1 PlusBus Make sure you know how to issue PlusBus 2 Silverlink Trains Virgin Trains Changes to services over Easter

Transcription

1 N ewsrail E X P R E S S WEEK ENDING 24 March 2007 ITEM FOR TRAIN COMPANY ON RETAIL TRAIN TRAVEL ITEM SUBJECT OUTLETS STAFF AGENTS 1 PlusBus Make sure you know how to issue PlusBus 2 Silverlink Trains Virgin Trains Changes to services over Easter 336 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 Retail Manual Pt 1 Amnt 98 Retail Manual Pt 2 Issue 202 Real Ale Leaflet 2. CONTACTS FOR FURTHER SUPPLIES FOR RAIL STAFF TSO Customer Services, St. Crispins, Duke Street, Norwich, NR3 1PD Tel: Fax: csatoc@tso.co.uk 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 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 on the Fares & Retail Publications Portal ( through the Marketing & Retail section of the ATOC website ( 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 Make sure you know how to issue 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 260 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. 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, All-Line & Regional Rail Rovers 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 or visit 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 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 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

4 TO BE READ BY: TRAIN COMPANY RETAIL STAFF ON-TRAIN STAFF TRAVEL AGENTS 2 Changes to Silverlink and Virgin Trains 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 NOTE: 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 Virgin Value tickets will be valid on Virgin Trains services between Euston and the North West via Northampton on Friday 6 and Monday 9 April only (subject to availability). Silverlink Retail Support Virgin Trains Retail Support 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

5 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

6 6

7 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 EXPRESS No. ITEM No. PAGE No. ATOC Ordering station literature and posters notice of change of supplier (updated) ATOC Ordering station literature and posters notice of change of supplier (updated) ATOC Euro Domino passes Central Trains Withdrawal of Cycle Reservations Fee on Central Trains Central Trains Charnwood Borough Council new Concessionary Fares Scheme First Great Western Fares Update First Great First Great Western Swansea Cork Ferries First Great Western Changes to High Speed Train (HST) reservations on First Great Western GNER Introducing GNER s new range of all-inclusive Business Packages Midland Mainline News National Rail London area fares & retail information January National Rail Easy guide to issuing PlusBus National Rail Easy guide to issuing PlusBus (updated) National Rail Easy guide to issuing PlusBus (reminder) National Rail Disabled persons without Railcards National Rail Introduction of Visitor Oyster card National Rail National Ticket Conditions Cards National Rail Daily Mail Ideal Home Show National Rail Disabled persons without Railcards PlusBus National marketing campaign new customer leaflet and station poster PlusBus New PlusBus stations from 2 January PlusBus Go green, Go Plusbus PlusBus Go green, Go Plusbus Railcards Railcard application forms Railcards Railcard application forms Railcards Railcard application forms Silverlink & Virgin Trains Changes to Silverlink and Virgin services over Easter Virgin Trains Virgin West Coast fare corrections

8 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. March 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 April 26 March May update 23 April 2 April April 11 April May 24 April June update 21 May 1 May May 9 May June 22 May July update 18 June 30 May June 6 June July 20 June August update 16 July 27 June July 4 July July 18 July September update 13 August 25 July August 1 August 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 shown in the inside cover of this edition or available from 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 andrew.tolley@atoc.org or tel 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 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 , csatoc@tso.co.uk 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 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)