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Summer 2025 Staff Travel Restrictions

The Staff Travel Restrictions for Summer 2025 are available on the Restrictions page. 

The restrictions apply to those using all Staff Travel facilities, including Freight Duty Cards, Duty Authority to Travel (DAT) Cards, Residential Passes, Status Passes, Staff Travel Cards, Rail Staff Leisure Cards, RST Online Leisure Cards, TOC specific and group specific cards.

The requirements also apply to those using staff-discounted (priv-rate) leisure and season tickets, even if the holders of these tickets have made seat reservations.

The Staff Travel Restrictions may be further updated during the period of the Summer 2025 timetable.

16 April 2025

Online ticket purchasing for DB services

This news item applies only to those who hold a FIP International Reduced Rate Card.

DB Fernverkehr AG has provided Rail Staff Travel with some information about their website which retails FIP discounted tickets. The website will let you buy FIP discounted tickets for journeys in Germany, and also for international journeys on DB services which originate or terminate in Germany.

This is the link to the website int.bahn.de/en/buchung/start?KL=2&ET=FIP_SONSTIGE

It is only necessary to specify the journey you wish to make to see the FIP discounted fares. You do not have to select a FIP Card in the “Passenger, bicycles, BahnCards” section on the main search page. FIP discounted fares will be shown once the train service has been selected.

Those travelling with FIP coupons can book seat reservations only using the “Book seat only” selector.

It is not possible for those holding 2nd class FIP facilities to purchase upgrades to travel in 1st class.

Barcode format tickets are delivered by e-mail. They can be printed off or presented on screen using a mobile device. An alternative for users who have created a registered account with DB is to receive tickets directly in the DB Navigator app.

The site is provided as a goodwill gesture by DB without any service level guarantees in relation to the availability of the site. Rail Staff Travel cannot answer any queries in relation to the site or deal with any enquiries in relation to tickets purchase through the site. Employees need to contact DB Fernverkehr AG directly with any booking, refund or ticket usage issues.

26 March 2025

Staff Travel Card renewal for 2025/26 -  updated 19 March 2025

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 2025 to 30 June 2026 were posted out starting from Tuesday 18 March 2025.

There is an additional letter in the envelope. Please read this as it explains changes coming to the card in March 2026 and what may be required of some card holders.

If you have not received a card for a family member you have only recently completed an application for, these cards will arrive slightly later, and we will email you once they have been posted. There is no need to contact us.

A replacement fee will be charged if you have moved address and not advised RST and cannot retrieve your card(s).

Card holders living in the UK

  • if you have not received any card(s) by Tuesday 8 April, please complete the Renewal Post Loss form XX47. If you do not do this by 31 July 2025 you will have to pay a replacement fee for new cards to be issued.

Card holders living in the Royal Mail Europe Zones:

  • if you have not received any card(s) by Tuesday 15 April, please complete the Renewal Post Loss form XX47. If you do not do this by 31 July 2025 you will have to pay a replacement fee for new cards to be issued.

Card holders living overseas in the Royal Mail Rest of the World zones:

  • if you have not received any card(s) by Tuesday 29 April, please complete the Renewal Post Loss form XX47. If you do not do this by 31 July 2025 you will have to pay a replacement fee for new cards to be issued.

19 March 2025

Priv fares on Hovertravel - 10 February 2025

Rail Staff Travel is pleased to announce that staff discounted (priv-rate) fares for leisure travel are available on Hovertravel services between Southsea and Ryde Esplanade.

Holders of the Staff Travel Card, Rail Staff Leisure Card or RST Online Leisure Card can avail themselves of the staff discounted (priv-rate) fares at the Hovertravel terminal at either Southsea or Ryde. Hovertravel operate a connecting bus between Portsmouth Harbour station and Southsea Hovertravel terminal. You can also buy through tickets to and from Ryde Esplanade from First Bus Travel Shop at The Hard Interchange (bus terminal) at Portsmouth Harbour station.

Dated boxes on Staff Travel Card, Status Passes, Residential Passes and Duty Authority to Travel (DAT) cards are not valid for any free travel on Hovertravel services.

Through staff discounted (priv-rate) fares from many mainland stations via Hovertravel to National Rail stations on the Isle of Wight will be available soon through RST Online once systems have been updated.

10 February 2025.

Finland (VR Group)

This news item applies only to those who hold a FIP International Reduced Rate Card.

Finland (VR Group) is withdrawing from the FIP association on 31 December 2025.

FIP discounted tickets purchased with the FIP International Reduced Rate Card will be available until 31 December 2025

FIP coupons for VR Group will be issued during 2025 with the usual 3 month validity. Coupons requested from 1 October 2025 onwards will have an expiry date of 31 December 2025. 

18 December 2024

Rigi railway train. Copyright Peter Lovegrove.

Rigi Bahnen (Rigi Mountain Railways)

This news item applies only to those who hold a FIP International Reduced Rate Card.

