N ewsrail. Special low price trial for contributors see inside cover. for more details

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1 N ewsrail E X P R E S S 329 WEEK ENDING 9 December 2006 ITEM FOR TRAIN COMPANY ON RETAIL TRAIN TRAVEL ITEM SUBJECT OUTLETS STAFF AGENTS 1 PlusBus Issuing PlusBus tickets is easy 2 BemroseBooth Ordering of ticket stock over Christmas and New Year 3 Central Trains New Central Value Advance Purchase single fares/new First Class 4 Central Trains Central Trains Summary of Fares Review January Central Trains Central Trains Cheap Day and Saver restrictions Christmas 2006 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. Special low price trial for contributors see inside cover for more details

2 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 Railcard Merchandiser 2. CONTACTS FOR FURTHER SUPPLIES FOR RAIL STAFF TSO Customer Services, St. Crispins, Duke Street, Norwich, NR3 1PD Tel: Fax: DISTRIBUTION DATABASE FOR RETAIL STAFF You should advise of any publications distribution database amendments to your Retail or Pricing Manager. 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 Retail Manual Part One and Two One page black & white (2 sides) One page colour (2 sides) add 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 through the Marketing & Retail section of 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 or andrew.tolley@atoc.org for more information. Make sure retailers get your message..now even better value for money! 2

3 TO BE READ BY: TRAIN COMPANY RETAIL STAFF ON-TRAIN STAFF TRAVEL AGENTS 1 Issuing PlusBus tickets is easy What is PlusBus? PlusBus is a combined rail and bus product offering customers train travel and unlimited bus travel around their origin or destination station. It s available for over 250 stations.tickets can be sold from any National Rail station ticket office, rail appointed travel agent or telesales office. 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. 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 all Railcards for day PlusBus tickets. 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 for bus information, including timetables.the RailLinks manual has details of all PlusBus zones, with prices and maps showing areas covered around stations. 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 ATOC Retail

4 TO BE READ BY: TRAIN COMPANY RETAIL STAFF ON-TRAIN STAFF TRAVEL AGENTS 2 Ordering of ticket stock over Christmas and New Year BemroseBooth will be working to the following schedule over the forthcoming holiday period: Monday 18th December Tuesday 19th December Wednesday 20th December Thursday 21st December Friday 22nd December Saturday 23rd December Sunday 24th December Monday 25th December Tuesday 26th December Wednesday 27th December Thursday 28th December Friday 29th December Saturday 30th December Sunday 31st December Monday 1st January Tuesday 2nd January Normal Working Normal Working Normal Working Normal Working urgent dispatches only Office Cover only (up to 3.30pm) Office Cover only (up to 3.30pm) Office Cover only (up to 3.30pm) Office Cover only (up to 3.30pm) Normal Working Resumed Stations are advised to ensure that they have enough ticket stocks to cover the holiday period to avoid possible delays in delivery caused by the above schedule. Suzanne Ratford Account Manager Tel: Fax: Please visit our website at 4

5 TO BE READ BY: TRAIN COMPANY RETAIL STAFF ON-TRAIN STAFF TRAVEL AGENTS 3 New Central Value Advance Purchase Single Fares In line with recent changes made by many rail companies Central Trains wish to create a simple and flexible ticket range which will improve the retailing process for staff as well as customers. From 2 January 2007 Central Trains current range of Central Value single/return tickets will be replaced with re-priced single leg only fares. For example, Birmingham Peterborough currently has CV7 return ( 14.00) and CV7 single ( 13.00) tickets available. From 2 January 2007 there will only be a CV7 single available at The CV7 return fare will be withdrawn. The new fares range will give the customer the best available fare for each leg of their journey in addition to maximising spare capacity on off-peak train services. Customers will therefore be able to mix and match fares/ticket types to obtain the best value journey. Central Value return tickets will be available for outward travel until 1 January 2007, return halves of these tickets will still be bookable (subject to availability) for one month from the date on the ticket (i.e. until 31 January 2007 for those tickets dated 1 January 2007). Current Booking Horizons (1, 3 and 7 day) will remain in place along with all existing terms and conditions. From 2 January 2007 only Central Value single tickets will be available for outward travel. New Central Value First Class Advance Purchase Single Fares From 2 January 2007 Central Trains will offer First Class Central Value single fares on the following journeys on the Birmingham Liverpool route: Liverpool Stafford Stafford Runcorn Runcorn Wolverhampton Liverpool Wolverhampton Birmingham Crewe Birmingham Runcorn Birmingham Liverpool These tickets will have the same terms and conditions/booking horizons as the Standard Class versions. The ticket types will be as follows: F1V (Central Value 1 First Class) F3V (Central Value 3 First Class) F7V (Central Value 7 First Class) Central Value First Class single tickets will be available for outward travel from 2 January Merchandisers giving further details will be available in late November/early December. Pricing Manager Central Trains Tel:

