Economy Klaus - "Why Dont Rail Staff Give Up Their Seats When Asked?"

[whole diary]

[Lee]

Quote from the latest Economy Klaus post (link below) :
http://firstlatewestern.blogspot.com/2008/02/when-free-ride-has-to-end.html

Then, between Didcot and Reading, the train manager made a rare but much welcomed announcement: "Will anyone with a railway industry rail pass sitting in standard class, including Network Rail passes, please give up their seats to paying passengers as the train is extremely crowded."

This is an announcement I've only heard a handful of times during my two-plus years of commuting from Chippenham. I assume - and feel free to correct me if I've got this wrong - if you work for Network Rail or a train operating company, you must be able to get a rail pass that provides free rail travel as a perk of the job. And all fine, too. I'm sure most rail jobs don't pay massively well so a spot of free travel acts as an incentive and a benefit. But here's the thing that gets my goat...

The train manager made the announcement a second time: "Will anyone travelling on a rail pass in standard class please vacate their seats."

No one stood up. Not a solitary person - at least not in my carriage. And indeed, everytime I've heard this announcement made, I never seen a single person stand up to hand their free seat to a paying customer as requested.

[Ollie]

Under conditions set by Rail Staff Travel at ATOC^» (Association of Train Operating Companies See - here) rail staff are obliged to give up their seats to fare paying passengers if no other seats are available. This does not apply to retired staff as far as I'm aware.

It's also worth noting there are some rail staff who do pay. Especially if travelling for a different TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company).

[Jim]

If you are "Passing" on a diagram, you have no right (AFAIK^▸ (as far as I know)) to a seat.

[Lee]

If you are "Passing" on a diagram, you have no right (AFAIK^▸ (as far as I know)) to a seat.

For the benefit of forum readers, can you explain what "Passing on a diagram" means, Jim?

[Jim]

If you are "Passing" on a diagram, you have no right (AFAIK^▸ (as far as I know)) to a seat.

For the benefit of forum readers, can you explain what "Passing on a diagram" means, Jim?

When you as a guard basically travel on the train, instead of sitting in the cab 'working' it.

[Doctor Gideon Ceefax]

The only exception to this is if a member of traincrew is booked to take their break on the train, then they are entitled to a seat. Equally retired staff do not have to give up their seats.

Guards are certainly are allowed to travel in the rear cab or brake van, when travelling on duty. Plus at least other staff will know where they are if there is an incident, rather than trawling the whole train for them.

Incidentally drivers used to be allowed to ride up the front when on duty travelling, but this has been stopped now. Presumably to avoid distracting the driver of the train, although given that HST^▸ (High Speed Train)'s had two drivers until the 90's, I don't see the logic in it.

[vacman]

Network Rail staff do not get free passes apart from VERY senior managers, or people who worked on the railway before April 1st 1996, also, if a member of staff is travelling on a "priv" ticket, which is a 75% discounted ticket that staff from all TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company)'s get for travelling on TOC's other rhan the one they work on, then they are travelling on a valid "ticket" and therefore don't actually have to give up their seat. A priv discount is only availiable on Standard "open" or standard "day" fares.

[Conner]

Network Rail staff do not get free passes apart from VERY senior managers, or people who worked on the railway before April 1st 1996, also, if a member of staff is travelling on a "priv" ticket, which is a 75% discounted ticket that staff from all TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company)'s get for travelling on TOC's other rhan the one they work on, then they are travelling on a valid "ticket" and therefore don't actually have to give up their seat. A priv discount is only availiable on Standard "open" or standard "day" fares.

Just a question about free rail travel, who actually gets it? What jobs? And what relations? As my Dad is looking at jobs on FGW^▸ (First Great Western), hes paticuarly interested in being trained as a guard/TM^‡(resolve).

[Ollie]

Commonly the free travel will be just for the company you work for.

[devon_metro]

The only exception to this is if a member of traincrew is booked to take their break on the train, then they are entitled to a seat. Equally retired staff do not have to give up their seats.

Most of them seem to go in First Class/rear cab.

I saw an HST^▸ (High Speed Train) with two people in the back cab, unless of course they were monitoring the powercar as I always thought you weren't allowed in the back cab of an HST

[dog box]

The only staff allowed in the rear power car are Fitters, something to do with the Inergen Bottles being quite unpleasant if activated

[gaf71]

Network Rail staff do not get free passes apart from VERY senior managers, or people who worked on the railway before April 1st 1996, also, if a member of staff is travelling on a "priv" ticket, which is a 75% discounted ticket that staff from all TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company)'s get for travelling on TOC's other rhan the one they work on, then they are travelling on a valid "ticket" and therefore don't actually have to give up their seat. A priv discount is only availiable on Standard "open" or standard "day" fares.

Just a question about free rail travel, who actually gets it? What jobs? And what relations? As my Dad is looking at jobs on FGW^▸ (First Great Western), hes paticuarly interested in being trained as a guard/TM^‡(resolve).

Spouses/partners and dependant children get free leisure travel with relevant TOC

[vacman]

You get free travel with the TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) you work for, and with First you get 12 journeys per year on other First TOC's such as Scotrail, TPE^▸ (Trans Pennine Express), FCC^▸ (First Capital Connect) and Hull trains, and ^5 family and friends tickets that you can take people with you on First services for ^5, which is more than most TOC's give, also every employee of any TOC gets a "Priv" card which gives 75% discount on standard open fares, this also applies to some preserved railways who are members of ATOC^» (Association of Train Operating Companies See - here) where any paid staff get a Priv card.

[12hoursunday]

If you are "Passing" on a diagram, you have no right (AFAIK^▸ (as far as I know)) to a seat.

There is an exception though Jim. Drivers  sometimes are diagramed a 'Break on Train' this is where they are unable to be given a break at say Padd due to the workload of their diagrams. They are also reserved a seat (49a) I believe in Coach A and a food voucher is included!

[Ollie]

You get free travel with the TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) you work for, and with First you get 12 journeys per year on other First TOC's such as Scotrail, TPE^▸ (Trans Pennine Express), FCC^▸ (First Capital Connect) and Hull trains, and ^5 family and friends tickets that you can take people with you on First services for ^5, which is more than most TOC's give, also every employee of any TOC gets a "Priv" card which gives 75% discount on standard open fares, this also applies to some preserved railways who are members of ATOC^» (Association of Train Operating Companies See - here) where any paid staff get a Priv card.

Except Grand Central