London Freedom Pass - Use on trains?

[RSDonovan]

I am shortly due to receive a London Freedom Pass having reached 60. I know that I can use the pass on all London Underground, DLR and nearly all England bus routes, but I am having trouble understanding which Train Services / Destinations my card will be valid on? I believe all trains out of London are free (?) but I am confused as to how far out of London one may travel, and if there are any Train companies that have restrictions?

I have looked on the Freedom Pass / TfL website but find the Train information very confusing!

Apart from this, are there anything else I should know about these cards?

All info from those who use London Freedom Passes gratefully appreciated!

Thanks in advance

[jno]

you should be able to travel to stations marked on the map (and some intermediate ones they've omitted) here

http://www.londoncoun...reedompass/whenwhere/

- click on Download Freedom Pass map.

[jno]

incidentally, there have been big delays this year in supplying the passes to those entitled - you might like to check whether it's worth applying more than the usual two weeks in advance.

[RSDonovan]

Thanks jno I looked at that site but when I flicked to the page "rail" I saw ...

"National Rail:

Your Freedom Pass allows you to travel for free in all standard classes of the train carriages on most local rail services, provided you travel in the following times:

* 9.30am and 4.30am the following morning Monday to Friday
* all day at weekends
* all day on public holidays."

But the words "most local" are a bit vague!!!!

Also on the same page it says:

"As a summary, the Freedom Pass is not valid for travel on train services operated by:

* Arriva Cross Country
* Grand Central
* Hull Trains
* East Midlands Trains
* Gatwick Express
* National Express East Coast
* Virgin Trains
* Heathrow Express
* Heathrow Connect between Hayes & Harlington and Heathrow.

If you are travelling by National Rail you need to make sure you are travelling in the correct areas or you may receive a penalty fare. For travel beyond the Freedom Pass areas you must buy a separate extension ticket before you travel"

Well I can understand a London pass not being valid on Hull Trains (for example!) but why single out these particular companies as I am sure (?) the pass won't be valid on West Country trains etc!!!

Cheers

[Greedyfly]

Hopefully Buenchico will be on later and he may well be able to help you out!

He is a font of knowledge when it comes to travel RSDonovan

[Buenchico]

The list of excluded train services includes all relevant services which run from London mainline termini. So, for example, Hull Trains is included because they operate out of Kings Cross. There is clearly no point in mentioning, say, Arriva Trains Wales, since they don't operate services within the London area.

There is no such operator as 'West Country Trains'.

Here's the information you're really seeking:
http://www.nationalra...s/london/freedom.html

Chris

[RSDonovan]

Thanks all!

Chris - according to the site you mentioned the pass is available of First Great Western trains, but on downloading the map, I see they include places such as Reading, Bath, Pembroke...! There doesn't seem to be a restriction but I can't believe my pass will get me to Wales! If only...!!!

[Buenchico]

Thanks for the reply.

I'm not sure which map you've downloaded but Wales should definitely not be on it! ;-)

Here's the correct map:
http://www.nationalra.../freedom_pass_map.pdf

Chris

[dzug2]

Whilst Hull Trains, Virgin, etc, run in the London area they do not serve any local stations that would be relevant to a Freedom Pass holder - ie their first stop is outside the London travel zones. So you can't use them