NORTH LONDON BRANCH
NEWSLETTER No. 20 - JAN 2017
President: Mr O. Daynes / Hon. Secretary / / Mr R. LunnunMembership Sec / “Chaliz”
Chairman: Mr A. Mickleburgh / Rushmeadow Road
Vice-Chairman: Mr P. Smith / Scarning
Hon. Treasurer: Mr R.C. Bunn
/ DerehamSocial Secretary: / Norfolk NR19 2NW
Tel: 01362 692849
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ear Member - Our AGM will again be held at the “Pineapple Pub” in Kentish Town on Thursday March 16th 2017.
“The Pineapple” is at 51 Leverton Street, Kentish Town (see map attached). The best way to get there is to travel to Kentish Town on the Northern Line, turn right at the traffic lights and first left into Leverton Street. Alternatively you can catch the 214 bus in Pancras Road between Kings Cross and St Pancras stations which will take you straight to Kentish Town. This bus actually starts at Liverpool Street (Finsbury Square While Crossrail is being built) so this would probably be a better option for anybody travelling from the East London area.
The Pineapple pub is situated on the left hand side of the road. The pub is quite large with either an upstairs room or a conservatory for our meeting and has a Thai luncheon menu where everything costs £5.00 together with a range of real ales. Sandwiches will also be provided free, the cost being charged to branch funds. Comments were made last year about the sandwiches being provided to early so that they had started to curl, we will endeavour to have that corrected this year.
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he rate of inflation in September 2016 was 1% according to the CPI index. This means that there will be an increase of 1% on our railway pension next April, but our state pension should increase by 2.5% because of the triple lock mechanism. The basic state pension will increase from £119.31 to £122.31 per week. Investment returns in the pension funds were up 0.88% in August and up 12.38% during the year to date (October)
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ravel Facilities –Caledonian Sleeper Service- Staff travel holders can now book their privilege rate sleeper journeys on line.
International Reduced Rate Cards Renewal – Holders of current cards should automatically receive their 2017/2018 cards by mid January. The current cards dated 2016 are valid until January 31st 2017.
Priv Fare Extension – The arrangement whereby “privs” are calculated on day and period walk- up off-peak fares (including super off-peak fares) has been extended to September 2017.
Polish Railways – Polish Railways have joined the FIP and offer 50% reduction to retired staff.
A delegate at the last BTPF meeting said that he had been advised that when booking Eurostar privilege tickets each person should be present and that Staff Travel Card numbers are not sufficient. This will be taken up with ATOC by the BTPF. Although it is not essential it is advisable to carry your FIP card when travelling on Eurostar.
I find compiling this circular quite difficult at times, so I will always welcome any relevant contributions which you can email to me at or by post to the above address. Likewise new blood should be rushing to replace those of us who have been branch officers since time immemorial. Requirements are a telephone which enables instant communication between officers, something we don’t all have at the moment, and preferably a computer which again not all of us have at the moment.
Just to remind you of the social on Thursday the 16th February 2017. Application forms were included with the July circular in case the distribution of this circular is delayed by bad weather. Please return the forms to Mr R. Bunn if you wish to attend. Please do not send them to me, and please book in advance and avoid paying at the door which can cause enormous problems with the club.
Attached is a copy of the NPC campaign January issue.
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Happy New Year to all.
Roger Lunnun.
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JanNewsletter 2017