RPA staff ride for free...

gibo_ie

On the Luas this morning and noticed as the tickets were being checked that a guy in front of my simply flashed his RPA staff card with a grin and seemed to not need a ticket.
So how fair is this? Was he working on a role for something at the time, i don't think so, looked like an easy ride to work..
So who else rides for free (apart from elderly/disabled etc..)

Thomas_S_Hunterson

It's just a perk of the job.

Employees often get staff discounts and other non-cash benefits.

gibo_ie

but the RPA are not the operators nor owners of the luas...

godtabh

gibo_ie wrote: »

but the RPA are not the operators nor owners of the luas...

Thats not to say there isnt an agreement in place.

I know a few people working there and they all get a travel card for the luas

Victor

Having staff use your transport system off duty is good as it is essentially free travel for them at no cost to you.

It also puts them in the position of passenger - if the experience isn't acceptable, they can pass that information on.

antoinolachtnai

It's certainly good practice in public transport to have your own staff 'sample' the service.

It's a nice little perk, and allowable as a tax-free benefit.

Garda and Army get to travel for free. For private bus operators, this is a condition of the licence. However, this seems to be availed of hardly at all.

murphaph

Victor wrote: »

It also puts them in the position of passenger - if the experience isn't acceptable, they can apss that information on.

I was about to complain and hadn't thought of this aspect but it's actually a very pertinent point-direct feedback from RPA staff to RPA management if they feel the operator is failing/achieving.

It is however a benefit in kind and should be taxed accordingly (though personally I believe BIK should be removed completely from all public transport incentives to encourage people out of cars).

Victor

murphaph wrote: »

I was about to complain and hadn't thought of this aspect but it's actually a very pertinent point-direct feedback from RPA staff to RPA management if they feel the operator is failing/achieving.

Or indeed from RPA CEO to RPA management. Franks uses Luas.

It is however a benefit in kind and should be taxed accordingly (though personally I believe BIK should be removed completely from all public transport incentives to encourage people out of cars).

I don't think it qualifies as BIK-able as there is no direct cost to the RPA.

PMC999

An employer can give employees free monthly or annual travel passes without charging BIK tax.
http://www.revenue.ie/en/tax/it/leaflets/benefit-in-kind/passes.html

godtabh

PMC999 wrote: »

An employer can give employees free monthly or annual travel passes without charging BIK tax.
http://www.revenue.ie/en/tax/it/leaflets/benefit-in-kind/passes.html

You have to pay for the tax sacer tickets. Your employer saves on prsi and so tho you

antoinolachtnai

It's a little more complicated than that, strictly speaking. You sacrifice part of your salary in return for having the company pay for the ticket, which is different from paying for it yourself from the revenue's point of view.

lostexpectation

Victor wrote: »

Having staff use your transport system off duty is good as it is essentially free travel for them at no cost to you.

It also puts them in the position of passenger - if the experience isn't acceptable, they can pass that information on.

isn't paying for things an essential part of the customer experience :P

antoinolachtnai

That is a fair point, but I think the main thing is to have them on there frequently.

Also, to avail of the tax break, you must have an annual or monthly ticket. Expensing a ticket is not acceptable.

Mind you, it is important to avoid a mess like the Great Golden Ticket Controversy that happened in the UK a few years back.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/passengers-furious-over-rail-chiefs-gold-card-for-free-travel-587060.html

It did not make much sense that the guy who oversees the industry got to be able to skip ticket queues and go straight to the train.

bmaxi

antoinolachtnai wrote: »

Garda and Army get to travel for free. For private bus operators, this is a condition of the licence. However, this seems to be availed of hardly at all.

When did this happen? I confess it's a long time since I worked for C.I.E./ Dublin Bus. In my time Gardai in uniform were allowed to travel free only when on official business, e.g. to and from Court, although in practice they were never questioned. I have never known soldiers to have free travel.

AlekSmart

Quite a few years back,during a spate of violent disorder of several Bus Routes one of the elements of the official response was an agreement to grant Free-Travel to ALL Gardai on Dublin Bus on production of ID.

The reasoning,and it`s sound too,was that encouraging Gardai to utilize the service even off-duty would add to the actual security presence.

It is noteable that whilst one regularly see`s uniformed Gardai travelling on Luas,one would rarely see a Garda use the Bus.

As for the Army,I believe that buried deep within the various acts of the Oireachtas which govern the CIE operation there is indeed a stipulation that members of the Defence Forces (In Uniform) are afforded Free Travel.

antoinolachtnai

Do many Garda travel on warrant cards on Dublin Bus?

egan007

gibo_ie wrote: »

On the Luas this morning and noticed as the tickets were being checked that a guy in front of my simply flashed his RPA staff card with a grin and seemed to not need a ticket.
So how fair is this? Was he working on a role for something at the time, i don't think so, looked like an easy ride to work..
So who else rides for free (apart from elderly/disabled etc..)

