“Freedom pass only available after 930” at East Croydon

[Railguy1]

A friend claimed she was told that her disabled freedom pass was not valid before 930am on Sunday after the barriers did not open (to start the journey into London).

I am very surprised by this incorrect incormation given how common freedom passes are. Can anyone else confirm this occurs at East Croydon?

 

[Somewhere]

After 09.30 is correct. It's only available to use at any time on TfL services.

How to use your Freedom Pass | London Councils – Home

Find out how and when to use your Freedom Pass and what routes are included.

www.londoncouncils.gov.uk

 

[Alex365Dash]

Most National Rail services do have an 09:30 restriction on weekdays for Freedom Passes, which includes disabled Freedom Passes.

This doesn’t apply for TfL services, so if your friend wants to travel before 09:30, they need to use the Overground from West Croydon.

There’s a full map available here, and more information on the TfL website as well.

EDIT: Oops! It was the weekend, so your friend is correct.

 

[Sun Chariot]

A friend claimed she was told that her disabled freedom pass was not valid before 930am on Sunday after the barriers did not open (to start the journey into London).

I am very surprised by this incorrect incormation given how common freedom passes are. Can anyone else confirm this occurs at East Croydon?

I've consulted TfL's site and TfL's validity map - it's linked in post #2

It shows routes and days / times that the Freedom pass is valid, covering London Overground, London Underground, buses, trams, DLR and Elizabeth Line.
National Rail services are marked as not valid at any time.

What service was your friend trying to use her pass on?

 

[ls2270]

I think the key point from the opening post here is that the passenger was travelling on a Sunday. The TfL website clearly states that Freedom Passes are valid at any time on National Rail at weekends. The 0930 restriction applies on Monday to Friday only (except public holidays). Unfortunately this attitude of ‘if you don’t know/don’t understand the restrictions of a particular ticket then tell the passenger it isn’t valid’ appears all too prevalent among ticket checking staff in recent years!

 

[Sun Chariot]

I think the key point from the opening post here is that the passenger was travelling on a Sunday. The TfL website clearly states that Freedom Passes are valid at any time on National Rail at weekends. The 0930 restriction applies on Monday to Friday only (except public holidays).

And that’s the crux of the issue, as its map, linked in post #2, states the Freedom pass is not valid at any time on NR or on Heathrow Express. I've attached the validity element.

It seems their information is contradictory?

 

[thomasheywood]

I've consulted TfL's site and TfL's validity map - it's linked in post #2

It shows routes and days / times that the Freedom pass is valid, covering London Overground, London Underground, buses, trams, DLR and Elizabeth Line.
National Rail services are marked as not valid at any time.

What service was your friend trying to use her pass on?

And that’s the crux of the issue, as its map, linked in post #2, states the Freedom pass is not valid at any time on NR or on Heathrow Express. I've attached the validity element.

It seems their information is contradictory?

You’re wrong, as a long time Freedom Pass user (and as someone who uses my pass every day on National Rail) they are valid on National Rail after 9:30 Monday-Friday and anytime on weekends within Zones 1-6 and on Chiltern Railways as far as Amersham

 

[signed]

It seems their information is contradictory?

There are two NR categories as you can see, the red one is in zones 1-6 and the grey one is outside of zones. And of course HX will be excluded as they aren't a member of the Travelcard Agreement as expected.

 

[Sun Chariot]

There are two NR categories as you can see, the red one is in zones 1-6 and the grey one is outside of zones. And of course HX will be excluded as they aren't a member of the Travelcard Agreement as expected.

Ah, got it. So that map shows - as you have all said - East and West Croydon being valid weekends at any time.

Put my bleary eyes down to toileting the dog in our garden at 4:30am, then clearing three piles of dog sick off kitchen floor at 6:15am.

 

[talldave]

Ah, got it. So that map shows - as you have all said - East and West Croydon being valid weekends at any time.

Not relevant for the OP but at West Croydon, on weekdays, validity before 09:30 depends on which train the passenger gets on (or which train the passenger tells barrier staff they're getting on )

 

[island]

And that’s the crux of the issue, as its map, linked in post #2, states the Freedom pass is not valid at any time on NR or on Heathrow Express. I've attached the validity element.

It seems their information is contradictory?

That box needs to be read in conjunction with the full map which shows multiple different colours of National Rail lines. The grey ones are for example outside the zones.

 

[Rover]

Put my bleary eyes down to toileting the dog in our garden at 4:30am, then clearing three piles of dog sick off kitchen floor at 6:15am.

I hope your dog is feeling better now, I am not unfamiliar with your experience.

 

[Haywain]

(or which train the passenger tells barrier staff they're getting on )

That may have an effect on access to the platforms being granted but it has no effect on the validity of the pass.

 

[Sun Chariot]

I hope your dog is feeling better now, I am not unfamiliar with your experience.

Thanks. His freedom passes (walks) might get revoked, after the third occasion of "unearth hibernating frog, eat frog, honk part-digested frog up next day"....

That box needs to be read in conjunction with the full map which shows multiple different colours of National Rail lines. The grey ones are for example outside the zones.

Yes, thanks - clarified in posts #8 and #9

 

[Alex365Dash]

I think the key point from the opening post here is that the passenger was travelling on a Sunday.

Remind me to pay more attention to questions at 5 in the morning!

 

[norbitonflyer]

There are two NR categories as you can see, the red one is in zones 1-6 and the grey one is outside of zones. And of course HX will be excluded as they aren't a member of the Travelcard Agreement as expected.

Actually three
- blue (TfL rules and fare scales apply - valid from 9am weekdays, all day weekends)
- red (NR rules and fare scales - valid from 9.30am weekdays, all day weekends)
- grey (Freedom passes not valid)

After any such incident like this I would want to make a complaint against the ticket inspector and insist he is not deployed in a customer facing role until he has been retrained and passed a test on the rules he is siupposed to enforce