Forum Topic

Elizabeth Line use

This bear has a very small brain!I am the holder of a 60+ Freedom Pass (which entitles me to some "free"  travel on the TfL train routes)After 24th May will I be able to travel from Hammersmith to Reading for "free", given that TfL will be managing the route?If not I would be grateful for some explanation of what I would be expected to pay.Thanks

John Davies ● 1583d17 Comments

Yes. After 9am on weekdays or on weekends you can travel to Reading for free.

Ed Saper ● 1583d

Yes it’s free with a Freedom Pass. I have travelled for free to Reading from Ealing Broadway a few times since this service started a few years ago. It has a lot of stops so it’s not the fastest way to get there and you have to be careful to get on the right train coming back but it’s a good service and a long journey for free.

Michael David Rowe ● 1583d

If only that also applied to Gatwick :-(

Richard Greenhough ● 1583d

https://www.londoncouncils.gov.uk/services/freedom-pass/using-pass/crossrail-elizabeth-line"Older Persons pass holders will be able to use their passes from 9.00am on weekdays and at all times at weekends and Bank Holidays on the entire Elizabeth line up to and including Reading."It's worth mentioning that at the launch it will operate as 3 different lines between Paddington and the west, between Paddington and Abbey Wood and between Liverpool Street and Shenfield.  Going between Reading and Shenfield would mean changing twice at Paddington and Liverpool Street.  They will be introducing through running over the next year so no need to change.

Michael Robinson ● 1583d

Thankyou to all that responded.I look forward to trying it!

John Davies ● 1582d

You can save some money on all train journeys from London with your Freedom Pass by making sure you ask for a ticket from the boundary of zone 6 but this can be difficult sometimes unless you go to the ticket office although I think some machines have this option. I don’t think you can do this on the Gatwick Express anymore.

Michael David Rowe ● 1582d

Michael, most of the machines have that option now. I often buy ticket from ewell west to epsom from various stations.

Stephen Gould ● 1582d

That’s good, there used to be only one machine at Victoria that had this option so maybe it’s changed as well.

Michael David Rowe ● 1582d

Does the Elizabethan Line provide free travel to Heathrow for Freedom Pass holders?Is the Heathrow Connect service thus obsolete?

Jim Lawes ● 1582d

"Is the Heathrow Connect service thus obsolete?"Yes, it is somewhat confusing but my understanding is Heathrow Connect was the name of the service when it was operated by GWR and Heathrow Express.The service was then taken over by TfL and rebranded as 'TfL Rail'.It will now be rebranded again as an Elizabeth line service.

Michael Robinson ● 1582d

Heathrow Express will continue to operate with a 15 minute non stop service from Paddington.The Lizzie will take 35 minutes as it is a stopping service.

Ed Saper ● 1582d

As the Piccadilly is often very busy from Acton Town to LHR, it might be more pleasant ( though not necessarily quicker)  to go to Ealing Broadway and get the Elizabeth from there....

Stewart Jones ● 1582d

Thanks Michael and Ed.That's all helpful to know.One of the joys of living old age in the Borough is that with our Freedom Passes we are able to joy ride to an expanding choice of destinations.The "Lizzey Line" rolling stock is indeed impressive..and already in use. Now where's my map of Greater London..and pass me a pin!

Jim Lawes ● 1582d

I think it’s great that people are already calling it the Lizzy!

Stewart Jones ● 1582d

tfl website says you can't use over 60's pass past West Drayton."Free travel on bus, Tube, tram, DLR, London Overground, Elizabeth line (excluding between West Drayton and Reading) and most National Rail services in London"I believe it is just the Disabled pass that can.

Chris Lucy ● 1572d

"tfl website says you can't use over 60's pass past West Drayton."I think that is referring to the 60+ London Oyster Photocard which Boris Johnson introduced in 2012 when he was London Mayor to provide free travel in London for over 60s after the government raised the Freedom Pass age from 60 to 65 (now 67, I believe). West Drayton is the last station inside Greater London, going west from Paddington.Both the TfL and London Councils sites have a map* showing where Freedom Passes are valid. For the line between West Drayton and Reading, it is shown as valid for Older Persons' Freedom Passes from 09:00 Mon-Fri, and at any time at weekends and public holidays.  Disabled Freedom Passes are valid at all times. The Freedom Passes are not valid on National Rail trains, e.g. Great Western Railway, beyond West Drayton.There are similar arrangements at the other end of the Elizabeth Line at Shenfield.*  https://www.londoncouncils.gov.uk/sites/default/files/Freedom%20Pass/FPD%20Freedom%20Pass%2024-5-22.pdf

Richard Jennings ● 1571d

As an FYI, you'll need to show your pass at the more westerly stations as their Oyster readers aren't (yet) compatible.

Gordon McDonald ● 1571d