10 stations re-zoned a year means no practical obstacle to Kingston and Surbiton’s case

16th June 2008

Parliamentary answer strengthens MP’s campaign but no reply from London’s mayor

Proof that train stations like Kingston and Surbiton are regularly re-zoned came this week in an answer to a Parliamentary Question tabled by Kingston and Surbiton’s Liberal Democrat MP, Edward Davey.

Edward Davey launched his campaign to re-zone Kingston and Surbiton train stations from zone 6 to zone 5 last year, and he welcomed this week’s boost to his efforts.

Edward commented:

“This latest news proves that rail bosses and Government Ministers can act to re-zone train stations like Kingston and Surbiton if they want to do so.

“Now I’ve forced the Government to admit that over 10 train stations a year have been re-zoned over the last two years, surely the time has come for them to consider the exceptionally strong case for Kingston and Surbiton?

“It’s clear from my work that the Department for Transport and the Association of Train Operating Companies would not be a barrier to our local campaign. The only remaining problems seem to be South West Trains and Transport for London.”

Edward Davey has now written twice to the new Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, asking for a meeting to discuss how Boris Johnson intends to work with him to fulfil the Mayor’s public support for Mr Davey’s campaign made during his recent mayoral campaign, yet no meeting has yet been offered and no reply has been received.

Commenting, Edward said:

“I’m obviously disappointed that the new Conservative Mayor seems to have forgotten his promise to the people of Kingston and Surbiton so soon. I’m of course prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt were he to respond now, but the longer he waits, the more difficult it will be to achieve re-zoning for January 1st 2009. I will continue to chase Boris’s office, and hope we don’t have to organise a letter writing campaign to hold Boris to his election pledge.”

Parliamentary Answer

11 Jun 2008 : Column 265W

Railways: Greater London

Mr. Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many overground train stations in Greater London have been re-zoned in the last 20 years; and if she will make a statement. [209915]

Mr. Tom Harris: Since 2005, when the Secretary of State became responsible for approving changes to the zonal map, the following stations have been re-zoned.