Cheapest Gold Card - benefits

[autotank]

Hello,

I'm just about to buy a season ticket purely to get myself a Gold Card. The cheapest appears to be Lichfield City (LIC) to Lichfield Trent Valley (LTV) for £144.

However I hear there may still be some benefit in getting Ryde Esplanade (RYD) to Ryde St Johns Road (RYR) for £168 as it gets you some free weekend SWT travel. Is that still the case and in order to benefit from it do you need to purchase from an SWT ticket office? Would Waterloo do? I assume I'll need to bring a photo with me (or is it two?).

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[Hadders]

Correct about the Lichfield Gold Card being the cheapest. I'm not sure about the SWT free travel.

 

[kareeosman]

From the site.

Free travel at weekends – We issue South West Trains season ticket holders who exclusively travel on South West Trains services*, with 6 one-day tickets allowing unlimited travel on South West Trains services only at weekends and public holidays. (Tickets are not valid for cross-Solent travel to/from the Isle of Wight.)

* Travel must be wholly on South West Trains services

 

[Merseysider]

Free travel at weekends – We issue South West Trains season ticket holders who exclusively travel on South West Trains services*, with 6 one-day tickets allowing unlimited travel on South West Trains services only at weekends and public holidays. (Tickets are not valid for cross-Solent travel to/from the Isle of Wight.)

Luckily, the Island Line is part of the SWT franchise. RYD-RYR isn't cross-Solent.

But if too many people make a song and dance about it, SWT will be along to 'clarify' the T&C.

 

[bb21]

The SWT free tickets are hit and miss so don't bank on it.

 

[talldave]

Just one photo.

If you have an Oyster card, get the Gold Card discount put on that too.

My Lichfield ticket paid for itself in six months (without even taking Oyster savings in to account). I'm indebted to the experts on here for advice received.

 

[Fiyero]

I have had a Ryde Esplanade - Ryde St Johns Gold card for 4 or 5 years now since I out grew my Young Persons Railcard. Always got my free travel tickets - though they can take a while to turn up and they alone make it worth the purchase!
The main benefit for me though is no minimum fare on weekday travel, I know I may only save a pound here and there but it makes me feel better!
One day I promise myself I will travel Ryde Esplanade - St Johns!

Edit to add:
I got mine from a different train station in the South West Trains network and assume you must use one of their offices for the free tickets to work. I have had a few raised eyebrows when ticket offices check it and see the stations! Most are just inquisitive if it actually saves money (it does!)

 

[autotank]

Thanks for your help on this - I got the Ryde ticket in the end from Waterloo. I'm told the 6 free tickets will be sent to me by post - I'll let you know if/when they turn up!