Freedom Pass valid 24hrs from Jan 2nd 2009

tanith

I found this on The London Councils Website...I haven't heard about this in the news or papers, is it valid?

Greater freedom to travel for the elderly Released on 18 December 2008


The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has today confirmed that Londoners aged 60 and over will be able to use their Freedom Pass on Transport for London services free of charge for 24 hours a day, every day of the week, from 2 January.

chesky369

Basically, it means we don't have to wait for the 9am deadline for the tube or bus. But I don't know about British Rail trains (or whatever we call them now) - I suppose they're still 9.30am - anybody else know out there?

dzug1

chesky369 wrote: »

Basically, it means we don't have to wait for the 9am deadline for the tube or bus. But I don't know about British Rail trains (or whatever we call them now) - I suppose they're still 9.30am - anybody else know out there?

If it's valid on tfl services, that includes the 'Overground',** but not National Rail services

** http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/projectsandschemes/networkandservices/5011.aspx

lists what is the Overground

EdInvestor

chesky369 wrote: »

Basically, it means we don't have to wait for the 9am deadline for the tube or bus. But I don't know about British Rail trains (or whatever we call them now) - I suppose they're still 9.30am - anybody else know out there?

No free travel on ordinary trains - but you get one third off with a senior railcard, and no time restrictions AFAIK.

chesky369

"No free travel on ordinary trains "

no, that's incorrect - you can travel from places like Richmond or Hounslow or Barnes to Waterloo or Clapham for free, but you have to wait for 9.30am. It goes out as far as Zone 6 but further than that you have to pay.

EdInvestor

Sorry, I was meaning national rail routes rather than London suburban lines.

Here's a map of the free routes:

http://www.freedompass.org/documents/Freedom%20Pass%20Map%2017-12-08%20(web).pdf

chesky369

Thanks for the link, must get a hard copy as it's useful. Of course, the lines ARE national, it's just that you can't go all the way on them for free, just to zone 6 (which I presume is where the map cuts off).

LittleVoice

According to the Freedom Pass website (http://www.freedompass.org/important.htm) - the Elderly Freedom Pass 24-hour scheme covers TfL services (buses, tube, trams and DLR) - so I read that as not the London overground services.

MrsGrey

The National Rail website specifies that London Overground is free for freedom pass at any time:
"National Rail services (except London Overground)
You can travel free from 09:30 on weekdays (or from 09:00 on certain routes as shown on the Freedom Pass map) and at any time on weekends and public holidays.
Please note, Freedom Passes are not valid on train services operated by National Express East Coast, East Midlands Trains, Virgin Trains, Gatwick Express, Heathrow Express, on Heathrow Connect between Hayes & Harlington and Heathrow, or for first class travel.
For travel beyond the Freedom Pass area you must buy a separate extension ticket before you travel. Please show your pass at the ticket office when buying tickets.
London Overground, London Underground, DLR, Buses and Tramlink.
You can travel free at any time."
http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/london/freedom.html

I have a question about this-- see next post...

MrsGrey

I am new to the Freedom Pass game ( Happy Birthday Me!) so i have a question for all you grey travellers.
I have been told that if i want to travel out of London, that some liines will charge your rail ticket as though starting from Zone 6, even though you are getting your National Rail train from Zone 1. Thus, you pay for a shorter journey=less.
How does this work? The Nat. Rail site says you have to show your Freedom Pass at the ticket office. Does this mean you have to buy at the station and not online in advance? Surely that means you will pay extra for buying on the day of travel, thus obliterating any gain? ( Not to mention queuing for an hour or so...) Also, does that mean you have to actually go to a station in Zone 6 to buy an "extension ticket"? Very confused... Does anyone know how to work this?

chesky369

I've never found out how to book online through the trainline site, using a freedom pass - it doesn't seem able to cope with that particular item. I've always booked at my local station who are able to work out the balance I owe from zone 6 to wherever I'm going. But they've also told me that I really should get the annual senior citizens' season ticket (or whatever it's called), which gives a further discount but I've never bothered. Probably should look into it further.