card which you can find here www.raildeliverygroup.com/rst/where-can-i-go.html#WhereCanIGoNSG
If you receive a Staff Travel Card (that may have boxes for free travel across the network), then the document which provides information on your facilities is the Rail Staff Travel guide for holders of the Staff Travel Card which you can find here www.raildeliverygroup.com/rst/where-can-i-go.html#WhereCanIGoSG
Keeping your details up to date with Rail Staff Travel
It’s your responsibility to keep your details up to date with Rail Staff Travel. There are some forms on our website which you can use to submit changes of details:
- Change of Address XX15 – please use this if you change your home address
- Dependant Card not Required XX24 – please use this if you separate from a spouse/partner, or a child dependant leaves home or starts employment earning above the weekly threshold.
- Employee Change of Name XX25
- Dependant Change of Name XX26 – this is often used when spouse or partners change their name on marriage or civil partnership.
- Change of Details XX21 – usually used when contact details (e-mail, telephone number) need to be updated.
From the Rail Staff Travel by email – 14th April 2022
Summer 2023 Staff Travel Restrictions
The Staff Travel Restrictions for Summer 2023 are available on the Where Can I Go and Restrictions page.
There are some services on which the use of Staff Travel facilities is barred, so please check before travelling.
The Staff Travel Restrictions may be updated during the period of the Summer 2023 timetable.
From the Rail Delivery Group – 14th April 2023
Staff Travel Card renewal for 2023/24 – Update
This news item applies only to safeguarded staff who entered rail service on or before 31 March 1996.
Staff Travel Cards for employees and eligible family members valid from 1 April 2023 to 30 June 2024 are due to be posted out starting on 23 March.
If we post your Staff Travel Card to the address we hold for you and you have moved and are unable to retrieve it from the address it was posted to, then a replacement fee will apply.
If cards have not been received by 11 April 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.
Any emails received after 31 July 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, however, will be sent separately for:
- you submitted the child declaration after 23 February 2023 for a child dependant aged 18 or above
- you have submitted an application after 23 February 2023 to add a new family member to your record
Cards will not be sent for dependants aged 18 or above where a Child Declaration form (XX05) has not been submitted. If you have not received a card for this reason, please complete the XX05 form along with the appropriate evidence to support your declaration.
From the Rail Delivery Group – 10th March 2023
Lynton and Barnstaple Railway
A Staff Travel Card, Rail Staff Leisure Card or RST Online Leisure Card can now be used to obtain a privilege rate on standard class fares on the Lynton and Barnstaple Railway (www.lynton-rail.co.uk/) which operates near Exmoor in North Devon.
You can obtain the discount from the ticket office at Woody Bay station by presenting your Staff Travel Card, Rail Staff Leisure Card or RST Online Leisure Card.
Please note that Status Passes, TOC specific passes and other Staff Travel documentation will not be accepted.
From the Rail Delivery Group – 10th February 2023
National Rail (NR) Priv Discount on Oyster for holders of the Rail Staff Leisure Card – Update
This news item applies only to non-safeguarded staff who entered rail service after 31 March 1996 and hold the Rail Staff Leisure Card. It does not apply to safeguarded employees issued with the Staff Travel Card, or Network Rail employees issued with the RST Online Leisure Card.
The Elizabeth Line have confirmed with Rail Staff Travel that the discount can be set at the following Elizabeth Line stations, between the times shown in the table.
Your Oyster card must be registered – if it isn’t please go to oyster.tfl.gov.uk/oyster/entry.do
| Station | Monday - Friday | Saturday | Sunday |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ilford | 10.00 – 15.00 hrs | 10.00 – 17.00 hrs | 10.00 – 17.00 hrs |
| Romford | 10.00 – 15.00 hrs | 10.00 – 17.00 hrs | |
| Ealing Broadway | 10.00 – 15.00 hrs | 10.00 – 17.00 hrs | 10.00 – 17.00 hrs |
| West Ealing | 10.00 – 15.00 hrs | 10.00 – 17.00 hrs | |
| Hayes and Harlington | 10.00 – 15.00 hrs | 10.00 – 17.00 hrs | 10.00 – 17.00 hrs |
| Southall | 10.00 – 15.00 hrs | 10.00 – 17.00 hrs | |
| West Drayton | 10.00 – 15.00 hrs | 10.00 – 17.00 hrs | |
| Abbey Wood | 10.00 – 15.00 hrs | 10.00 – 17.00 hrs | 10.00 – 17.00 hrs |
| Custom House * | 10.00 – 15.00 hrs | 10.00 – 17.00 hrs | 10.00 – 17.00 hrs |
| Woolwich * | 10.00 – 15.00 hrs | 10.00 – 17.00 hrs | 10.00 – 17.00 hrs |
| Canary Wharf * | 10.00 – 15.00 hrs | 10.00 – 17.00 hrs | 10.00 – 17.00 hrs |
| Paddington * | 10.00 – 15.00 hrs | 10.00 – 17.00 hrs | 10.00 – 17.00 hrs |
At stations marked with a * you will need to ask to speak to a manager so they can set the discount.
