Members of a Surrey rail users’ group have handed their petition for fair fares on the Redhill train to the Government.
Reigate MP Crispin Blunt led a delegation of passenger representatives from the Reigate, Redhill & District Rail Users’ Association (RRDRUA) to meet Rail Minister Claire Perry. As part of the “Fair Fares” campaign, they handed over a petition of almost 3,000 signatures from East Surrey commuters, calling for TfL Zone 6 to be extended a few miles south to the Redhill area.
Redhill Route rail users:
· pay higher fares than passengers from East Grinstead or Three Bridges
· pay almost 50% more than stations within TfL travel zones
· have been explicitly denied any compensation from the Government for four years’ poor service whilst London Bridge works are carried out
Crispin Blunt, MP for Reigate, said:
““I’m pleased we were able to make a compelling case to the Minister with a proposal which would be cost-neutral. Local commuters have suffered the double-whammy of higher fares and worsening service. We now look to the Minister to take action to introduce zonal fares for Redhill area passengers; it’s time for action to bring fairness to fares.”
The Rail Minister took RRDRUA’s proposal and promised to look at it with officials from the Department for Transport, but gave no timeline for any concrete action.