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WEEK ENDING 24 February 2007 ITEM FOR TRAIN NN COMPANY ON RETAIL TRAIN TRAVEL ITEM SUBJECT OUTLETS STAFF AGENTS 1ATOC Ordering Railcard station literature and posters ✓ ✓ 2 PlusBus Go green, Go PlusBus ✓ ✓ ✓ 3 Railcard Railcard application forms ✓ ✓ 4 Central Trains Charnwood Borough Council – new Concessionary Fares Scheme ✓ ✓ ✓ 5 First Great Western Changes to High Speed Train (HST) reservations on First Great Western ✓ ✓ ✓ 6 Silverlink & Virgin Trains Changes to Silverlink and Virgin services over Easter ✓ ✓ ✓ 7 Virgin Trains Virgin West Coast fare corrections ✓ ✓ ✓

National Rail information is listed first, followed by Train Company information in alphabetical Train Company order. Further items follow in alphabetical contributor order. *To be read by Retail Staff, On-Train Staff and Travel Agents where appropriate.

for more Specialfor contributorsseelow inside pricedetails cover trial – Additional Publications The list shows additional publications included with this Newsrail Express. If you do not receive them or if you need extra copies, rail staff should see ‘Further Supplies’. Travel Agents please contact your Sales Office.

1. ADDITIONAL ITEMS YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED

PUBLICATION NAME SENT TO NEWSRAIL EXPRESS NUMBER Retail Manual Part 2 – Update 201 Retail Manual Part 1 – Update 197

2. CONTACTS FOR FURTHER SUPPLIES – FOR RAIL STAFF

TSO Customer Services, St. Crispins, Duke Street, Norwich, NR3 1PD Tel: 0870 850 2149 Fax: 0870 600 5533 e-mail: [email protected]

3. DISTRIBUTION DATABASE – FOR RETAIL STAFF

You should tell your Retail or Pricing Manager about any changes to where the publications are sent.

Special low price trial – save £££’s...

Do you provide information and updates to include in Newsrail Express and the Retail Manual? We are currently offering special trial low prices for putting news items in Newsrail Express and for updating the Retail Manual.

1 side normally 1/2 side normally 1/3 side normally Newsrail Express £400.00 £626.43 £220.00 £319.79 £150.00 £242.88 Retail Manual Part One and Two £300.00 £474.00 One page – black & white (2 sides) £550.00 £1120.00 One page – colour (2 sides) add £50.00 £240.00 for each side laminated

These prices give you the following service benefits: ● 8000 copies of Newsrail Express printed fortnightly ● Estimated staff readership of 15,000 ● Information also made available in electronic format on the Fares & Retail Publications Portal (https://frpp.tso.co.uk), through the Marketing & Retail section of the ATOC website (www.atoc.org) website plus made available through other electronic retail information channels to stations and travel agents ● Over 1300 ticket offices reached, plus on-train staff depots giving National Rail-wide coverage How much would it cost you in time, envelope stuffing, postage etc to get the same nationwide coverage and reach all rail retail staff? Why not use this three-month trial opportunity to ensure that your TOC’s retail information is entirely up to date in retail manuals? It is a TSA requirement that you provide retail staff with accurate information, as well as being essential if retailers are going to clearly understand and sell your tickets and services to generate more income for your TOC. Bulk and frequent use discounts are also available – why not have a regular Newsrail Express feature item about your TOC’s products and services? Please contact Andrew Tolley at RSP on 0207 841 8119 or [email protected] for more information. Make sure retailers get your message…..now even better value for money!

2 TO BE READ BY: TRAIN COMPANY RETAIL STAFF ✓ ON-TRAIN STAFF 1 TRAVEL AGENTS ✓ ASSOCIATION of TRAIN OPERATING COMPANIES Ordering Railcard station literature and posters

Just a reminder that National Railcards (Young Persons, Family and Senior) station literature plus ATOC Condition cards and Rail travel for disabled passengers booklets and Rail Map for People with Reduced Mobility should be ordered from BemroseBooth:

Online: www.tocstock.com Tel: 01482 371 210 Email: [email protected] Fax: 01482 371 388

The following TOCs should contact Paula Murphy at Hercules in the usual way: ● c2c ● First Capital Connect ● First Great Western ● GNER ● one ● Silverlink

E-mail: [email protected] Fax: 01895 239 928 (int: 00 38313) Tel: 01895 239 573 (int: 00 38305)

