The campaign for cheaper train fares from Kingston and Surbiton stations is back on track, according to the area’s MP.

Edward Davey has said South West Trains’ decision to place Kingston and Surbiton stations in zone six rather than zone five means passengers suffer from unreasonably high fares.

Both stations are only 12 miles from London, while 23 stations in zone five are actually further away from the capital.

Richmond Park MP Zac Goldsmith and Mr Davey met with transport minister Teresa Villiers on Tuesday, October 25.

She agreed to let Surbiton academic and campaigner Dr Tim Leunig work alongside Department for Transport officials on the case.

Mr Davey said: “She agreed to study our proposals and to undertake the rigorous financial case that the last Government failed to do. I think the campaign is back on track.”

He said he will next meet South West Trains who will have to agree to any changes in zones.

Part-time working women would be the biggest winners from re-zoning Surbiton and Kingston stations, according to Dr Leunig, who is an academic at London School of Economics.

He said: “It is quite hopeful.

“I’m going to be demonstrating the cost per mile is disproportionately high for Kingston and Surbiton and it would be roughly right to rezone them from six to five.

“The biggest winners are part-time working women because the difference is much bigger for day prices than season tickets.”

An any time day return ticket from Surbiton to Waterloo costs £10.80.

But travelling from next stop Berrylands, a zone 5 station, the cost is just £8.70.

Mayor of London Boris Johnson gave his backing to the idea in 2008 even though Transport for London would lose some money from bus and train tickets.

Tim Bellenger from London Travelwatch said: “I can’t see South West Trains agreeing to this. Somewhere someone along the line is going to have to pay the extra subsidy.”

A spokesperson for South West Trains said: “We are aware of Mr Davey’s campaign over the fare zoning of Kingston and Surbiton and have exchanged correspondence with him previously on this issue. “The fact remains that we have a contract in place with the government and any changes to the zoning of fares would have to be agreed with the Department for Transport.”