AH FFS begrudging F*****
Big deal.

gibo_ie

Victor wrote: »

Having staff use your transport system off duty is good as it is essentially free travel for them at no cost to you.

It also puts them in the position of passenger - if the experience isn't acceptable, they can pass that information on.

Well they should have a smartcard or the like if it is BIK...

Also they can just ask customers for feedback rather than them getting a tainted view for their mornign and evening experience to and from work for free...

KC61

Really there are far bigger issues to be worrying about right now.

Public transport staff members have always had free travel to/from work, and indeed in Dublin there still are early morning/late night "ghost buses" that operate to/from the depots to transport those drivers have no car to/from work, although there are fewer and fewer of these nowadays.

Gumbo

i have no problem with the staff using the luas for free, a perk of the job i suppose and it takes one more car off the road imo

its the same with Dublin Bus, they get free travel on the bus too.

i think all public transport should be heavily subsidesed (sp) if you buy in bulk, like for a year or similar, ie. DB tax saver ticket, but thats just my opinion and another days rant!

bmaxi

AlekSmart wrote: »

Quite a few years back,during a spate of violent disorder of several Bus Routes one of the elements of the official response was an agreement to grant Free-Travel to ALL Gardai on Dublin Bus on production of ID.

The reasoning,and it`s sound too,was that encouraging Gardai to utilize the service even off-duty would add to the actual security presence.

It is noteable that whilst one regularly see`s uniformed Gardai travelling on Luas,one would rarely see a Garda use the Bus.

As for the Army,I believe that buried deep within the various acts of the Oireachtas which govern the CIE operation there is indeed a stipulation that members of the Defence Forces (In Uniform) are afforded Free Travel.

My apologies to the soldiers, on behalf of all the bus crews serving Collins and Clancy barracks in the 1970's, we owe you one. It was certainly not something we were made aware of.

Carawaystick

KC61 wrote: »

Really there are far bigger issues to be worrying about right now.

Public transport staff members have always had free travel to/from work, and indeed in Dublin there still are early morning/late night "ghost buses" that operate to/from the depots to transport those drivers have no car to/from work, although there are fewer and fewer of these nowadays.

But the RPA don't run any public transport service, vieola do. It's the same as dot employees using private bus/coach services for free

if the rpa got their act together and rolled out the integrated ticketing like they said while wasting 30+million then rpa staff could use this.
If Guinness employees get bik on their free stout, then rpa employees should get bik on this free travel.

We need to broaden the tax base, this is one way to do it.

trellheim

Free travel for the Army is available if it's official business. A travel warrant must be made out and can be exchanged for a ticket at a booking office.


Separately I remember a discount FCA Dublin bus ticket, you had to be in uniform to use it, early '90s IIRC

Victor

antoinolachtnai wrote: »

Do many Garda travel on warrant cards on Dublin Bus?

Some do, but they tend to be shy about it. Sometimes as a passenger I'd see someone with a blue shirt flash a wallet at the driver, but I'd never see if it was a garda ID or some form of pass. From a garda I know, many are willing to pay cash so they don't have to deal with the gurriers. I've only once seen an on-duty garda sue a bus - I think on a match night, where the Garda seemed to be doing a show the flag exercise.

gibo_ie wrote: »

Also they can just ask customers for feedback rather than them getting a tainted view for their mornign and evening experience to and from work for free...

Actually, they will see different things to passengers. Most passengers are only interested in getting from A-B while they do their crossword / listen to their tunes / chat.

They won't notice that seat cover thats loose / window seal damaged / light not working.

godtabh

gibo_ie wrote: »

Also they can just ask customers for feedback rather than them getting a tainted view for their mornign and evening experience to and from work for free...

And you dont have a tainted view?

philiy

RPA do own the Luas. Veolia are the contracted operators. And who contracts veolia to operate the Luas? The RPA do. Anything to do with the Luas operation is decided by the RPA and followed by Veolia according to their contract.
RPA are the Luas equivalent to Irish Rail. Irish rail employees and their immediate family get free travel on all Irish rail services, and I believe Irish rail have an agreement with all rail companies throughout Europe to allow their employees as well as other European rail operator employees to travel for free on their services.

Carawaystick

The rpa aren't the equivalent of irish rail. Irish rail actually run the train services, maintain the way and trains.

coolinblue

i guess its seen as free security!! thats the prob if there is hassle on luas you may feel obliged to act.. easier pay for it