adrock1976
Established Member
There are some oddities with the Zones 1-6 map in that some parts of Zone 6 extend outwith the present day Greater London area that was created back in 1965. For example, Epping in Essex, Elstree & Borehamwood in Hertfordshire, Chessington South, the 2 Ewell stations, Epsom Downs, Tattenham Corner, and Caterham all in Surrey are part of Zone 6, where other logical stations especially dead end branch lines and where routes converge are not.
In light of the current London Crossrail (yes, there are a few around the UK, such as Edinburgh Crossrail that presently runs Newcraighall - Fife stations, and plans for Glasgow Crossrail and Aberdeen Crossrail still waiting to get off the ground) plans to run out west to Reading, and some Anglia local all stations services to transfer to London Overground, I have thought of some suggestions how to revise the outer zones. I will start from the order of the Great Britain Passenger Rail Timetable.
Make Ockendon, Chafford Hundred, Grays, and Purfleet part of Zone 6. This route connects both routes of the LTS Railway (via Upminster and via Rainham), and seems crazy to have the aforementioned stations part of Oyster with no particular zone assigned to it, with one day travelcards not accepted at those stations. It would also provide an alternative route to/from both Upminster and Rainham (from London) if one of the LTS routes are closed or are experiencing disruption.
For the Great Eastern Railway, make Brentwood, Shenfield, and all of the CM postcode area Zone 7. Again, Brentwood and Shenfield have the same problem as Ockendon etc regarding Oyster and one day travelcards.
Re-zone Theobalds Grove, Waltham Cross, and Cheshunt to Zone 6. Both the Seven Sisters and Tottenham Hale routes converge at Cheshunt. This would make the whole of the EN postcode area within Zones 5 and 6 and would be consistent with places such as Cockfosters and Barnet. Furthermore, the stations north of Cheshunt to Hertford East to be in Zone 7.
On the Great Northern Railway, stations north of Crews Hill and Hadley Wood as far as Stevenage to be in Zone 7. This would make most if not all of the SG postcode area in Zone 7.
Midland Railway stations north of Elstree & Borehamwood to St Albans City to be in Zone 7. This would be consistent with the neighbouring Great Northern Railway in that most if not all of the AL postcode area will be in Zone 7.
L&NWR stations Bushey, and the Watford stations to be re-zoned to Zone 7. This would get rid of the crazy situation as per Ockendon and Shenfield, and makes sense as the Metropolitan Railway (London Underground) will be diverted from Cassiobury Park to Junction. Additionally, Kings Langley, and stations to St Albans Abbey also to be in Zone 7. This would make the WD and AL postcode areas part of the zonal fare system.
Both Denham stations on the Great Central Railway to be part of Zone 6. Although a civil parish in Buckinghamshire, it is assigned an Uxbridge postcode (part of historic Middlesex until 1965). This would place the whole of the UB postcode area in Zone 6.
Great Western Railway stations from Iver to Reading, and onwards to Goring & Streatley to be part of Zone 7, together with the branch lines to Windsor & Eton Central, Marlow, and Henley-on-Thames. Also, the route from Reading to Basingstoke to be in Zone 7 too. This would make the whole of the SL and most of the RG postcode areas part of the zonal fare system. Heathrow Airport mainline services to be part of Zone 6, making it consistent with the underground.
Where do we start with the London & South Western Railway? These routes in relation to the zones appear to have been drawn up on a map with a circle drawn around a roll of sellotape (my perception), cutting off several stations that should ideally be in Zone 6. For example, I would make all stations beyond Feltham to Sunnymeads part of Zone 6, with Egham station, and the whole of the Shepperton branch (a dead end branch that extends outside the zones, unlike nearby Chessington South, Tattenham Corner and Caterham) to be in Zone 6 too. This would put the whole of the TW postcode area into the zonal fare system, as a very large part of TW was historically in Middlesex.
Other Zone 6 stations are to be Virginia Water to Weybridge and West Byfleet, Weybridge to Surbiton, Surbiton to Clandon via Cobham, Effingham Junction to both Ewell Stations (this would finally place Epsom in Zone 6, which has the present crazy situation of being the next stop from both Ewell stations which are Zone 6, but Epsom is not). This would place all of the KT postcode area into Zone 6. Furthermore, Woking and Guildford could be both Zones 6/7 for simplicity.
