Let me quote though from mc2fool, before I explain what I'm after:-
''The simple rule is that it gives you free travel on any TfL service, all the way out to zone 9, but on National Rail only out to zone 6. So, while you can get out to Watford Junction (zone 9) on London Overground (a TfL service) for free, you can't go further than Harrow & Wealdstone (zone 5) on the two National Rail services that run up there, even though they all run on the same set of tracks. However, there are exceptions, e.g. you can go out to Amersham (zone 9) on either the Metropolitan line or Chiltern Railways. It's complicated.
https://tfl.gov.uk/fares/free-and-disco ... -photocard
The other thing, that I recently found out in real life to my surprise, is that whereas the 60+ and Freedom Pass cards used to allow anytime travel on TfL services and 9.00/9.30am (depending on which line) onward travel on National Rail, in July 2020 they changed it so that those cards were no longer valid on TfL services during the morning peak period (04:30 to 09:00) Mon-Fri, and it is, as I recently discovered, still like that now despite the London Assembly calling for it to be lifted a year later.
https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/media/press ... peak-hours
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/ ... 653.html''
Now, what is in my mind is using a London issued Freedom Pass to its maximum convenience, as it allows free ''local bus'' use nationwide.
With the opening of the Elizabeth line, you can use your Freedom Pass to Reading , and from there onwards, take ''local buses'' to go westwards for example.
Similarly, based on what mc2fool said, (quoted above) you can get to Watford Junction before being compelled to only use ''local buses'' from there onwards, to go north. For easterly direction, BR out to Upminster, and then ''local buses'' from there, whilst southwards its seemingly Coulsdon South by train, and then ''local buses''.
What I'm trying to find out, is the ''local bus routes'' that cover the greatest distances with the least stops, enabling free travel with reasonable journey times.
I have friends in Brighton, also in Bridgend Wales, and in Truro Cornwall. I'd like to work out routes to visit them, with free buses from the above-mentioned jumping off points, so does anyone know how I can get the best bang for my (free) buck on ''local buses''? DAK a resource that would handle this? FYI I've tried the apps 'Moovit', 'From Rome to Rio' and also 'Travelline' but they aren't really honing in on what I want. Anyone got pointers on where else to look, or actual suggestions of useful longer distance 'local' bus routes?
