Politicians have relaunched a campaign to see Kingston station re-zoned following the Government’s shock announcement a Chinese company will take over South West Trains (SWT).
Kingston's London Assembly member Tony Arbour has called on new-owners MTR to move the station from zone 6 to 5 as a "gesture of goodwill”.
Numerous politicians, including borough MPs, have campaigned for more than a decade to see the station’s status changed, with the move likely to save some commuters £160 per year.
- Kingston and Surbiton for zone 5 campaign steps up a gear by MP James Berry
- London mayoral candidate Sadiq Khan "listening to the arguments" to rezone Kingston and Surbiton
- South West Trains to be part-run by Chinese firm in shock Government announcement
Mr Arbour has written to the chief executive of First Group, which will run the franchise alongside the Chinese firm, to discuss potential rezoning.
He said: “This new franchise should act as a new beginning for South West Trains.
“First MTR could build goodwill with commuters while also providing an economic boost to Kingston and Surbiton.”
In a surprise announcement on Monday, the Government confirmed that MTR will take over from Stagecoach, which currently runs SWT services across south east England.
The move was criticised in some circles, especially supporters of calls to nationalise the railways, with the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union claiming the Chinese state is set to make "a killing at the British taxpayers' expense".
But many commuters responded in jubilation to the news after growing frustrated at the “abysmal” service, with complaints about overcrowding common.
Stagecoach chief executive Martin Griffiths said: "We are proud to have operated the network under the South West Trains brand for more than 20 years and we are disappointed that we have been unsuccessful in our bid for the new franchise."
Kingston MP James Berry has followed on from his predecessor Ed Davey in campaigning for rezoning since his election in 2015.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan, in an interview with the Surrey Comet on the campaign trail in 2015, said he would “listen to the arguments” for rezoning and rezoned several east London tube stations last year.
Mr Berry said: “This is something I have pushed for since I was elected having raised in the House of Commons and sought funding for it before each successive budget and autumn statement."
The move has saved commuters £8m per year, Conservatives at the Greater London Authority said.
The Government has claimed the ownership change would see 22,000 extra seats into London Waterloo each morning and 30,000 extra seats each evening, as well as 90 new trains.
FirstGroup chief executive Tim O'Toole said: "Our successful bid will deliver the tangible improvements that customers and stakeholders have told us they want from this franchise.
"Passengers can look forward to new and better trains, more seats and services, quicker journey times, improved stations and more flexible fare options."
RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: "Once again the Government have refused to consider the public sector option for a major rail franchise and instead it's a foreign state operator, in this case the Chinese state, which is set to make a killing at the British taxpayers' expense.”
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