Dear Transport for London, I am aware that 'safeguarded' staff, (those employed by London Underground prior to 1st April 1996), receive a Privilege Travel Authority Card, (PTAC), providing 'PRIV' discount to staff on national rail services. I understand this is an old agreement, and no longer applies to any staff member who starts working for London Underground after the aforementioned date. As such this request refers only to those 'safeguarded' members of London Underground staff, holding a PTAC. National Rail Train Operating Companies, whether 'safeguarded' in the same right as London Underground staff, or non-safeguarded 'new entrants', receive a 'PRIV' card, (TOC-New Entrant PRIV for the latter), and also have entitlement to Foreign International Privilege 'FIP' cards. A FIP card provides discounted rail staff travel throughout Europe. As with the PRIV product, FIP cards are managed by the Rail Delivery Group (RDG)'s staff travel department, (Rail Staff Travel - RST). London Underground PTAC's, although technically a RDG product, are issued by London Underground staff travel, to my knowledge. The query I have surrounds FIP cards. I believe that safeguarded LU staff have an entitlement to FIP cards in the same right as they receive a PTAC in lieu of a PRIV card. However, London Underground staff travel do not seem to issue FIP cards, and RDG-RST are not aware of a procedure for issuing FIP cards to LU staff themselves. As such, I am requesting information relating to the entitlement of FIP cards to safeguarded London Underground staff, and details surrounding who is responsible for issuing them to affected staff members.

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Our ref: FOI-1643-1920/GH

Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 29 August 2019 asking for information about the entitlement of FIP cards to safeguarded London Underground staff.

Your request has been considered under the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and our information access policy. I can confirm that we do hold the information you require.

TfL staff do not have any eligibility to FIP cards or discounted travel on rail services outside the UK (with the exception of Irish rail services which is a separate agreement). The international rail agreements apply solely National Rail and Train Operating Companies employees (TfL is not a TOC) and do not and have never been extended to TfL, LUL, or LT employees.

If this is not the information you are looking for, please do not hesitate to contact me.

If you are not satisfied with this response please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.

Yours sincerely

Graham Hurt

FOI Case Officer

FOI Case Management Team

General Counsel

Transport for London

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