Rigi Bahnen is joining the Swiss Private (SP) membership of FIP from 1 January 2025. FIP discounted travel with the FIP International Reduced Rate Card and free travel with a FIP Coupon for Swiss Private (SP) will be available on the following stretches of route:

  • Vitznau – Rigi Kulm (rack railway)
  • Goldau – Rigi Kulm (rack railway)
  • Weggis – Rigi Kaltbad (cable car)
  • Kräbel – Rigi Scheidegg (cable car)

FIP facilities are not valid on other Rigi Bahnen services, including:

  • Obergschwend – Rigi Burggeist (cable car)
  • Küssnacht – Seebodenalp (cable car)
  • Vitznau – Hinterbergen (cable car)
  • Vitznau – Wissifluh (cable car)
  • Brunnen – Urmiberg (cable car)

22 November 2024

Status Pass renewal

This news item applies only to safeguarded staff who entered rail service on or before 31 March 1996 and hold a Status Pass. This news item does not apply to those who hold the Rail Staff Leisure Card or RST Online Leisure Card.

Gold, Silver and Blue Status Passes valid from 1 January 2025 to 30 June 2026 will be posted out starting on Thursday 28 November 2024.

Once the status passes have been posted, we will e-mail you to let you know they are on the way.

If you have not received your Status Pass by  Friday 13 December, 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 31 January 2025 you will have to pay a replacement fee for new cards to be issued.

A replacement fee will be charged if you have moved address, did not advise RST by 21 October and cannot retrieve your card(s).

Status Passes have previously been renewed at the end of a calendar year. However, to avoid problems with postal services during Christmas we are moving the renewal of these cards to June. The next renewal of status passes will take place in June 2026.

29 November 2024

Renewal of FIP International Reduced Rate Cards

This news item applies only those who already hold a FIP card and also either a Staff Travel Card or Rail Staff Leisure Card. This news item does not apply to those who hold the RST Online Leisure Card.

FIP Cards for 2023/24 are valid for use until 31 January 2025.

FIP Cards for 2025/26 will start to be dispatched on Monday 18 November.

If you do not receive all the cards you are expecting by 2 January 2025, 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 2025 to report missing cards as we will not action any requests to investigate missing cards until then.

The FIP Cards for 2025/26 are valid for two calendar years from 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2026. The FIP rules allow an additional 1 month of validity either side, so you can use them until 31 January 2027.

For child dependents aged 18 or over in receipt of a Status Pass, if you have only submitted a Child Declaration in the last few weeks their cards may arrive later.

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 2025. After this date we will charge a replacement fee to send them to you.

13 November 2024

RST Online Leisure Card renewal for 2024/25 - updated 1 November 2024

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

RST Online Leisure Cards for employees and eligible family members valid from 1 December 2024 to 30 November 2025 will be posted out starting on Friday 8 November 2024.

If you have not received any card(s) by 22 November, 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 31 December 2024 you will have to pay a replacement fee for new cards to be issued.

If your cards arrive and one for a family member is not included but you have only completed an application or declaration for this recently, these cards will arrive slightly later. We will email you once they have been posted. There is no need to contact us.

A replacement fee will be charged if you have moved address, did not advise RST by 27 September and cannot retrieve your card(s).

1 November 2024

Western Region Blue Status Pass update

This news item applies only those who already hold a Western Region Blue Status Pass.

Starting in November 2024, some GWR services which normally arrive or depart from London Paddington will be diverted into London Euston. This is due to engineering works at Old Oak Common. You can find more information about this on the GWR website. 

Holders of Western Region Blue Status Passes will be able to use these on GWR services which are diverted in and out of London Euston, even though London Euston is not covered by the geographical area allowed for Western Region passes. Your Western Region Blue Status Pass should operate the ticket barriers at London Euston.

Avanti West Coast and London North Western Railway employees who may staff ticket barriers at London Euston at platforms where GWR services arrive and depart from have been briefed on this temporary easement.

Please note that you may only use your Western Region Blue Status Pass at London Euston if you are arriving or departing on an GWR service which is diverted from its usual terminus of London Paddington.

We will not be updating the maps on our website which show the geographical availability of the Western Region Blue Status Pass as this arrangement for accepting passes at London Euston is a temporary measure.

15 October 2024

Rail Staff Leisure Card renewal for 2024/25 - updated 27 September 2024

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 2024 to 31 October 2025 will be posted out starting on 7 October. Once the cards have been posted, we will e-mail you to let you know they are on the way.

Please allow at least two weeks for delivery. If cards have still not arrived by Monday 21 October, please e-mail Rail Staff Travel confirming the details of who is missing cards. Please do not e-mail us before this date.

Any e-mails received after 30 November 2024 reporting missing cards will incur a replacement fee.

Normally cards for all eligible family members will arrive in the same envelope. However, if you have only recently added a new family member to your record, or only recently submitted a Child Declaration, the cards may arrive in separate envelopes on different days.

27 September 2024

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 the Oyster Registration website. 

Station Monday to Friday Saturday Sunday
Ilford 10.00 – 15.00 hrs 10.00 – 15.00 hrs  
Romford 10.00 – 15.00 hrs 10.00 – 15.00 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. 

If your query is not resolved by TfL you can contact London Travel Watch. 

7 February 2023