Station Re-zoning

Background information

Edward Davey MP and Dr Tim Leunig

Susan Kramer and I (Kingston's two Liberal Democrat MPs) have launched this major new rail campaign to have Kingston, Surbiton and Chessington train stations re-zoned from their current zone 6 to zone 5.

Research

Detailed research prepared for us by leading transport economist and Surbiton resident, Dr Tim Leunig, shows that 23 train stations already in zone 5 are further away from their London terminus than either Surbiton or Kingston, whilst 6 other stations that are exactly the same distance from London yet are in zone 5.

Chessington's case is based on separate analysis that reveals that comparable branch lines stations elsewhere have been placed in zone 5.

• Kingston and Surbiton train stations are both 12 miles from their London stations and are in zone 6. The average distance of a zone 5 station from their London terminus is 11.8 miles.
• In zone 6, the average distance from London is 14.7 miles. Kingston and Surbiton stations are much nearer the zone 5 average, than zone 6, with 23 zone 5 stations closer to London.

We believe that South West Trains is therefore abusing its monopoly position, and charging local commuters higher prices than faced by other London commuters from similar stations.

Fares Unfair

This latest legal move is a follow-on from my Fares Unfair campaign against fare rises last January of between 33% and 36%, and the continual pressure I have mounted with Dr Tim Leunig to challenge SWT's fare rises as an abuse of monopoly power.

Documents

Here is a selection of background documents to support our research:

10th April 2006, Simplifying rail fares in London
Dept for Transport internal memo on implementation plan

August 2006, Evaluation of Zonal Fares Trial in South London
Report by Jacobs Consultancy to Dept for Transport (pdf file)

2nd October 2006, London zonal rail fares update
Dept for Transport submission to Secretary of State containing proposal for new fare structure (Word document)

12th July 2007, House of Commons Library Research
Extensive research by House of Commons Library into London zonal fares (Word document)

20th July 2007, Letter from Rowan Smith, DfT
Dept for Transport response to Edward Davey's requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act (Word document)

2nd October 2007, Rail fares: Surbiton-Waterloo
Letter to Office of Rail Regulation (Word document)

8th November 2007, Fare rises from Kingston and Surbiton
Information about the legal challenge from Ed Davey MP and Tim Leunig, for Jason Beattie, Evening Standard and the local press (Word document)

The final document can also be read as a web page.