05.01.16
Underground boundaries rezoned, but Night Tube still off the grid
Transport for London (TfL) has decided to rezone stations to the boundary of Zone 2 to recognise the capital’s “shifting economic map” towards the east as part of its 2016 plans.
Eight stations, including Stratford and West Ham, have been moved from Zone 3 to the new Zone 2/3. Depending on which way the passenger is travelling, stations will be regarded as in Zone 2 or 3.
Other stations that have been rezoned include Stratford High Street, Stratford International DLR station, West Ham, Canning Town, Star Lane and Abbey Road. Bromley-by-Bow, Pudding Mill Lane and North Greenwich were already on the boundary between the two zones.
According to TfL, the change means passengers will always pay the cheapest fare possible. The capital’s mayor, Boris Johnson MP, expects that 100,000 people will benefit from it.
If passengers are travelling westwards from Stratford to Westminster, for example, they will be charged for a Zone 2-1 journey, while those commuting eastwards from Stratford to Romford will still pay for a Zone 3-6 journey.
A TfL spokesman said the boundary change was designed to recognise the capital’s shift towards the east, adding: “Rezoning these stations will benefit more than 100,000 people per week and will ensure customers travelling to Stratford from central London will never require a ticket valid in Zone 3.”
The mayor of the London Borough of Newham, Sir Robin Wales, was quoted as saying the authority had been campaigning for this “for some time”.
“The truth is London's moving eastwards... and it's sensible to reduce the cost of travel,” he said. “It's going to encourage people to come to Stratford, West Ham and Canning Town, which will be great.”
TfL’s 2016 plan also included a ticket price hike of 1% in line with the July Retail Price Index, as well as allowing children to travel for free on National Rail services.
Oyster or contactless cards will be operational on journeys between London and Gatwick Airport on Southern, Gatwick Express and Thameslink services from 11 January.
Elsewhere on the Underground, a spokeswoman for TfL recently confirmed that a roll-out date for the much-delayed Night Tube has not yet been decided. Leaders from rail union Aslef are due to report to their executive committee this month and, if no progress is made, will threaten more industrial action.
However Johnson has today told LBC Radio that London Underground has opened applications for 300 new part-time drivers for the Night Tube, which existing drivers can apply for. According to the mayor, they have already received 4,300 applications.