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Updated 20 March 2024

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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 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 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. 

20 March 2024

Luton DART - updated 4 March 2024

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.

Luton DART accepts priv-rate tickets. You are able to purchase staff discounted (priv-rate) through tickets to travel from National Rail stations to Luton Airport, which includes travel on Luton DART. 

4 March 2024

Priv rate on Caledonian Sleeper - updated 4 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, 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.

Caledonian Sleeper services are running with temporary restricted capacity. Due to the nature of Caledonian Sleeper, there is a finite number of rooms available. In the event of service disruption where the number of rooms operating is reduced, those already booked may be asked to move to alternate services / dates. This is a general policy which applies to all ticket holders and not specific to those using Staff Travel facilities.

4 March 2024

Lithuanian Railways

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.

The implementation of FIP within LTG-Link, the passenger division of Lithuanian Railways, scheduled from 1 January 2024 did not happen.

FIP International Reduced Rate Cards are not valid on LTG-Link services and the ability to order FIP coupons is being withdrawn.

We will provide a further update if there is any change to this situation.

6 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.

18 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

16 January 2024

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.

29 November 2023

RST Online Leisure Card renewal for 2023/24

(This news item only applies to Network Rail employees who hold an RST Online Leisure Card.)

RST Online Leisure Cards for Network Rail employees, and eligible family members valid from 1 December 2023 to 30 November 2024 were posted out starting on 14 November 2023. 

If we post your RST Online Leisure 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.

We will only replace cards not received from 28 November 2023, so if you haven’t received them by this date, please contact us by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. confirming:

  • your full name, address and postcode
  • which member of your family has not received their passes.

If you don’t receive your cards, you must let us know by 31 December 2023 providing the information as detailed above for us to issue replacements for free. Any emails received after 31 December reporting non receipt of RST Online Leisure 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.  

5 October 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 starting on 17 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 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 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.

11 September 2023

NR Priv Discount on Oyster for holders of the Rail Staff Leisure Card - updated 7 February 2023

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 to 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/

7 February 2023

Renewal of FIP International Reduced Rate Cards

FIP Cards for 2023/24 were sent out by post on Tuesday 22 November. They are valid for two years from 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2024.

If you have not received them by 2 January 2023, please contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. confirming which family members haven't received their FIP cards. Please do not contact us before 2 January 2023.

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 2023. After this date we will charge a replacement fee per card to send them to you.

24 November 2022

Elizabeth line - updated 16 November 2022

National Rail staff travel facilities are valid on all sections of the Elizabeth line.

Singles/Returns

Fares between Paddington and Abbey Wood are based on the London Underground zonal fares. The easiest way to travel at staff discounted (priv) rate is to use an Oyster Card with the priv discount set. However, Oyster pay cannot be used west of West Drayton so to a ticket must be purchased to obtain staff discounted (priv) rate for journeys starting or ending west of West Drayton.

With a Rail Staff Leisure Card or Staff Travel Card staff discounted (priv) paper singles and returns are also available, but cannot be purchased at stations in the central core. Please note that if using a single or return ticket, break of journey is not permitted at stations between Paddington and Abbey Wood.

Residential Travel

Reduced rate season tickets and Residential Passes are also available for journeys which include travel on Elizabeth line. Please note that any card/pass/season ticket that is from a station between Abbey Wood and Whitechapel to London Terminals will not be valid on the Elizabeth Line to London Liverpool Street. 

Duty Travel

Duty Authority to Travel and Freight Duty cards are valid for travel on the Elizabeth line (subject to carrying the required diagram evidence for use of the pass).

Status Passes and Staff Travel Cards (safeguarded staff only)

Gold Status Passes, Silver Status Passes and dated Staff Travel Cards are valid across the whole of the Elizabeth line.

Blue Status Passes are valid as follows:

  • Eastern Region – between Shenfield and Farringdon, and London Liverpool Street and Custom House for Excel
  • London Midland Region – between Paddington and Whitechapel
  • Southern Region – between Abbey Wood and Farringdon
  • Western Region – between Reading, Heathrow and London Paddington
  • Scottish Region – not valid

The maps on the RST website which cover the inter-available routes for Safeguarded Staff will be updated to include Elizabeth line availability as soon as RST receives new base versions from TfL.

16 November 2022