AT the age of 93, Jan Waygood is giving up driving and turning to the train for trips to Lydney library.

Jan, of Parkend, became the recipient of the first residents’ pass – and a special one at that – to be issued by the Dean Forest Railway as part of its long-term plans to become more than just a tourist attraction.

She said: “I’m giving up driving and the train will make it easier to get to and from Lydney and the library.”

Jan became the first recipient of a ‘golden ticket’ after her name was mentioned by neighbour Jane Highfield.

She said: “We run holiday cottages and I’m on the tourism association and mentioned that Jan would be good to have the first pass.

“The pass is something we’ve been waiting for some time because without a car you are stuck.”

The golden ticket was presented to Jan at Parkend station by the railway’s recently-appointed general manager Andy Blake.

The pass, which gives discounts on travel along the four-and-a-half mile line, is available to residents of the GL14, GL15, GL16, GL17, NP16 and NP25 postcodes and is free.

The golden ticket is available to people who share the railway’s GL16 postcode and gives 75 per cent off travel on normal running days. There is a charge for the card which is valid for three years.

To mark the launch of the pass, the railway gave free travel last weekend to people who qualify for the pass with thousands taking the opportunity to ride behind a steam locomotive.