6 TO BE READ BY: TRAIN COMPANY RETAIL STAFF ON-TRAIN STAFF TRAVEL AGENTS 4 Central Trains Summary of Fares Review January 2007 Please find below details of pricing/ticketing changes that will take effect from 2 January 2007: Standard Day singles/returns + 4.3% Rangers/Rovers + 4.3% Saver single/returns + 4.3% Robin Hood Line Flexisaver + 4.3% Season tickets + 4.3% First Class fares + 4.3% Cheap Day single/returns + 4.3% Standard Open singles/returns + 6.8% Apex/SuperAdvance fares available from East Midlands stations to selected South Wales stations have been increased by Central Value Withdrawal of return fares now singles only As mentioned in the accompanying article from 2 January 2007 Central Trains current range of Central Value single/return tickets will be replaced with re-priced single leg only fares. The CV7 return fare will be withdrawn. Central Value Introduction of First Class fares on Birmingham Liverpool route From 2 January 2007 Central Trains will offer First Class Central Value single fares on reservable journeys on the Birmingham Liverpool route. See accompanying article in this issue. Centro (West Midlands PTE) Centro have increased peak walk up fares (including zonal season tickets) within the West Midlands Travel To Work area by an average of 4.3%. Off peak walk up fares (Cheap Day Returns) have been increased by 3.3%. Third Party attractions add-ons All-in-one fares (admission and rail fares combined) will continue to be shown in all TIS for all Central Trains priced journeys to the relevant railhead. Note these add-ons are only applicable to journeys originating from outside the Centro (West Midlands) area. The following lists the new add-on rates only: Cadbury World Adult 9.30 Child 6.40 Senior citizen N/A Sealife Centre Adult 8.50 Child 6.50 Senior citizen 7.50 Thinktank and IMAX Adult 9.00 Child 6.50 Senior citizen N/A There is no change to the Severn Valley Railway prices. Alton Towers Alton Towers All in One fares have been reviewed and will be available for sale from 17 March 2007, when Alton Towers re-opens, until 4 November Information will be briefed to relevant staff through a Retail Merchandiser nearer the opening date. Centro All-in-One tickets Centro All-in-One fares have been increased from 2 January 2007 as follows. These fares are only available from stations within the Centro (West Midlands) area: Cadbury World Adult Child 7.90 Senior citizen 9.30 Sealife Centre Adult Child 8.00 Senior citizen 7.50 Thinktank & IMAX Adult Child 8.00 Senior citizen

7 Other amendments: Birmingham Express As part of the ATOC led fares simplification process the above routed tickets have been removed. Melton Mowbray Oakham To remove a long standing anomaly the above SDR fare has been reduced from 8.50 (Sept 06) to 6.30 from January Stratford upon Avon/Hereford/Shrewsbury Birmingham To increase the differential between the Standard and the Cheap Day fares and thus help in reducing overcrowding in the peak the Cheap Day fares for the above journeys have been frozen at the current prices. March Birmingham International Cheap Day ticket to Birmingham International has been withdrawn to remove long standing anomaly whereby customers could book to this station and leave train at Birmingham New Street. Pricing Manager Central Trains Tel: 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 7

