Annual Season Ticket Smartcard

[8ace]

It's almost time for me to renew my annual season ticket, I usually get a paper one but was thinking of buying from the LNER website to avail myself of the AMEX Cashback.
However there doesn't seem to be an option to add a PlusBus ticket
Would I be able to buy this separately from Brighton station ticket office once I have the smart card?
Also I would like to get a digital two together railcard for a tenner (the paper ones are a faff trying to print photos the correct size)?

 

[Wallsendmag]

You can't get a Plus Bus season on a TOC Smartcard if that's what you're asking

 

[Watershed]

It's almost time for me to renew my annual season ticket, I usually get a paper one but was thinking of buying from the LNER website to avail myself of the AMEX Cashback.
However there doesn't seem to be an option to add a PlusBus ticket
Would I be able to buy this separately from Brighton station ticket office once I have the smart card?

Yes, that should be possible provided you don't want the PlusBus season ticket to exceed the rail season ticket's validity. See this sentence from the internal staff guidance:

** The validity of a PlusBus Season Ticket cannot exceed the validity of the accompanying rail Season Ticket. e.g. If a customer holds a 7-Day Season Ticket and on the second day wishes to buy PlusBus for the remaining days, they should be sold a PlusBus Day ticket for each day until their 7-Day Season Ticket expires.

This makes it pretty clear it's intended to be possible to sell the PlusBus season ticket on a standalone basis.

Also I would like to get a digital two together railcard for a tenner (the paper ones are a faff trying to print photos the correct size)?

I'm not aware of any retailers that currently offer this facility in digital format.

 

[Hadders]

The railcard for £10 with an Annual Gold Card is only for railcards issued at stations, so physical railcards only.

We have had a couple of reports of people buying Annual Season tickets online through LNER not being sent an Annual Gold Record Card. I'm told the issue is fixed, but it would be good to know if this is the case.

 

[8ace]

Yes, that should be possible provided you don't want the PlusBus season ticket to exceed the rail season ticket's validity. See this sentence from the internal staff guidance:


This makes it pretty clear it's intended to be possible to sell the PlusBus season ticket on a standalone basis.


I'm not aware of any retailers that currently offer this facility in digital format.

Thanks mate shame I can't get the %10 of the plusBus though

The railcard for £10 with an Annual Gold Card is only for railcards issued at stations, so plysical railcards only.

We have had a couple of reports of people buying Annual Season tickets online through LNER not being sent an Annual Gold Record Card. I'm told the issue is fixed, but it would be good to know if this is the case.

Oh yeah I remember reading that bit concerning

 

[Watershed]

Thanks mate shame I can't get the %10 of the plusBus though

You should be able to get the 10% cashback if you buy the PlusBus season at any LNER ticket office, such as at Kings Cross.

 

[8ace]

Nice! For the saving I'll make it's worth the cost of the journey up there
edit: Actually I have to go up to LBG for a blood test soon, I can just get a ticket to STP instead, stroll ever to KGX and sort it then. And I can also get my Gold card added to my Oyster will I'm there! I love it when a plan comes together

 

[MrJeeves]

You can't get a Plus Bus season on a TOC Smartcard if that's what you're asking

Except in Brighton or Crawley on GTR's smartcards, of course.

 

[8ace]

I ordered an LNER SmartCard first thing on monday morning but it hasn't been approved yet - any idea how long these things usually take?

 

[Hadders]

You can get a LNER smartcard at Kings Cross travel centre.

 

[Haywain]

I ordered an LNER SmartCard first thing on monday morning but it hasn't been approved yet - any idea how long these things usually take?

You ordered it yesterday? Do you mean how long to be approved or to arrive in the post?

 

[8ace]

You ordered it yesterday? Do you mean how long to be approved or to arrive in the post?

Ordered yesterday at 0754, not been approved yet

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 22 Jul 2025 ==

You can get a LNER smartcard at Kings Cross travel centre.

Do they need a physical photo or can they just snap my ugly mug?

 

[Crighton]

The railcard for £10 with an Annual Gold Card is only for railcards issued at stations, so physical railcards only.

