
Non European arrangements

America and Australia
This page is only relevant to safeguarded employees who hold the Staff Travel Card.
America and Australia offer travel facilities to Active and Retired Staff and dependents provided they have not taken up permanent residence in the country for which travel facilities are required.
Unless otherwise stated, dependents usually comprise spouses and children. These facilities are not granted to widow(ers) and their dependent children.
Reduced rate tickets are usually only available from ticket offices in advance of travel and not normally on-board trains. the ½ rate reduction IS off the full public fare. Apply a minimum of ten weeks before travel using Non-FIP Travel Request form XX09d
RST cannot guarantee that a letter of introduction will result in any concessions. This should be borne in mind when booking your trip.
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Country – Railway |
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Active |
Retired |
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America – Amtrak |
½ rate |
None |
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Australia – New South Wales Railways only |
½ rate |
½ rate |
On New South Wales Railway. Discounted fares not available in the Sydney metro area (bounded by Dungog, Scone, Lithgow, Wollongong and Goulburn). Domestic partners are accepted irrespective of marital status or gender. Dependent children under 21 years old only. The arrangement with Australia is currently suspended due to issues with delivery of the scheme.
On Amtrak. A valid passport must be presented to purchase Amtrak tickets and reservations, and also on board for ticket inspection. Reservations may be made by contacting Amtrak Reservation at 800-872-7245 or by going to an open Amtrak ticket office. Be certain to identify yourself as a Reduced-Rate Travel Authorisation card holder when making reservations. Reservations must be made within 24 hours of the scheduled departure time from the point of origin of reserved travel. This limit applies separately to each train or Thruway service, including for connecting and return travel. If the person is on one train at the 24-hour time limit and wants to book onward travel, they may use a mobile phone to call Amtrak reservations 800-872-7245 to book the new travel. Tickets may then be obtained for that train at the connecting station. Reduced rate fares are not available on Acela Express services, Thruway services in the 7000-8000 series or Thruway services in Oregon. Persons eligible for reduced-rate fares are not entitled to refunds for the fare difference if they book as a revenue passenger rather than using the Reduced-Rate Travel Authorisation Card. (RST Ref: 90-083-001/D7530INC). Spouses/partners may travel with eligible employees. Dependent children aged 19 to 23 must be verified full time students to travel with the employee at discounted rates. Evidence of student status from the college/university will need to be supplied to Amtrak by RST as part of the application for the Reduced-Rate Travel Authorisation Card.
The concession on these undertakings may be a pass, a ticket or a Letter of Introduction. in most cases full journey details should be supplied.