Gold Card rules

[MrCub]

Sorry to bring this up again but I need some definitive answers. I am due to renew my Network Railcard; however with the increase in minimum fares and the high probability that I will make significantly more weekday off peak journeys over the coming year than previously, I was wondering if it might be worth buying a useless but cheap annual season ticket in order to obtain a Gold Card (and before anyone asks, no I don't need a season ticket).

Therefore, what is the cheapest annual season ticket in the NSE area?

Can I buy this ticket from a ticket office that is very clearly not part of this regular journey?

Are there weekday minimum fares with a Gold Card?

Can it be used for anything extra at the weekend?

Can other people travelling with me get the discount too?

Does it cover the same as the NSE area?

Does it come on a separate card or is the annual season printed on a 'gold card' ticket?


Really appreciate advice here

Mr Cub

 

[glynn80]

Therefore, what is the cheapest annual season ticket in the NSE area?

This is famously Ryde Esplanade to Ryde St Johns Rd. After September (NFM04), this season ticket will be £132.00.

Can I buy this ticket from a ticket office that is very clearly not part of this regular journey?

Yes, it is purchasable from all ATOC ticket offices. However if it is purchased from a station outside the NSE area the ticket may be printed on non Gold Card stock.

Are there weekday minimum fares with a Gold Card?

There are no weekday minimum fares with regard to tickets valid wholly on the NR network when using a Gold Card, either for the Card Holder or those accompanying him.

However discounts on London Area Zones 1-6 Off-Peak Day Travelcards (All Zones only) and Anytime Day Travelcards (when bought as part of your ticket to London from outside Zones 1 – 6) are subject to a minimum fare. Anytime Day Travelcards (again when bought as part of your ticket to London from outside Zones 1 – 6) are subject to a minimum fare of £14.80 and London Area Zones 1 – 6 Off-Peak Day Travelcards are subject to a £5 minimum fare on weekends and public holidays.

Furthermore no discount is given on London Area Zones 1-6 Anytime Day Travelcards or on any individual zone or combined zones (i.e. 1-2; 1-4 etc) Off-Peak Day Travelcard.

Can it be used for anything extra at the weekend?

There are some relaxations in the rules regarding the Gold Card First Supplement (http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/first_class_upgrade.html)

Can other people travelling with me get the discount too?

The adult named on the Annual Gold Card, paying the appropriate Annual Gold Card discounted fare if the journey is not covered by their season ticket, plus:

• Up to three other adults aged 16 or over, paying the appropriate discounted fare.
  
• Up to four children aged over 4 and under 16 paying the flat fare.
  
• Up to two children aged under 5 at no charge.
  
• The maximum group size is four adults, four flat fare-paying children and two children under 5 (who travel at no charge).

Does it cover the same as the NSE area?

The map is the same as that which applies to the Network Railcard (http://www.railcard.co.uk/clientfiles/File/map.pdf)

Does it come on a separate card or is the annual season printed on a 'gold card' ticket?

The Gold Card Season Ticket is the Railcard in effect. As stated above the ticket may not be printed on Gold Card stock if you purchase it from a station outside the NSE area, so if you want to avoid confrontations I'd advise purchasing it on Gold Card stock.

 

[MrCub]

Thank you

I sincerely appreciate such an excellent and comprehensive response.

I am in the NSE area just not on the Isle of Wight; at £132, I should make the money back through normal use for business reasons before any leisure travelling so it appears to be excellent value for money.

Thank you

Mr Cub

 

[glynn80]

Thank you

I sincerely appreciate such an excellent and comprehensive response.

I am in the NSE area just not on the Isle of Wight; at £132, I should make the money back through normal use for business reasons before any leisure travelling so it appears to be excellent value for money.

No problem!

Just as an aside, if it makes the situation more comfortable for yourself, you can also purchase a Gold Card Season for exactly the same price of £132.00 from Newhaven Harbour to Newhaven Town.

 

[MrCub]

Sorry to bring this up again but I simply don't understand the difference between the weekday and weekend first class upgrade.

Also, does each weekday ticket have an upgrade or does one First Class upgrade cover the whole network for any trains you travel on for the whole day?

Mr Cub

 

[Matt Taylor]

Bear in mind that SWT also offer a further benefit of free weekend travel (Friday-Sunday) a certain number of times a year. It may be worth looking at St Margarets-Twickenham or Portsmouth & Southsea to Portsmouth Harbour.

 

[glynn80]

Sorry to bring this up again but I simply don't understand the difference between the weekday and weekend first class upgrade.

The only difference is that you can purchase a First Class supplement for use on the route your Gold Card is issued for:

On weekdays Gold Card First Supplements cannot be used for any journey over the route covered by a Standard Class Season Ticket unless a separate standard discounted ticket for the journey has been purchased. This does not apply at Weekends or on Public Holidays. First Class Annual Gold Card holders are not required to purchase separate Gold Card First Supplement tickets for themselves where the journey being made is covered by the route validity of their Gold Card season. Accompanying adults and children must be issued with both a Standard Class adult or Child Flat Fare ticket as appropriate, and a Gold Card First Supplement.

Also, does each weekday ticket have an upgrade or does one First Class upgrade cover the whole network for any trains you travel on for the whole day?

The supplement you purchase only gives you an upgrade for one single or return journey and only on the date the supplement was issued for:

Gold Card holders may purchase special Gold Card First Supplement tickets for themselves and up to three accompanying adults and four accompanying children for travel in First Class accommodation. Gold Card First Supplements can be used in conjunction with a valid discounted Standard Class ticket for travel in First Class accommodation (where available) for a single or return journey on the day for which the Gold Card First Supplement is dated. If the return journey is made on another day, a further Supplement ticket will be required. Gold Card First Supplements must be purchased in advance unless ticket purchase facilities at your starting station are not available.

So if you were to make a journey from Brighton to London St Pancras and then a separate journey later in the day from Ramsgate to Brighton using separate tickets, you would need to purchase two first class supplements.

 

[boing_uk]

I get an annual Gold Card season ticket through my employer, who clearly buy it through South West Trains, even though I am in the North of England.

Ive had a read through the documentation and all I can find are discounts applicable to rail travel in the South... am I therefore correct in my assumption that there are no Gold Card discounts in the North?

EDIT:

Answered my own question with a further look through google and NRE. Doh!

 

[Helvellyn]

MrCub, what are the journeys you are regularly making that you want to get Gold Card discount on? Are these the same ones you are interested in upgrading to First Class on as well? Would make it easier to give specific answers if you're able (and willing) to share that information.