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Europe and FIP Introduction

Introduction

Europe and FIP

Europe and FIP Introduction

Introduction to FIP facilities for TOC new starters

FIP Facilities for New Employees

New TOC employees can use rail and shipping staff travel facilities in Europe after completing 12 months of service.

What is FIP?

The FIP organisation is a group of European rail and shipping companies that offer staff travel facilities to each other’s employees on a reciprocal basis. Rail Staff Travel Limited (RSTL) represents all TOCs in Britain within FIP and provides these facilities as a goodwill arrangement—they are not part of your employment contract.

Different Rules Apply

FIP has its own eligibility rules, which are different from the rules for domestic staff travel schemes in Britain.

What FIP facilities are provided?

Types of FIP Facilities

There are two types of FIP facilities:

  • FIP International Reduced Rate Card (FIP Card): Gives unlimited discounted leisure travel.
  • FIP Coupons: Provide a limited annual allocation of free leisure travel.

Your passport is required when using FIP facilities, and the name on your FIP card must match your passport.

Applying for FIP Facilities

After 12 months of service, TOC employees can apply to Rail Staff Travel Limited (RSTL) for FIP facilities. They are issued for the same class of travel as your Rail Staff Leisure Card.

  • A FIP Card is issued to the employee and each eligible family member.
    • Valid for 2 calendar years and renewed automatically.
    • Discounts are usually 50% (sometimes 75%) off the full adult fare, even for children. Some international trains use “Global Fares,” which are priced differently—check Travel Tips for Europe.

FIP Coupons

Employees can apply for coupons when needed. Key points:

  • Separate coupons are issued for each railway or shipping company.
  • You can apply for different carriers at different times for separate holidays.
  • Not all carriers offer free travel (e.g., Eurostar and Thalys do not).
  • Some carriers only offer free travel to employees, not partners or children.
  • Coupons are valid for 3 months from the outward travel date. Each coupon has 4 date boxes, each valid for 2 days of unlimited free travel (the date entered and the following day until 23:59).
  • Free travel covers the fare only. You must pay reservation fees, supplements, and port taxes. Sometimes public tickets may be cheaper.
  • Allocation is per calendar year (usually one per carrier).
  • For trains crossing borders, you need coupons for the main carrier in each country.

The Travel Tips for Europe guide lists carriers and shows how many coupons you can apply for each year.

Where Can I Go with FIP facilities?

Getting from Britain to Europe

You can travel from Britain to Europe by:

  • Buying FIP discounted tickets for Eurostar, or
  • Using FIP coupons for Stena Line ferries from Harwich to the Hook of Holland.

Where FIP Facilities Apply

Within Europe, FIP facilities are valid on major rail companies such as:

  • SNCF (France)
  • SNCB (Belgium)
  • NS (Netherlands)
  • DB (Germany)
  • TrenItalia (Italy)
  • RENFE (Spain)
  • CP (Portugal)
  • CD (Czech Republic)
    …and many more. The Travel Tips for Europe guide has the full list.

Where FIP Facilities Do NOT Apply

FIP facilities are generally not valid:

  • On franchised, open-access, or private operators
  • On regional or urban commuter routes subsidised by local authorities (even if run by the national operator)
  • In Sweden or Corsica
  • On some DB services in Germany (see the list on the RSTL website)

Reservations

On many high-speed and long-distance intercity routes, you must book reservations in advance.

For full details, check Travel Tips for Europe, which provides a country-by-country guide to FIP facilities. It’s recommended to review this before planning your trip.

How can I book travel using my FIP facilities?

Applying for FIP Coupons

Apply to Rail Staff Travel Limited (RSTL) at least 3 weeks before your trip. Coupons will be posted to your home address about 2 weeks before your outward travel date.

Booking Tickets and Reservations Before Leaving Britain

  • A few travel agents in Britain can book FIP tickets and reservations.
  • If you have an FIP Card, you can make bookings even if you plan to use FIP coupons and haven’t received them yet.
  • For Eurostar FIP tickets, you can also buy them in person at London St Pancras by showing your FIP Card.

Buying Tickets in Europe

Discounted tickets can be purchased at station ticket offices in Europe. However, in some countries—such as the Netherlands and Germany—not all ticket offices are authorised to sell FIP discounted tickets. Check Travel Tips for Europe for details.

Key links

Key links on the following pages: