Annual Gold Card - Where... to buy?

[mikeyerm]

Was down to the Gold Card Metropolitan Zone recently, and was wondering where to buy these annual season tickets (which come with a Gold Card).

Doing a lot of railway travelling in West Midlands and London recently; and for some reason my daily ventures can be severely discounted via a Gold Card (evaluated using Trainline).

Was wondering if it was even possible to get a cheap Annual Season Ticket in-person instead of online, cause my initial thought is that the ticket staff would question me if I asked for two specific stations which are conveniently the cheapest way to get a Gold Card.

I'm aware of the Lanworth and Hatton route, but would I need to go there to get one IRL? I'd prefer an IRL way to get these long season tickets and gold cards since it'd be significantly more feasible on my end.

 

[Hadders]

Hatton to Lapworth is the cheapest annual season ticket that qualifies for Gold Card status. Any ticket office within the Gold Card area should be able to issue it but if you do buy one make sure they issue it on Gold Card stock. You'll also need a passport sized photo so they can make a photocard up for you, if you haven't already got one.

I've had one of these for years, which I purchase at my local GTR operated ticket office, and never used it to travel between Hatton and Lapworth.

 

[THC]

Likewise. I buy my Hatton-Lapworth annual season from the Greater Anglia ticket office at Chelmsford every year. Never had a problem.

THC

 

[mikeyerm]

Hatton to Lapworth is the cheapest annual season ticket that qualifies for Gold Card status. Any ticket office within the Gold Card area should be able to issue it but if you do buy one make sure they issue it on Gold Card stock. You'll also need a passport sized photo so they can make a photocard up for you, if you haven't already got one.

I've had one of these for years, which I purchase at my local GTR operated ticket office, and never used it to travel between Hatton and Lapworth.

Does it have to be within this gold zone on the map? If so, why does Lichfield City -> LTV qualify for gold card? Or is it that you go to a ticket office within one of the gold zones and ask for a season ticket within the specified area?

 

[mikeyerm]

Hatton to Lapworth is the cheapest annual season ticket that qualifies for Gold Card status. Any ticket office within the Gold Card area should be able to issue it but if you do buy one make sure they issue it on Gold Card stock. You'll also need a passport sized photo so they can make a photocard up for you, if you haven't already got one.

I've had one of these for years, which I purchase at my local GTR operated ticket office, and never used it to travel between Hatton and Lapworth.

(Waiting for moderator approval on my message with an image, might as well ask in meantime). So I'd ask for the ticket inside a gold zone station but for a different area? And the regular annual season ticket being on regular stock, but the gold card being on gold stock?

 

[Hadders]

Does it have to be within this gold zone on the map? If so, why does Lichfield City -> LTV qualify for gold card? Or is it that you go to a ticket office within one of the gold zones and ask for a season ticket within the specified area?

That doesn't look like the right map.

Here's a link to a map of the Gold Card Area. While any ticket office can sell a Hatton to Lapworth season ticket only ticket offices in the Gold Card Area carry Gold Card ticket stock and you will need to have it issued on the special Gold Card ticket stock to qualify for Gold Card benefits. So, for example Shrewsbury ticket office should be able to issue a Gold Card as it is in the Gold Card Area, as can Exeter St Davids.

https://assets.nationalrail.co.uk/e8xgegruud3g/23LngqwDfggHprWTDmhnLP/cb14d3813ce376a5d319790c0955dada/Gold_Card_Area_of_Validity_Map_June_2023.pdf

Here's more information on Gold Cards from nationalrail.co.uk

Annual Gold Card | National Rail

Get great discounts on your leisure travel in the south of England with an Annual Gold Card

www.nationalrail.co.uk

 

[DelW]

Does it have to be within this gold zone on the map? If so, why does Lichfield City -> LTV qualify for gold card? Or is it that you go to a ticket office within one of the gold zones and ask for a season ticket within the specified area?

I think you may be misunderstanding the yellow coloured area. That's not the limit of validity, I believe it's simply an area within which there are so many services / routes on which it's valid that they can't be shown individually. The full area of validity is the map linked by Hadders.

 

[Joe Paxton]

Does it have to be within this gold zone on the map? If so, why does Lichfield City -> LTV qualify for gold card? Or is it that you go to a ticket office within one of the gold zones and ask for a season ticket within the specified area?

I think you may be misunderstanding the yellow coloured area. That's not the limit of validity, I believe it's simply an area within which there are so many services / routes on which it's valid that they can't be shown individually. The full area of validity is the map linked by Hadders.

Though on looking at the Annual Gold Card area map, I can see where the OP mikeyerm's confusion is coming from - on the map, the text in the yellow explanatory box states:

Gold Card is valid on all National Rail services within this area, including the Elizabeth line and London Overground.

One could (understandably) misinterpret that as meaning the Gold Card validity is limited to the yellow shaded area - which I think explains the OP's various references to a "gold zone".

