Responsbility for zoning of Watford Junction, Watford High Street and Bushey stations
Request ID: FOI-3044-2223 Date published: 06 March 2023
You asked
Hello
In a recent question in parliament, as reported here: https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/23324808.transport-london-will-not-slash-watford-commuter-fares/
(quote) Richard Holden MP, Department for Transport minister, added: “Transport in London is devolved and is the responsibility of the Mayor of London and Transport for London, this includes their zoning policy."
However, in a recent FOI request about zoning of main line station East Croyden, TfL have stated that zoning train stations is not your responsibility: https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/transparency/freedom-of-information/foi-request-detail?referenceId=FOI-1347-1718
Could you please clarify your position on the responsibility for zoning Watford Junction, Watford High Street and Bushey stations. Do you agree with the DfT that TfL is responsible or is your position in line with the above FOI response, the DfT and the franchisee, London Northwestern / West Midlands Trains Ltd, are responsible for the zoning of these stations? Or is the process now completely different to the one that existed in 2017? If this is the case, please can you clarify this new process.
Many thanks
We answered
TfL Ref: FOI-3044-2223
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 16th February 2023 asking for information about the zoning of Watford stations.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy.
Could you please clarify your position on the responsibility for zoning Watford Junction, Watford High Street and Bushey stations. Do you agree with the DfT that TfL is responsible or is your position in line with the above FOI response, the DfT and the franchisee, London Northwestern / West Midlands Trains Ltd, are responsible for the zoning of these stations? Or is the process now completely different to the one that existed in 2017? If this is the case, please can you clarify this new process.”
The original zoning of stations was determined via the Travelcard Agreement which was agreed by TfL’s predecessor and the then Network South East division of British Rail in the 1980s. This agreement sets out the zone(s) in which each station is located, but given the passage of time we do not hold information as to how decisions for the zoning of individual stations were taken at that time.
Any proposal to change the zone that a station is in would have to be done through the existing Travelcard Agreement, with any changes proposed requiring agreement from all signatories. Once a change is proposed the Department for Transport approve or reject the proposal. This decision is made by the Secretary of State for Transport, on the basis of a business case and other wider policy and initiatives that will be considered at the time. Should a proposal not represent good value for money, it would be unlikely to get approval.
Bushey and Watford High Street stations are managed by London Overground, which forms part of the TfL network. Watford Junction station is managed by West Midlands Trains Ltd (operating at Watford as London Northwestern Railway). TfL has no plans to review the Travelcard zones nor to propose changes to the zoning of any stations on the TfL network. The zoning of Watford Junction would primarily be a matter for West Midlands Trains Ltd and the Department for Transport. If there was a proposal for a change, West Midland Trains would have to follow the process set out above.
If this is not the information you are looking for please do not hesitate to contact me.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.
Yours sincerely,
David Wells FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
