MPs call for zone change (From Surrey Comet)

MPs call for zone change

7:11pm Thursday 4th October 2007

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Kingston's MPs have called for local rail stations to move from zone six to zone five to stop the "rip-off" of Kingston's commuters.

Liberal Democrat MPs Edward Davey and Susan Kramer have written to the Office of Rail Regulation to challenge the positioning of Kingston, Surbiton and the two Chessington stations in zone six - a move which could reduce ticket prices.

“Surbiton and Kingston are both 12 miles from Waterloo, which means they are well before the average for zone six and there are 25 stations in zone five which are further away from their London terminal than Surbiton and Kingston.”

Edward Davey MP

Mr Davey said: "The strange thing about the zonal system is that the average distance between stations in zone five and their London terminal is 11.8 miles, and the average for stations in zone six is 14.7 miles.

"Surbiton and Kingston are both 12 miles from Waterloo, which means they are well before the average for zone six and there are 25 stations in zone five which are further away from their London terminal than Surbiton and Kingston."

He added that the case for Chessington North and Chessington South stations was not as strong, but that he would argue for them to be moved too.

The campaign came about after their last campaign - to reduce the price of rail tickets - was rejected because of a loophole in competition law. Working with them on the campaign is transport economist Tim Leunig, who lectures at the London School of Economics and lives in Surbiton.

Mr Leunig said: "We can't campaign about the ticket price but we can campaign about the zones. In most cases, the zonal boundaries are completely arbitrary. Zone three to four is the old inner London education boundary, which no longer exists."

Campaigners have written a detailed letter explaining their objections to the zonal boundaries. For more on the campaign, go to edwarddavey.co.uk.

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