Make sure you get the best savings for your train operating company by including Railcard station literature orders with other products available from Bemrose Booth, such as: ● All contract ticketing materials ● Sponsored wallets and photocards ● Other miscellaneous products including cleaning materials and operational forms

A complete product list can be obtained by contacting Bemrose Booth direct (details above)

Richard Flindell National Rail Marketing Manager, ATOC Tel: 020 7841 8059

3 TO BE READ BY: TRAIN COMPANY RETAIL STAFF ✓ ON-TRAIN STAFF ✓ 2 TRAVEL AGENTS ✓ Go green, Go PlusBus

What is PlusBus? PlusBus is a combined rail and bus ticket offering customers train travel and unlimited bus travel around their origin or destination station in one easy transaction. It’s available for over 250 stations nationwide. Tickets can be sold from any National Rail station ticket office, rail appointed travel agent or selected telesales offices. Season Tickets available PlusBus tickets are available for one day, with Season Tickets available for 7 days, a month, 3 months and a year for many PlusBus stations. PlusBus can be added to period return tickets if customers say what date they are coming back and a separate PlusBus ticket is sold for the return date. How do I issue PlusBus tickets? For rail journeys to PlusBus stations, ask customers if they want PlusBus for travel around their destination station. Then: ● Select Origin/PLUSBUS (+BUS) Destination/Route for the journey ● Where a through fare is shown, issue the ticket in the usual way ● Where a through fare is not shown (for example, if it says ‘no fare available’), issue the rail ticket and a separate PlusBus ticket from the destination station. All PlusBus fares are included in the latest ticket issuing systems – for APTIS you may need a barcode ● If customers are not returning the same day, they can buy an additional PlusBus ticket dated for their return travel day ● Customers can buy PlusBus tickets for bus travel around stations at the beginning and/or end of their rail journey ● Usual rail discounts apply to children and Railcards for day PlusBus tickets. ● Holders of Privilege travel facilities, Status Passes and BritRail passes can be issued with PlusBus tickets, without discount Remember, for London a separate one day bus pass must be issued – please refer to instructions in the RailLinks Manual. What do I offer customers? Get to know PlusBus stations and areas covered that people travel to from your station.Is there a shopping centre, tourist attraction, business park or college in PlusBus station zones to help you persuade customers to buy PlusBus? Customers also like to buy PlusBus,especially Season Tickets,if they make journeys to or from stations with very busy car parks or if there is road traffic congestion around stations. So check with your commuters if PlusBus would help them leave the car at home. More information Customers can ring Traveline 0871 200 22 33 or visit www.traveline.org.uk for bus information and timetables. The RailLinks manual has details of all PlusBus zones, with prices and maps showing areas covered around stations or visit www.plusbus.info Earn more for your train company Selling PlusBus day tickets gives your TOC 9% commission per one day and period return ticket, whilst PlusBus Season Tickets earn 2% commission. ‘…And there’s more’ – how to sell PlusBus, training course ATOC has developed an interactive electronic training course, called ‘Just the ticket... and there’s more’, with handy tips on how to sell PlusBus.Ask your manager about ‘Just the ticket…and there’s more’,or see the Marketing and Retail section of www.atoc.org Don’t forget that if you can’t find through PlusBus fares in ticket issuing systems, you should issue the rail journey ticket and also issue separate PlusBus tickets. ATOC Retail Support 0207 841 8058

4 TO BE READ BY: TRAIN COMPANY RETAIL STAFF ✓ ON-TRAIN STAFF 3 TRAVEL AGENTS ✓ Railcard application forms

Please ensure that Railcard application forms are clearly and accurately completed. (This allows us to communicate with Railcard holders about renewal information and special offers),

Information for retailers on completing application forms is available as part of the ‘Just the Ticket 2... And There’s More’ course which is downloadable from the ‘Marketing and Retail’ section of the www.atoc.org website.

Please return all Family, Senior, Young Persons and Network Railcard application forms (including telesales application forms) to the following addresses on a regular basis: Stations and Telesales Railcard Application Service, ATOS Origin, PO BOX 5332, Derby DE24 8UP Only the Railcard forms listed above should be returned to this address. Other applications (e.g. for Season Tickets or local Railcards) should be returned to your Train Company application collection point.

