Boris backs drive for ‘fair fares’ at local train stations.

Kingston students who commute could save £100 a year after the campaign to re-zone Kingston and Surbiton stations won the support of London Mayor Boris Johnson.

Following a meeting at City Hall in December with the mayor’s Director of Transport, Kulveer Ranger, Edward Davey MP is confident that he can deliver cheaper train fares for his constituents by getting the stations re-classified from Zone 6 to Zone 5.

The Liberal Democrat MP for Surbiton and Kingston said: “The re-zoning could be a big boost for local students, potentially saving them a great deal of money. Those who use the train a lot could save around £100 a year.”

The effect could cut prices for those who commute to Kingston from central London or vice versa. Currently an annual pass from Zone 1 terminals to Zone 5 stations such as Berrylands and Norbiton costs £1,232 with an 18+ student Travelcard, compared to £1,332 for the closer Zone 6 stations in question.

However, this proposed change would see students who commute to university from outside London forced to pay higher train fares to one of the newly designated Zone 5 stations. Mr Davey said this extra income had been suggested to South West Trains as a way of off-setting their drop in revenue.

The plan was launched in 2007 by Mr Davey, Susan Kramer MP and LSE transport economist Dr Tim Leunig after it was calculated that Kingston and Surbiton are only 12 miles from the centre of London, yet 23 stations in zone 5 are further away from their central London destinations.

Berrylands-based Lib Dem Dr Leunig said: “Boris Johnson has backed the campaign and he alone has the power to make the changes. We are very much waiting on him.

In general, fare changes come into effect on January 1st, so if Boris stands by his election pledge we could be aiming for January 2010.”

After making an initial pledge to back the scheme during his bid to be elected Mayor in May 2008, it was feared that Mr. Johnson was now unwilling to commit his support, appearing reluctant to schedule a meeting.

Mr. Davey was keen to stress that there is still work to be done, with the next step being to convince train operator South West Trains of the need for change. To read more about the campaign and sign Ed Davey’s petition, visit www.edwarddavey.co.uk/archive/