8 TO BE READ BY: TRAIN COMPANY RETAIL STAFF ON-TRAIN STAFF TRAVEL AGENTS 5 Central Trains Cheap Day and Saver restrictions Christmas 2006 For Christmas 2006 Central Trains and Centro will lift Cheap Day and Saver restrictions between Christmas and New Year. The following days will be classed as Bank Holidays with regard to Cheap Day tickets: Wednesday 27 December 2006 Thursday 28 December 2006 Friday 29 December 2006 This will mean that Cheap Day tickets will be valid all day, on these days. This ruling will apply to all Cheap Day fares priced by Central Trains, including those wholly within the West Midlands County (Centro) area (coded RCL and PWM in National Fares Manuals). Note: this ruling will not apply to Centro Daytripper tickets and the Two Week Off Peak Centrocard which will continue to be only available after The following days are officially classed as public holidays so restrictions are also lifted on all Cheap Day tickets throughout the rail network for these days: Tuesday 26 December 2006 Monday 1 January 2007 Pricing Manager Central Trains Tel: 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 8

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11 INDEX This index covers items from the last six issues of Newsrail Express. Amendments to Fares Manuals and associated Publications are excluded. Please note: Newsrail Express issue 326 was not issued ITEM (in alphabetical TOC order) NEWSRAIL EXPRESS No. ITEM No. PAGE No. ATOC Three Peaks Challenge 21 to 23 September 2006 (update) ATOC Ordering station literature and posters notice of change of supplier Central Trains Fares review September Central Trains Termination of Derwent Valley bus and rail ticket inter-availability Central Trains Automatic ticket gates installed at Leicester, Loughborough and Lincoln stations First Capital Connect Changes to Changes to Saver, Network AwayBreak and Cheap Day restriction codes affecting First Capital Connect First Capital Connect NFM 94 restriction code amendment First Great Western Fares & products update September National Rail Introduction of Oyster Photocard National Rail National Ticket Condition Cards National Rail Rail Map for People with Reduced Mobility National Rail Saver Calendar production error in NFM National Rail OYSTER Pay As You Go on National Rail PlusBus New PlusBus stations from 10 September Railcards Railcard application forms Railcards Railcard application forms Railcards Railcard online sales Rail Staff Travel Privilege season tickets free mileage discounted amount Rail Staff Travel Withdrawal of Infrastructure Emergency Duty Pass Silverlink Altered timetables to/from Euston Silverlink Altered timetables to/from Euston South West Trains Surrey County Council Scholars Travel Arrangements for Virgin Trains Changes to fares to Heathrow Airport via Watford Junction

12 Retail communication deadlines for information providers December 2006 to March 2007 Newsrail Express (NRE) Retail Manual Part Two (RM2) Rail Directory for Travel Agents (RDTA1) (provided to travel agents in electronic format only) NRE RM2/RDTA1 Date communications reach stations Text to be entered in FRPS website by issue number issue number (may vary by 2 days either side) TOC/ATOC information providers 200 January 2 January 6 December January 13 December January 20 December 201 February 29 January 10 January January 17 January February 31 January 202 March 26 February 7 February February 14 February FRPS website The Fares & Retail Publications Service website (operated by TSO) for entering information is 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 in the Marketing and Retail > FRPS (Fares & Retail Publications Service) section. For additional editorial guidance contact Paul Chilver at ATOC Editorial on paul.chilver@atoc.org or telephone Proof checking At the proof check stage, (usually 2-3 days after the submission deadline) contributors will receive an 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 ) by the deadline shown in the . Further information and prices Further information and full pricing details for contributing news items and updates is available from in the Marketing and Retail > FRPS (Fares & Retail Publications Service) section. Note that prices are higher for colour and laminated pages where available. For further pricing information and invoice enquiries please contact Andrew Tolley at RSP on andrew.tolley@atoc.org or tel ** PLEASE CHECK THE INSIDE COVER OF THIS EDITION FOR SPECIAL LOW PRICE OFFERS ** 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 or csatoc@tso.co.uk. 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 paul.chilver@atoc.org Inserts and merchandisers If you wish to send out any separate inserts (such as merchandisers) within the Newsrail Express distribution package, please arrange this direct with TSO on tel , csatoc@tso.co.uk. TSO will provide costs, quantities and timescales for your insert. Ensure that you contact TSO at least 7 days in advance of the text 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 these to ATOC Editorial on mark.bryce@atoc.org. ASSOCIATION of TRAIN OPERATING COMPANIES working together for Great Britain s National Rail companies ISBN Printed by The Stationery Office Limited (TSO) St. Crispins Duke Street Norwich NR3 1PD Copyright Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC)