Station Station re-zoning: Cheaper fares on the cards?

Boris Johnson and Tony Arbour, Surbiton's GLA representative, pushed the potential re-zoning of Surbiton station up the political agenda recently.  If successful, their campaign could see Surbiton move from Zone 6 to Zone 5, saving Surbiton commuters hundreds of pounds a year.

 

Surbiton's Conservative London Assembly Member, Mr Arbour believes the stations are in the wrong zone and highlighted that there are currently 23 stations in Zone 5 that are further out of central London than Surbiton station.  As a result regular commuters into Zone 1 from those stations in Zone 6 have to pay an extra £136 more for an annual season ticket.  Mr Arbour also noted that Stoneleigh station in Epsom is in Zone 5, despite being four miles from the borough of Kingston and outside of London.

 

Speaking at Mayor's Question Time, Mr Arbour called for Surbiton and Kingston to be 're-zoned' in order to save commuters money.  Tony Arbour said:  "There is no reason for Kingston and Surbiton stations to be in Zone 6 since they are closer to central London than 23 other stations in Zone 5.  Not only are they in the wrong zones, but it costs my constituents who commute into inner London hundreds of pounds a year extra in travel fares.

 

"I'm delighted that the Mayor has agreed that these stations should be moved into Zone 5 and will work with me to lobby the Government to correct this inaccuracy that is costing residents in south west London money."

 

In answer to Tony's question at Mayor's Question Time, Boris said:  "I have lobbied the Government to this effect already and I think it very, very important now that what needs to happen is the Department for Transport (DfT) has to indicate to South West Trains that they want this change to happen .  I will be more than happy to join you, Tony, yet again in another of our joint campaigns to make this point."

 

It's the Department for Transport who will make the final decision because re-zoning affects both Transport for London (TfL) and the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) financially, so it needs to be made by a body that is senior to both of them. 

 

This issue has been talked about for some time now, but it's very encouraging to hear that the Mayor of London and our GLA representative are up for the fight and taking this further.  We'll keep in touch with Boris Johnson's office to ensure that the pressure on the Department for Transport continues.