Gold Card extension ticket - peak or off peak

[beefy147]

good evening

I am after some advice. I have a gold card LBZ - EUS including zones 1-6

tomorrow evening around 17:30 I need to travel to Milton Keynes Central from Euston (north of where my gold card is valid)

There are direct trains which go there on London Midland. If i buy an LBZ - Milton keynes return can it be off peak (London Midland have a peak evening policy on trains before 19:00)

If my train stopped at LBZ first I could obviously get an off peak return to extend my journey but the train I want to get doesn't stop at LBZ and goes straight through. Do I need a peak or off peak ticket to extend my journey this way? peak tickets cannot load gold card discount (well actually they can but it costs more due to minimum fares) so the price difference is quite big.

Thanks

 

[yorkie]

It's best to use station names at least once. I happen to know LBZ is Leighton Buzzard without looking it up, but not everyone does

That said, to look up the restriction we need to use a site such as www.brfares.com (which is easier than using National Rail Enquiries), which does accept station codes, so no big deal. Anyway here is the result:

LEIGHTON BUZZARD - MILTON KEYNES C Off Peak Day R (CDR)

APPLICABLE DAYS
Mondays-Fridays

OUTWARD TRAVEL
Not valid on trains timed to depart after 04:29 and before 08:45

RETURN TRAVEL
Not valid on trains timed to depart after 04:29 and before 08:45

As you will be travelling long after 0845, there is no issue using this ticket. The fact the train doesn't call makes no difference.

 

[Hadders]

Leighton Buzzard to Milton Keynes Off Peak Return is £3.95 with a Gold Card discount

The Off Peak Return carries restriction code JF which is valid on any train after 0845.

As you hold a season ticket there is no need for the train to cal where you change from one ticket to the other.

Note also there is no minimum fare when using a Gold card.

 

[beefy147]

sorry, will use full names in future. thanks for the replies. I actually went to the station tonight (ticket machine outside only) and it would only let me buy a peak for tomorrow which started this thought process.

also as it would have been peak it was charging me £10.80 odd but £12 with the gold card and asking if I still wanted to use it (weird it would have allowed me to spend £12!)

much happier with the off peak option with discount. thanks for the advice

 

[yorkie]

...I actually went to the station tonight (ticket machine outside only) and it would only let me buy a peak for tomorrow which started this thought process.

also as it would have been peak it was charging me £10.80 odd but £12 with the gold card and asking if I still wanted to use it (weird it would have allowed me to spend £12!)...

That's because the ticket machines defy the apparent commitment to sell off peak tickets "anytime", and won't issue it in case you might use the ticket before it's valid!

As for trying to charge you more, that's because some programmers are not very good.

 

[greatkingrat]

sorry, will use full names in future. thanks for the replies. I actually went to the station tonight (ticket machine outside only) and it would only let me buy a peak for tomorrow which started this thought process.

also as it would have been peak it was charging me £10.80 odd but £12 with the gold card and asking if I still wanted to use it (weird it would have allowed me to spend £12!)

much happier with the off peak option with discount. thanks for the advice

Are you sure you picked the Gold Card option on the machine? It sounds like you picked the Network Railcard instead.

 

[beefy147]

it told me the price would become £12 and asked me a question "do you still want to use the railcard?"

who says yes and more importantly why is yes even an option!

There is nothing stopping me buying the off peak online and then collecting it from the machine with the booking reference! (which is exactly what I have just done!)

thanks again
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Are you sure you picked the Gold Card option on the machine? It sounds like you picked the Network Railcard instead.

actually i remember more clearly now. It wouldnt let me pick gold, it only gave HM forces, disabled and 16-25 as "railcards" which was annoying. I picked 16-25 and got the message before giving up and posting on here for advice

 

[Hadders]

it told me the price would become £12 and asked me a question "do you still want to use the railcard?"

who says yes and more importantly why is yes even an option!

There isn't any point with a 16-25 Railcard but sometimes if using a Network Railcard and travelling with a child it can be worth paying more for the adult fare in order to access the child discount.

It wouldnt let me pick gold, it only gave HM forces, disabled and 16-25 as "railcards" which was annoying. I picked 16-25 and got the message before giving up and posting on here for advice

That's because the TVM assumes you'll be travelling before 0930 tomorrow which is before the Gold card discount is valid.