Datchet, Windsor & Eton Riverside, Virginia Water to Reading, Reading to Gatwick Airport via Guildford, Ascot to Alton, Guildford to Haslemere, Woking to Basingstoke, Guildford to Clandon to be in Zone 7. Together with above mentioned suggestions for GWR and western section of London Crossrail, this would make the whole of SL, RG, and GU postcode areas part of the zonal fares system.
The London, Brighton, & South Coast Railway lines seem far more simpler as it appears a lot more common sense was used for the zonal fares system. For example, despite the dead end branches to Epsom Downs, Tattenham Corner, and Caterham being outwith the Greater London area, they are in Zone 6. The only changes I would suggest here are to extend Zone 6 from Ewell to Leatherhead, Coulsdon South to Redhill, and Upper Warlingham to Oxted. Leatherhead to Horsham and across to Gatwick Airport and to Redhill, Redhill to Tonbridge, and Hurst Green to East Grinstead and Uckfield (dead end branches) to be placed in Zone 7. Leatherhead and Redhill stations can be both Zones 6/7 stations. This would place the RH postcode area in Zone 7, with parts of TN as well.
The London, Chatham, & Dover Railway and the South Eastern Railway is similar in regards to how the zonal fares was set up. Again, the only things I would suggest here (in addition to making Oyster PAYG and one day travelcards accepted at the normal Zone 3 rates at Stratford International) are to extend Zone 6 from St Mary Cray and Knockholt to Sevenoaks as that is where both the LC&DR and SER routes converge. Sevenoaks to Tonbridge and Swanley to Chatham or Gillingham (Kent) to be in Zone 7, with Sevenoaks and Swanley stations belonging to both Zones 6/7. Furthermore, Zone 6 to be extended from Barnehurst/Crayford/Slade Green to Dartford, as this is where these routes converge. Also Dartford to LC&DR stations to be in Zone 7, with Dartford station being in Zones 6/7.
Apologies for the long post. Do my suggestions seem good, or am I using a sledgehammer to crack a nut? Are there any better suggestions?
Cheers
Adam
In light of the current London Crossrail (yes, there are a few around the UK, such as Edinburgh Crossrail that presently runs Newcraighall - Fife stations, and plans for Glasgow Crossrail and Aberdeen Crossrail still waiting to get off the ground) plans to run out west to Reading, and some Anglia local all stations services to transfer to London Overground, I have thought of some suggestions how to revise the outer zones. I will start from the order of the Great Britain Passenger Rail Timetable.
Make Ockendon, Chafford Hundred, Grays, and Purfleet part of Zone 6. This route connects both routes of the LTS Railway (via Upminster and via Rainham), and seems crazy to have the aforementioned stations part of Oyster with no particular zone assigned to it, with one day travelcards not accepted at those stations. It would also provide an alternative route to/from both Upminster and Rainham (from London) if one of the LTS routes are closed or are experiencing disruption.
For the Great Eastern Railway, make Brentwood, Shenfield, and all of the CM postcode area Zone 7. Again, Brentwood and Shenfield have the same problem as Ockendon etc regarding Oyster and one day travelcards.
Re-zone Theobalds Grove, Waltham Cross, and Cheshunt to Zone 6. Both the Seven Sisters and Tottenham Hale routes converge at Cheshunt. This would make the whole of the EN postcode area within Zones 5 and 6 and would be consistent with places such as Cockfosters and Barnet. Furthermore, the stations north of Cheshunt to Hertford East to be in Zone 7.
On the Great Northern Railway, stations north of Crews Hill and Hadley Wood as far as Stevenage to be in Zone 7. This would make most if not all of the SG postcode area in Zone 7.
Midland Railway stations north of Elstree & Borehamwood to St Albans City to be in Zone 7. This would be consistent with the neighbouring Great Northern Railway in that most if not all of the AL postcode area will be in Zone 7.
