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Last updated:Today at 10:04
Train companies affected:London Overground, Southern, Thameslink
Last updated:Today at 10:00
Train companies affected:Great Western Railway

Annual Gold Card

Get great discounts on your leisure travel in the south of England with an Annual Gold Card – the Annual Season ticket with a difference!

If you buy an Annual Season ticket or Annual Travelcard in the south of England, you may qualify for an Annual Gold Card, which gives you discounts on your leisure rail travel.

About Annual Gold Cards

Annual Gold Cards are Annual Season tickets with an added bonus. When you buy your adult Annual Season ticket or Annual Travelcard online or at a station within the Annual Gold Card area, and your origin and/or destination are also in the Annual Gold Card area, you are automatically issued with an Annual Gold Card. As well as being your Season ticket for a full year, it also gives you a range of discounts on other leisure rail journeys in the Annual Gold Card area, for both yourself and others.

Where can I use my Annual Gold Card?

You can view or download a map of the Annual Gold Card area of validity map here (PDF, 858k).

When can I use my Annual Gold Card?

You can use it for journeys that start and end within the Annual Gold Card area, after 09:30 Monday to Friday, or any time at weekends and on bank holidays.

How much does an Annual Gold Card cost?

Once you have bought your Annual Season ticket or Annual Travelcard for a journey within the eligible area, the Annual Gold Card doesn’t cost you a penny extra. You can use our Season Ticket Calculator to find the cost of your Annual Season ticket.

Can I get an Annual Gold Card if my Season ticket is on a Smartcard or Oyster card?

Yes. If your Season ticket is issued on a Smartcard or an Oyster card, you will be eligible to automatically receive a Gold Record Card – which offers the same benefits as an Annual Gold Card. This will either be delivered to your registered address or some retailers may offer this digitally.

Can I upgrade to First Class with my Annual Gold Card?

Yes, for a fee. If you have an Annual Gold Card you can upgrade to First Class on a route covered by your annual Season ticket by paying the difference between the full single First Class fare and the full single Standard Class fare, or by paying a First Class supplement offered by the train company before your journey starts.

Further information on Annual Gold Cards

Full details can be found in the Annual Gold Card terms and conditions (PDF, 212k).

More on Railcards

Annual Gold Card not right for you? Find out more about Railcards below.

FAQs

You can get 1/3 off:

  • Standard and First Class Anytime and Off-Peak tickets for you and up to 3 adults travelling with you

  • Off-Peak Day Travelcard Zones 1-6    

  • Oyster Off-Peak pay as you go single fares and the pay as you go daily price cap for journeys on National Rail and Transport for London rail services, London Underground and DLR. The Annual Gold Card discount will need to be set on an Oyster card. You can ask staff at London Underground and Transport for London rail stations to set the discount for you

  • Anytime Day Travelcards when bought as part of your ticket to London from outside London Zones 1-9 (subject to time restrictions and a £17 minimum fare)

  • PlusBus Day tickets in the Network Railcard area

And also:

  • Up to 60% off child fares for up to 4 children aged between 5 and 15 (subject to a £1 minimum fare)

  • Children aged under 5 years travel free of charge

  • Discounts on journeys to the Isle of Wight using Wightlink, Red Funnel and HoverTravel. The Annual Gold Card discount is applied to this section of your journey provided a through-ticket is issued

Yes. You can buy 1 of the following 1-year Railcards for just £10, either for yourself or someone else:

  • 16-25 Railcard

  • Disabled Persons Railcard

  • Family & Friends Railcard

  • Network Railcard

  • Senior Railcard

  • Two Together Railcard

You can can apply for a Railcard at the National Rail station where you bought your Annual Season ticket. If you bought your Annual Season ticket online, or you have a Gold Record Card, you can apply at a National Rail station within the Annual Gold Card area.

Disabled Persons Railcards are not available to buy at stations. For information you can visit the Disabled Persons Railcard website, email the Disabled Persons Railcard office at [email protected], or telephone 0345 605 0525.

Yes. The largest group that can travel is:

  • 4 adults (including the holder of the Annual Gold Card)

  • 4 fare-paying children (aged 5 to 15)

  • 2 children under 5 (who travel free)

If you are the holder of the Annual Gold Card, you must travel with your group at all times.

If you are buying discounted Day Travelcards for other adults or children, your Annual Season ticket must also be valid for travel in the London Fare Zone they wish to travel to, otherwise they must also buy a discounted Off-Peak Day Travelcard.

You are not allowed to use your Annual Gold Card for:

  • Journeys wholly or partly outside the Annual Gold Card area

  • Eurostar services

  • Any train where the equivalent full-price ticket is not valid

  • Any shipping or ferry services (except for the Isle of Wight, as mentioned above)

  • Rail-Air Coach Link services

  • London Underground services (except when travelling as mentioned above)

  • Travel on LNER services

  • Travel on Avanti West Coast services

See the Annual Gold Card terms and conditions for more detail.

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