However, as DelW states above, the shaded area simply denotes that there's too much information to show in detail but the explanation (quoted above) is intended to reassure you that a Gold Card remains valid in this area.

 

[wimbledonpete]

Last time I needed a Gold Card (ie before falling into the Senior age group) I got Lapworth to Hatton from Folkestone West - no issue other than a slightly quizzical look.

 

[bubieyehyeh]

I used to buy lapworth-hatton gold card from Marylebone station, which happens to be a Chiltern ticket office.

I did have two GTR tickets offices (Horsham and Three Bridges) refuse to sell me one. Three bridges accused me of trying to commit fraud and horsham staff just made up bull**** excuse after bull**** excuse why they couldn't sell it.

 

[Bishopstone]

I did have two GTR tickets offices (Horsham and Three Bridges) refuse to sell me one. Three bridges accused me of trying to commit fraud and horsham staff just made up bull**** excuse after bull**** excuse why they couldn't sell it.

Good grief.

If there’s a future for ticket offices, it’s in handling more complicated transactions requiring a higher level of knowledge or advice, such as the Gold Card in question (which isn’t that complicated, but still…)

Clerks who get frazzled beyond ‘day return to Victoria, please’ need re-training or a different job.

 

[mikeyerm]

Update:

Got the Gold Card successfully! Went to a station today, had some questioning looks and a bit of interrogation by ticket staff, since "they only issue these every once a blue moon".

To make it even harder, I qualify for Child fares, so I had to manage to get a Child Annual Season Ticket with a Child Annual Gold Card, which has only been mentioned once on this forum (and it was in error!)
- https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/child-gold-card.119997/

Even through this, the colleague that I was with, called their Manager, and they called their other Manager, which confirmed that it was able to be issued. The reason why this was initially contested was because the National Rail website states that it can only be from Adult Annual Season Tickets.

"When you buy your adult Annual Season ticket or Annual Travelcard"
https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/railcards/annual-gold-card/#:~:text=When you buy your adult Annual Season ticket or Annual Travelcard

However, if you actually look into the Terms and Conditions of the Gold Card, it never actually mentions it!

This meant I was able to be issued a Gold Card (on Gold Stock) from Lichfield Trent Valley -> Lichfield City. Was going to do Hatton <-> Lapworth, but decided against it since it'd just raise more questions. Was only just £4 more anyway.

 

[Joe Paxton]

Interesting... I wish you luck, though alas I can see possible hassle ahead. Whilst you're quite right in saying the current AGC Terms & Conditions (valid from Jan 2023) don't mention anything about excluding child fares, I think this is an omission (though a previous AGC T&Cs, valid from Jan 2018 is also silent on the matter).

All the blurb I've ever come across about Annual Gold Cards is in reference to adult rate fares. The AGC page on the previous iteration of the NRE website was more explicit than the current version - this is from 2022:

There are some circumstances where Annual Season tickets and Annual Travelcards are not issued as Annual Gold Cards, including:

• Child rate Season tickets

[...]

 

[MrJeeves]

To make it even harder, I qualify for Child fares, so I had to manage to get a Child Annual Season Ticket with a Child Annual Gold Card, which has only been mentioned once on this forum (and it was in error!)
- https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/child-gold-card.119997/

Fun to dig up my first ever thread on the forum...!

Your season should not have been issued as a Gold Card, and chances are you'll get grief if you ever use it for a Gold Card discount, just like I did.

However, if you actually look into the Terms and Conditions of the Gold Card, it never actually mentions it!

Well yeah, it wouldn't mention it because it shouldn't be issued as a Gold Card in the first place. The terms apply to Gold Card holders, and you should never end up being a Gold Card holder if you're a child!

 

[mikeyerm]

Eh, well.

I follow terms and conditions, and the Gold Card was meant to come with any annual season tickets purchase (as proved by how Trainline does it - they issue digital gold record cards for each annual season ticket).

I shouldn't get grief for it, there's probably reasons for why it's no longer there in the T&C's. Not my problem.

 

[MrJeeves]

as proved by how Trainline does it - they issue digital gold record cards for each annual season ticket

They won't be for child seasons...

 

[mikeyerm]

(I did my research!)

Figure 1 - southeastern response by @MrJeeves
Figure 2 - t&c not specifying adult prices

Since the only admission of Child rates not allowing Gold Card issuance, it's not my problem to not use the Gold Card for it's intended purposes, considering Trainline does the same.

They won't be for child seasons...

 

[Joe Paxton]

(I did my research!)

Figure 1 - southeastern response by @MrJeeves
Figure 2 - t&c not specifying adult prices

Since the only admission of Child rates not allowing Gold Card issuance, it's not my problem to not use the Gold Card for it's intended purposes, considering Trainline does the same.