If you have any issues getting the discount set please contact TfL directly via tfl.gov.uk/help-and-contact/contact-us-about-tube-and-rail
If your query is not resolved by TfL you can contact London Travel Watch. Their details can be found at www.londontravelwatch.org.uk/
From the Rail Delivery Group – 7th February 2023
rd/s (FIP card)
International Reduced Rate Card/s (FIP card) valid from 1 December 2022 to 31 January 2025 were posted out on the 22 November 2022.
If you have received the International Reduced Rate Card/s (FIP card) you do not need to do anything.
If card/s have not been received by Monday 2 January 2023 please contact us by email at rst@raildeliverygroup.com confirming your full name and address and details of who has not received their passes. If you inform us after 31 January 2023 of non-receipt of International Reduced Rate Card/s (FIP card) a replacement fee per card will apply.
If you hold a current FIP card for 2021/22 then this is valid until 31 January 2023.
A replacement fee will also be charged per card if you have moved address and not advised RST and cannot retrieve your card/s.
If you have not received a card for a child aged 18 or over it is likely that a Child Declaration is outstanding or if submitted in the last few weeks has not yet been processed. If you have yet to do so, please submit form xx05 from via our website www.raildeliverygroup.com/rst/forms.html#family and provide the appropriate evidence to support your application.
If you have recently submitted an application for a new family member and their card has not arrived, these cards are being sent slightly later. We will email you once they have been posted.
You do not need to contact us if you have received the cards you are expecting.
From the Rail Staff Travel by email – 19th December 2022
Updates from Rail Staff Travel
Staff Travel Restrictions for Winter 2022-23
In connection with the winter 2022-23 Staff Travel Restrictions:
There are some new CrossCountry services which are now barred for use with Staff Travel facilities.
The Where Can I Go and Restrictions page includes information which TOCs you can use Seatfrog for upgrades (sic) and information on the which refreshments are complimentary. Please ensure you and eligible family members are familiar with and abide by the restrictions and please always check before you travel.
Accompanied child flat fares
If you are retired and aged 60 or over, you can purchase the £4.00 accompanied child flat fare via RST Online. If you have not already registered for RST Online, please contact us via rst@raildeliverygroup.com (please put ‘RST Online’ in the email subject heading) and we will send your RST Online registration details.
To purchase the £4.00 accompanied child fare from your RST Online account, first enter your journey details. When you enter the number of passengers, select ‘0’ for adults if you are travelling on a dated Staff Travel Card box or a Status Pass, and then enter the number of children you want to buy the flat fare for. You will also need to untick the ‘Railcards’ box underneath.
Please be advised that the £4.00 accompanied child fare may not appear if the priv fare is less than £4.00.
Please also note that if you are looking to make a seat-only reservation for yourself, you will need to do this separately (the system will not allow a seat-only reservation and a purchase of accompanied child fares on the same booking).
FIP Coupons
In response to on-going strike action affecting Royal Mail and the impacts on delivery of post, the application lead time for FIP coupons has been increased from 2 weeks to 3 weeks before your outward travel date.
If you wish to apply for any unused coupons from your 2022 allocation, please submit your request by 9 December at the latest. The International Coupon Applications forms are on the RST website here www.raildeliverygroup.com/rst/forms.html#international
Staff Travel Restrictions in Germany on DB-AG services
There is a small list of DB-AG services which are barred to holders of FIP coupons and FIP discounted tickets. The list covering the timetable period from 11 December 2022 to 10 June 2023. Please check before you book www.raildeliverygroup.com/rst/where-can-i-go.html#Europe
Information on Staff Travel Facilities
The RST website has documents which can answer queries you might have about using your facilities. They cover the types of travel and concession available, eligibility of family members, buying tickets and travelling, sleeper services, lists of operators (including open access) which accept facilities), Eurostar, ferry companies etc, and foreign undertakings. It’s worth having a read of these as you might find a benefit you were unaware of.
The main guide to your facilities is the Rail Staff Travel guide for holders of the Staff Travel Card which you can find here www.raildeliverygroup.com/rst/where-can-i-go.html#WhereCanIGoSG