Does a “network rail GOLD card” constitute a valid ticket to travel?
a network rail gold card is not a valid ticket to travel it works like any other network card and is subject to a minimum fare. pick up a network card leaflet at a station and read the terms and condition. However if the station office was closed, the machine(s) on the station were not working and there was no inspector/conductor on the train to pay you should have been allowed to pay, you would have to prove you made every attempt to pay, running for a train because you’d miss it otherwise is not an excuse it is your responsibility to have a ticket before you board a train in penalty fare areas. You could re appeal if there really was no where you could have purchased a ticket, or not pay the penalty fares and let the courts make the decision, but if they decided against you, you’d have a criminal record.