As MrJeeves said, the Terms & Conditions apply to existing holders, rather than prospective holders! (It'd admittedly be much clearer if it was included in the T&Cs though.)

Re the Trainline... whilst the screenshot of the app does suggest you'll get a Gold Card even with a child season ticket purchase, whether the system actually follows through with this once a purchase is made is another question...

 

[mikeyerm]

As MrJeeves said, the Terms & Conditions apply to existing holders, rather than prospective holders! (It'd admittedly be much clearer if it was included in the T&Cs though.)

Re the Trainline... whilst the screenshot of the app does suggest you'll get a Gold Card even with a child season ticket purchase, whether the system actually follows through with this once a purchase is made is another question...

After the suggestion, it asks you to enter your name and photo card so that it can produce a digital railcard onto your account, which would be the Gold Record Card.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I'm confused, what's the point in a child having a Gold Card? The child discount is better than the Gold Card discount. I very much doubt you can stack the discounts.

 

[mikeyerm]

I'm confused, what's the point in a child having a Gold Card? The child discount is better than the Gold Card discount. I very much doubt you can stack the discounts.

Well, you can.

Well. Looks like I've got enough bearing to be able to use the Gold Card, since the WMR, LMR, and Trainline all accept Child fare discounted through Gold Card.

Uh, one thing though. As it's a Child Gold Card, what happens if I go up to the Adult rates in the middle of my validity? Do I get it renewed, or do I just apply my Child Gold Card with an Adult ticket?

 

[MrJeeves]

I'm confused, what's the point in a child having a Gold Card? The child discount is better than the Gold Card discount. I very much doubt you can stack the discounts.

Gold Card grants 60% off child fares (min £1).

As it's a Child Gold Card, what happens if I go up to the Adult rates in the middle of my validity? Do I get it renewed, or do I just apply my Child Gold Card with an Adult ticket?

Well, as stated many times, there is no "child" Gold Card to apply. There's only a generic "Gold Card".

For monthly or longer seasons that start their validity before you're 16, there's a 4 month grace period after you turn 16 where they are still valid.

During this time, you could continue applying the discount if that's what you're deciding to do. After those 4 months, the season isn't valid, hence if you buy any discounted tickets, you'll no longer be travelling with the gold card holder and the discount isn't valid.

After the suggestion, it asks you to enter your name and photo card so that it can produce a digital railcard onto your account, which would be the Gold Record Card.

I do doubt that they actually would issue the digital gold card for a child season, even if the process of buying one asks for details.

 

[mikeyerm]

Good to know.

So lets say I turn 16 in late June / early July, what would I do? I mean, the 4 month grace period for June would end in October, and for July would end in early November.

I assume I'd just get a new Gold Card, this time with Adult status, when the 4 month grace period is over?

 

[MrJeeves]

I assume I'd just get a new Gold Card, this time with Adult status, when the 4 month grace period is over?

Yes, you'd have to buy a new annual season ticket when your previous one is no longer valid.

 

[Wolfie]

Good to know.

So lets say I turn 16 in late June / early July, what would I do? I mean, the 4 month grace period for June would end in October, and for July would end in early November.

I assume I'd just get a new Gold Card, this time with Adult status, when the 4 month grace period is over?

Also don't forget that one of the perks of an Annual Goldcard is the ability to buy another Railcard for £10. You might consider buying a 16-25 Railcard a few days before your Goldcard expires....

 

[SWT_USER]

Also don't forget that one of the perks of an Annual Goldcard is the ability to buy another Railcard for £10. You might consider buying a 16-25 Railcard a few days before your Goldcard expires....

16-17 would be more beneficial to OP wouldn't it?

Does the maths actually stack up on this for OP? Will you travel enough to get your money back on the cost of the Gold Card?

 

[Wolfie]

16-17 would be more beneficial to OP wouldn't it?

Does the maths actually stack up on this for OP? Will you travel enough to get your money back on the cost of the Gold Card?

Good point well made.

 

[mikeyerm]

16-17 would be more beneficial to OP wouldn't it?

Does the maths actually stack up on this for OP? Will you travel enough to get your money back on the cost of the Gold Card?

For the Child one I got, definitely. Considering I have to 'go somewhere compulsory 5 days a week', it only costs £1 there and back, which is something essentially unheard of.

For Adult, I'll figure out logistics when it comes to that.

 

[island]

16-17 would be more beneficial to OP wouldn't it?

A 16-17 Saver is not a valid choice for the £10 Railcard offer for Gold card holders.

 

[Paul Kelly]

WMR, LMR, and Trainline all accept Child fare discounted through Gold Card

That is a bookable option because the (adult) Gold Card holder can book a ticket for a child to accompany them when travelling on the route covered by their Gold Card, i.e. when they don't need to book a ticket for themselves. Normally it is not permitted for a a ticket with the CHAGC (child gold card) discount to be sold separately. Maybe you will get away with it though.