L&NWR stations Bushey, and the Watford stations to be re-zoned to Zone 7. This would get rid of the crazy situation as per Ockendon and Shenfield, and makes sense as the Metropolitan Railway (London Underground) will be diverted from Cassiobury Park to Junction. Additionally, Kings Langley, and stations to St Albans Abbey also to be in Zone 7. This would make the WD and AL postcode areas part of the zonal fare system.
Both Denham stations on the Great Central Railway to be part of Zone 6. Although a civil parish in Buckinghamshire, it is assigned an Uxbridge postcode (part of historic Middlesex until 1965). This would place the whole of the UB postcode area in Zone 6.
Great Western Railway stations from Iver to Reading, and onwards to Goring & Streatley to be part of Zone 7, together with the branch lines to Windsor & Eton Central, Marlow, and Henley-on-Thames. Also, the route from Reading to Basingstoke to be in Zone 7 too. This would make the whole of the SL and most of the RG postcode areas part of the zonal fare system. Heathrow Airport mainline services to be part of Zone 6, making it consistent with the underground.
Where do we start with the London & South Western Railway? These routes in relation to the zones appear to have been drawn up on a map with a circle drawn around a roll of sellotape (my perception), cutting off several stations that should ideally be in Zone 6. For example, I would make all stations beyond Feltham to Sunnymeads part of Zone 6, with Egham station, and the whole of the Shepperton branch (a dead end branch that extends outside the zones, unlike nearby Chessington South, Tattenham Corner and Caterham) to be in Zone 6 too. This would put the whole of the TW postcode area into the zonal fare system, as a very large part of TW was historically in Middlesex.
Other Zone 6 stations are to be Virginia Water to Weybridge and West Byfleet, Weybridge to Surbiton, Surbiton to Clandon via Cobham, Effingham Junction to both Ewell Stations (this would finally place Epsom in Zone 6, which has the present crazy situation of being the next stop from both Ewell stations which are Zone 6, but Epsom is not). This would place all of the KT postcode area into Zone 6. Furthermore, Woking and Guildford could be both Zones 6/7 for simplicity.
Datchet, Windsor & Eton Riverside, Virginia Water to Reading, Reading to Gatwick Airport via Guildford, Ascot to Alton, Guildford to Haslemere, Woking to Basingstoke, Guildford to Clandon to be in Zone 7. Together with above mentioned suggestions for GWR and western section of London Crossrail, this would make the whole of SL, RG, and GU postcode areas part of the zonal fares system.
The London, Brighton, & South Coast Railway lines seem far more simpler as it appears a lot more common sense was used for the zonal fares system. For example, despite the dead end branches to Epsom Downs, Tattenham Corner, and Caterham being outwith the Greater London area, they are in Zone 6. The only changes I would suggest here are to extend Zone 6 from Ewell to Leatherhead, Coulsdon South to Redhill, and Upper Warlingham to Oxted. Leatherhead to Horsham and across to Gatwick Airport and to Redhill, Redhill to Tonbridge, and Hurst Green to East Grinstead and Uckfield (dead end branches) to be placed in Zone 7. Leatherhead and Redhill stations can be both Zones 6/7 stations. This would place the RH postcode area in Zone 7, with parts of TN as well.
The London, Chatham, & Dover Railway and the South Eastern Railway is similar in regards to how the zonal fares was set up. Again, the only things I would suggest here (in addition to making Oyster PAYG and one day travelcards accepted at the normal Zone 3 rates at Stratford International) are to extend Zone 6 from St Mary Cray and Knockholt to Sevenoaks as that is where both the LC&DR and SER routes converge. Sevenoaks to Tonbridge and Swanley to Chatham or Gillingham (Kent) to be in Zone 7, with Sevenoaks and Swanley stations belonging to both Zones 6/7. Furthermore, Zone 6 to be extended from Barnehurst/Crayford/Slade Green to Dartford, as this is where these routes converge. Also Dartford to LC&DR stations to be in Zone 7, with Dartford station being in Zones 6/7.
Apologies for the long post. Do my suggestions seem good, or am I using a sledgehammer to crack a nut? Are there any better suggestions?
Cheers
Adam