Travel Agents Travel Trade Service, PO Box 177, Stevenage, SG1 2YW

Full instructions for submitting completed Railcard applications forms are shown in section A of the Retail Manual Part Two. Richard Flindell National Rail Marketing Manager, ATOC Tel: 020 7841 8059

Newsrail Express for train company National Rail information • over 7,000 copies printed fortnightly • 3,000 stations, travel agents and call centres receive Newsrail Express • Estimated readership of 15,000 retail staff

5 TO BE READ BY: TRAIN COMPANY RETAIL STAFF ✓ ON-TRAIN STAFF ✓ 4 TRAVEL AGENTS ✓ Charnwood Borough Council – new Concessionary Fares Scheme

From 1 March 2007 Charnwood Borough Council will provide a concessionary fares scheme to eligible residents of the borough. Charnwood Borough Council is currently a part of the Leicestershire Partnerships concessionary fares scheme but from 1 March 2007 wish to manage and operate their own scheme.

The council will issue bespoke Charnwood Borough Council Free Travel/Half Fare passes to eligible residents (people over 60 and blind/disabled residents). The scheme will operate within the same area as the Leicestershire Partnerships validity area and offer the same discounts (50% to over 60s and free to blind/disabled people) on the same tickets types (CDR/CDS/SDR/SDS/SVR/SVS).

Existing users will need their current (Leicestershire) travel card as photo ID plus the new Charnwood Gold Card with colour banding to obtain concessionary fares.

Green and pink Photocards plus Charnwood Gold Cards with a GOLD band allow half-fare rail travel at all times across the scheme area.

Mauve Photocards plus Charnwood Gold Cards with a BLUE band allow free rail travel at all times across the scheme area.

Ticket should be issued by selecting the status – CBC.

Full detail will be provided to relevant station and on-train staff via a Central Trains Merchandiser. If you do not receive a copy and would like one please contact 0121 654 1197.

Pricing and Products Manager Central Trains Tel: 05 41212

6 TO BE READ BY: TRAIN COMPANY RETAIL STAFF ✓ ON-TRAIN STAFF ✓ 5 TRAVEL AGENTS ✓ Changes to High Speed Train (HST) reservations on First Great Western

First Great Western’s HST trains are currently being refreshed. The refresh will provide many additional benefits for customers, including at seat power points at all seats, new seats in both First Class and Standard, leather upholstery in First Class and a new at seat catering service in Standard on many services.

As part of the refresh the interior of all our Standard HST coaches is being re-configured with seating laid out differently to our current un-refreshed Standard coaches. In refreshed coaches the Standard seating will be laid out to one of two different configurations, depending on whether the coach is intended for long or short distance services.

The Standard seats in the refreshed coaches will all be numbered individually, which will provide the following benefits:

● Easier for customers to find as there will only be one seat with that number in a coach ● No confusion with ‘facing’ and ‘back’, particularly when a train reverses ● Allows seats to be matched between refreshed long and short distance configurations, so customers will always get a seat with the number they are expecting

During the period when we are operating both refreshed and un-refreshed trains we have made some changes to the reservation system to ensure that customers will always find a seat with the same number they were expecting:

● All Standard seats will be designated ‘airline’ ● Only the seats on one side of each table will be reservable – these will be the facing seats, although the designation of all seats in Standard will now be ‘airline’

These changes apply from:

● Weekday services – Monday 26th March 2007 ● Saturday services – Saturday 10th March 2007 ● Sunday services – Sunday 4th February 2007 FGW Reservations Team 07 79599 01793 499599

7 TO BE READ BY: TRAIN COMPANY RETAIL STAFF ✓ ON-TRAIN STAFF ✓ 6 TRAVEL AGENTS ✓ Changes to Silverlink and Virgin services over Easter 6-9 April inclusive

There will be major changes to Silverlink’s County services over the Easter weekend while Network Rail carry out important work on the track.

