"Barry Salter" wrote in message
...

My interpretation of it is that *unless* you have an All Zones Annual
Travelcard, you *MUST* buy a discounted All Zones Travelcard for
*yourself*, as well as up to 3 accompanying adults.

The National Rail wording from Section F of the Fares Manual states:

Annual Gold Card holders purchasing discounted Off-Peak Day Travelcards
for accompanying adults or children, must however purchase one for
themselves if their Annual Gold Card is not valid for travel in all the
Travelcard zones.

So even there it doesn't say that the Annual Gold Card holder is entitled to
the discount themselves. However, further up the same page of the NFM it
says:

http://atoc.org/retail/nfm/sectionf.pdf

"Annual Gold Car holders can take with them up to 3 accompanying adults at
the same discounted fare, and up to 4 children (aged 5-15) at the same flat
fare each."

and it is fairly clear from the rest of the conditions that the accompanying
adults/children get the discount *in addition* to the Gold Card holder. As
far as I can see the text that Barry has quoted is simply a belt-and-braces
clause reminding the holder that they will need a (discounted) ticket for
themselves if the journey is not already covered by their Gold Card.

When I need an all-zones travelcard for myself (annual Gold Card holder
valid on National Rail only) the ticket machines at Victoria (NR, not
underground) are quite happy to sell it to me ...

D A Stocks