We have had a couple of reports of people buying Annual Season tickets online through LNER not being sent an Annual Gold Record Card. I'm told the issue is fixed, but it would be good to know if this is the case.

I can confirm I ordered an annual ticket on LNER with Amex cashback in early June. Annual Gold Card arrived about 5 days later by post and Amex cash back posted quickly.

 

[Hadders]

I can confirm I ordered an annual ticket on LNER with Amex cashback in early June. Annual Gold Card arrived about 5 days later by post and Amex cash back posted quickly.

Excellent news! Thanks for the update.

 

[Wallsendmag]

Excellent news! Thanks for the update.

We even have a way of reissuing them now

 

[8ace]

still not heard anything back

 

[Wallsendmag]

Given the speed of the Royal Mail I'm not surprised

 

[Mainline421]

Thanks mate shame I can't get the %10 of the plusBus though

You can if you buy it at Kings Cross (or any other LNER ticket office)

 

[8ace]

Went to KGX yesterday evening and bought them
Only odd thing was that they printed my PlusBus ticket on a Network Card stock ticket lol

 

[transportphoto]

Went to KGX yesterday evening and bought them
Only odd thing was that they printed my PlusBus ticket on a Network Card stock ticket lol

On Network Railcard stock? That’s a bit bizarre, and I’d have personally pushed back on it (e.g. for it to be issued on standard season stock). Can you share a photo, or perhaps the RSP number from the rear bottom of the ticket?

 

[saismee]

I'm not aware of any retailers that currently offer this facility in digital format.

Specifically at the 10 pound price or two together railcards in general? I certainly have a digital Two Together railcard.

Edit: gathered my answer from context.

 

[island]

The railcard for £10 with an Annual Gold Card is only for railcards issued at stations, so physical railcards only.

I seem to recall reading somewhere, that if you have a digital gold record card there is some mechanism to get a £25 voucher code for a Railcard once a year, which would enable a digital (or plastic) Railcard to be had for £10. I cannot now seem to find that page, but if I do I'll come back.

 

[8ace]

On Network Railcard stock? That’s a bit bizarre, and I’d have personally pushed back on it (e.g. for it to be issued on standard season stock). Can you share a photo, or perhaps the RSP number from the rear bottom of the ticket?

I'm at work now and the ticket is indoors so I will post a pic this evening. The chap was searching high and low for what I presume was the blue stock like my current one (see attached pic). When he handed to be I just saw it was blue and checked the date/price/area was correct. Wasn't till I was between Farringdon and City Thameslink that I noticed it was Network Railcard stock.

 

[transportphoto]

When he handed to be I just saw it was blue and checked the date/price/area was correct. Wasn't till I was between Farringdon and City Thameslink that I noticed it was Network Railcard stock.

I trust you’ve correctly identified the stock as Network Railcard stock then - especially as you’re familiar with the standard season stock. I’m inclined to suggest this may start to cause you problems - might be worth revisiting Kings Cross for it to be reissued at some point (or reaching out to LNER to ask their advice.)

 

[Haywain]

This is NOT Network Railcard stock, it is the correct ticket stock for an annual season that is not, in itself, qualifying for a Gold Card.

 

[saismee]

This is NOT Network Railcard stock, it is the correct ticket stock for an annual season that is not, in itself, qualifying for a Gold Card.

That's a picture of their old ticket.

 

[8ace]

I trust you’ve correctly identified the stock as Network Railcard stock then - especially as you’re familiar with the standard season stock. I’m inclined to suggest this may start to cause you problems - might be worth revisiting Kings Cross for it to be reissued at some point (or reaching out to LNER to ask their advice.)

Actually remember I took a pic yesterday to send to my mate (private joke). Is there a good contact for LNER, I get enough quizzical looks from bus drivers even with the current one!

 

[Wallsendmag]

I can save you time by saying go back to Kings Cross.

 

[transportphoto]

I can save you time by saying go back to Kings Cross.

Absolutely agreed. That’s horrendous and should not have been issued as such - standard orange stock would have been a better choice!

 

[Haywain]

That's a picture of their old ticket.

Wasn't Network Railcard stock though!!