Friday 6 April ● Silverlink will run a Saturday service between Euston and Northampton ● Virgin Trains will run as far south as Birmingham International only,with a 20 minute interval train shuttle between Euston and Northampton, and fast coach connections between Northampton and Birmingham International. ● Passengers from Birmingham to London should use Chiltern Railways ● Passengers from Manchester, Liverpool and Carlisle should use the route via Northampton or Virgin Trains Cross Country services and change at Banbury / Leamington Spa or Reading for Marylebone or Paddington ● Passengers from Scotland should use GNER services to and from Kings Cross Saturday 7 April / Sunday 8 April ● Silverlink will run a special train service between Euston and Hemel Hempstead with connecting coaches serving intermediate stations to Northampton ● Virgin Trains will run as far south as Birmingham International only. ● Passengers from Birmingham to London should use Chiltern Railways ● Passengers from Manchester, Liverpool and Carlisle should use Cross Country services and change at Banbury / Leamington Spa or Reading for Marylebone or Paddington ● Passengers from Scotland should use GNER services to and from Kings Cross Monday 9 April ● Silverlink will run a Saturday service between Euston and Northampton ● Virgin Trains will run as far south as Birmingham International only,with a 20 minute interval train shuttle between Euston and Northampton, and fast coach connections between Northampton and Birmingham International. ● Passengers from Birmingham to London should use Chiltern Railways ● Passengers from Manchester, Liverpool and Carlisle should use the route via Northampton or Virgin Trains Cross Country services and change at Banbury / Leamington Spa or Reading for Marylebone or Paddington ● Passengers from Scotland should use GNER services to and from Kings Cross

Silverlink Retail Support Virgin Trains Retail Support 00 43230 00 48077 01908 273 230 020 7983 8077 These numbers are for booking office and travel agent staff use only. They are not to be given to the general public. Customers should be given National Rail Enquiries – 08457 48 49 50

8 TO BE READ BY: TRAIN COMPANY RETAIL STAFF ✓ ON-TRAIN STAFF ✓ 7 TRAVEL AGENTS ✓ Virgin West Coast fare corrections

Fare correction The following Saver fare was set incorrectly from January 2007 (NFM95) and should be corrected. The correct fares have been downloaded to ticket machines.

From London Terminals (1072) to Bromsgrove (4715), Droitwich Spa (4878) and Worcester Stations (0447) route Birmingham (268) and vice versa, the Saver Return fare (SVR) should be £39.60. The Saver Single fare (SVS) should be £38.60. Other fares from these stations are unchanged.

Saver restriction codes 2A and 9A

Please note the following amendments to restriction codes 2A and 9A.

2A (used for journeys in the up direction to London) shown on page E10 of NFM95.

Outward Travel

The time for Euston should be shown as arriving at or after 10.59. (This allows Saver travel on the 09.05 from Wolverhampton.)

Outward portions of Savers are valid in addition on the following services:

From Lichfield Trent Valley arrive Milton Keynes Central 10.10, Euston 10.49.

From Tamworth arrive Watford Junction 10.20, Euston 10.45.

9A (used for journeys in the down direction from London) shown on page E21 of NFM95.

Return travel

The time for Euston should be shown as arriving at or after 10.59. (This allows Saver travel on the 09.05 from Wolverhampton.)

Outward portions of Savers are valid in addition on the following services:

From Lichfield Trent Valley arrive Milton Keynes Central 10.10, Euston 10.49.

From Tamworth arrive Watford Junction 10.20, Euston 10.45.

These changes have been downloaded to ticket machines.

Watford Junction to Heathrow Airport

The coach fares between Watford Junction and Heathrow Airport have increased from the end of January. The add-on amounts shown in the Rail Links manual page A8 are now as follows:

£9.00 Adult Single, £18.00 Adult Return

£4.50 Child Single, £9.00 Child Return

These fares have been downloaded to ticket machines.

Virgin Trains Retail Support 00 48077

9 10 INDEX

This index covers items from the last six issues of Newsrail Express. Amendments to Fares Manuals and associated Publications are excluded.

ITEM (in alphabetical TOC order) NEWSRAIL ITEM PAGE EXPRESS No. No. No.

ATOC – Ordering station literature and posters – notice of change of supplier 328 2 4 ATOC – Ordering station literature and posters – notice of change of supplier (updated) 330 4 6 ATOC – Euro Domino passes 333 3 5 BemroseBooth – Ordering of ticket stock over Christmas and New Year 329 2 4 Central Trains – New Central Value Advance Purchase single fares/ new First Class 329 3 5 Central Trains – Summary of Fares Review January 2007 329 4 6 Central Trains – Cheap day and Saver restrictions – Christmas 2006 329 5 8 Central Trains – Withdrawal of Cycle Reservations Fee on Central Trains 332 5 7 First Great Western – Fares Update 331 2 4 First Great Western – @Bristol 332 6 7 First Great Western – Swansea Cork Ferries 331 7 8 GNER – Introducing GNER’s new range of all-inclusive Business Packages 330 6 8 Midland Mainline - News 331 3 5 National Rail – OYSTER – Pay As You Go on National Rail 328 1 3 National Rail – London area fares & retail information January 2007 330 3 4 National Rail – Easy guide to issuing PlusBus 331 1 3 National Rail – Easy guide to issuing PlusBus (updated) 332 1 3 National Rail – Easy guide to issuing PlusBus (reminder) 333 1 3 National Rail – Disabled persons without Railcards 332 2 4 National Rail – Introduction of Visitor Oyster card 333 2 4 National Rail – National Ticket Conditions Cards 332 3 5 PlusBus – Issuing PlusBus tickets is easy 329 1 3 PlusBus – National marketing campaign – new customer leaflet and station poster 330 1 3 PlusBus – New PlusBus stations from 2 January 2007 330 2 3 Railcards – Railcard application forms 328 3 5 Railcards – Railcard application forms 330 5 7 Railcards – Railcard application forms 332 4 6 Rail Staff Travel – Privilege season tickets – free mileage discounted amount 328 4 5 Rail Staff Travel – Withdrawal of Infrastructure Emergency Duty Pass 328 5 6

