Epsom’s MP is confident the fight to get Epsom station into Zone 6 will be won and is working behind the scenes to deliver it.

The Epsom Guardian launched the Zone 6 for Epsom campaign in March 2012 in partnership with Chris Grayling and the initiative has received huge amounts of support - with thousands signing the newspaper's online petition for the change.

Speaking at the launch of the extension of the Key smartcard at the station on Friday, May 16, Chris Grayling said that far from the push to move Epsom into a London zone coming to a halt, discussions are now being held on the cost of the change.

He said while the principle of introducing the Oyster card at Epsom has been accepted by the parties involved, its implementation still depends on overcoming issues over the cost of the scheme.

Both Southern and South West Trains have individual franchises with the Government to run services through the station, but it is South West Trains which makes the most money through fares.

Mr Grayling said the move would cost more than £1million a year in lost fare costs - the majority of which would affect South West Trains.

But he said the Department for Transport, Southern, South West Trains and Transport for London have all supported bringing Zone 6 to Epsom.

"I have had discussions with the Department of Transport and the train companies who are are willing but there is a financial issue - it costs money to do," Mr Grayling said.

"My representations have been taken seriously but whether it is actually doable when budgets are stretched, we will find out in the next few months. 

"There is also the issue that if you do it for Epsom, there are other areas which become open to doing it. 

"I am confident that it will happen in due course, the question is when. 

"Nobody disagrees with the logic of doing it."

Mr Grayling said he believes that the extension of Southern’s Key smartcard so that it can be used at London terminals deals with the flexibility which people travelling through Epsom desire.

He added: "The fare level and matter of people coming from London to Epsom using an Oyster card still needs to be resolved."

The Justice Secretary said one way to achieve the change could be to write it into the new franchise agreements given to the train companies to run services through Epsom, when they come up for renewal - with the change potentially being factored into the financial models of the agreements.

While South West Train’s franchise agreement is up for renewal in 2017, Southern’s will take place "imminently" - but Chris Burchell, its managing director, said he could not reveal anything about Southern’s bid to continue running services through Epsom.

He suggested that while Southern would be affected by the change, South West Trains is the company which would lose the most in fares and is the company through which any major change would have to come.

Mr Grayling added: "Everyone believes the argument for change but the complexities to make the change are being considered.  And I will keep pushing until it happens."