I am starting a new job in mid-January, in Stratford, London, a location whose station is in Travelcard Zone 3.
I will be travelling to and from Welwyn Garden City, at times of day for which an Off-Peak Travelcard would be valid. i.e. outside of both the morning and evening 'barred' times
I have been looking at all the fare options, to see which one makes the most sense financially, and
until I read this thread, thought that buying an All-Zones Travelcard each day, using my Network Card, would be best for me.
My logic was that it would cost me 5 x £13 (
£65) per week, and give me the flexibility I need, to travel via Liverpool Street / Kings Cross, which the Zones 2-6 Annual Season (for travel via Highbury & Islington and thence by London Overground), priced at £2840, does not allow.
However...
Am I really understanding this correctly? There really is no minimum fare for discounted tickets purchased with a Gold Card ???
If so, are there any flaws in my alternate plan....
1. Purchase a LIC-LTV Annual Season priced at £133
2. Use the Gold Card to buy a WGC - London Terminals off-peak day return every day, priced at £7.90
3. Load the Gold Card discount onto an Oyster Card, bringing the off-peak fare from Kings Cross to Stratford down to £1.80 in each direction.
Assuming the above is a correct understanding of how a Lichfield City - Lichfield Trent Valley annual season can be used to acquire a Gold Card, am I right in believing this would be a good way to bring my annual costs down, so that I would end up paying no more than^ :
£133
plus (£7.90+£1.80+£1.80) x 5 days x 46* weeks
= £133 + £2645
= £2778
=
£60.40 per week
That would give me the flexibility I need, to travel via Kings Cross, without paying out the (pre-increase) £992 extra for an annual season ticket with 'via Zone 1' validity !!!
*based on 6 weeks annual leave
^less any days not worked, such as Bank Holidays