11 Retail Communication Deadlines Would TOC and ATOC information providers please note the following deadlines for content submission, through FRPS, for Newsrail Express items and updates to your sections in Retail Manual Part Two (also reflected in Rail Directory for Travel Agents Part One). Submissions can be made up until 23:59 on the date shown. The Rail Directory for Travel Agents Part One is provided to travel agents in electronic format only and mirrors the information submitted to the Retail Manual Part Two.

February to September 2007 Newsrail Express Retail Manual Delivery date at retail locations Deadline for submission issue number Part Two (may vary by 2 days either side) by information providers is 23:59 on the dates below 335 12 March 28 February April update 26 March 7 March 336 26 March 14 March 337 5 April 26 March May update 23 April 2 April 338 23 April 11 April 339 4 May 24 April June update 21 May 1 May 340 21 May 9 May 341 4 June 22 May July update 18 June 30 May 342 18 June 6 June 343 2 July 20 June August update 16 July 27 June 344 16 July 4 July 345 30 July 18 July September update 13 August 25 July 346 13 August 1 August

FRPS website The Fares & Retail Publications Service website (operated by TSO) for entering information is https://frps.tso.co.uk Each TOC and ATOC have designated information providers with password access to contribute Newsrail Express items and Retail Manual Part Two updates. Guidance and cue cards Guidance on how to use the system is available from www.atoc.org in the Marketing and Retail > FRPS (Fares & Retail Publications Service) section. For additional editorial guidance contact Paul Chilver at ATOC Editorial on [email protected] or telephone 020 7841 8058. Proof checking At the proof check stage, (usually 2-3 days after the submission deadline) contributors will receive an email from TSO which states what the time deadline is for checking your proof. This then normally gives you one working day to check the proof and you should advise of any alterations required or supply sign-off to Paul Chilver at ATOC Editorial, fax 020 7841 8266 by the deadline shown in the email. Further information and prices Further information and full pricing details for contributing news items and updates is shown in the inside cover of this edition or available from www.atoc.org in the Marketing and Retail > FRPS (Fares & Retail Publications Service) section. Note that prices are higher for colour and laminated pages where required. ** PLEASE CHECK THE INSIDE COVER OF THIS EDITION FOR SPECIAL LOW PRICE OFFERS ** For invoice enquiries please contact Andrew Tolley at RSP on [email protected] or tel 020 7841 8119 Publication supplies, distribution and technical support The TSO helpline for publication supplies (if you want to buy extra copies of manuals), distribution queries (if you do not receive the information that you were expecting) and technical support is 0870 850 2149 or email [email protected]. If you simply wish to make a change to the distribution database then please contact your TOC’s Retail or Pricing Manager (for non-TOCs please contact [email protected]). Inserts and merchandisers If you wish to send out any separate inserts (such as leaflets and merchandisers) within the Newsrail Express distribution package (either distribution of your pre-printed material or a full print and distribution service) please arrange this direct with TSO – tel 0870 873 8722, email [email protected] to discuss details of costs and timescales. Please ensure that you contact TSO at least 7 days in advance of the submission deadline date shown above. Retail Manual Part One, Rail Directory for Travel Agents Part Two, Ticket Examiners Handbook If you want any changes made to Retail Manual Part One, Rail Directory for Travel Agents Part Two and Ticket Examiners Handbook, please contact ATOC Editorial on [email protected].

ASSOCIATION of TRAIN OPERATING COMPANIES working together for Great Britain’s National Rail companies