As you will probably know, I was appointed Transport Secretary when Theresa May became Prime Minister in July. Sadly this doesn’t mean that I can automatically order Oyster cards for Epsom and rezone the station – there are strict rules (rightly) to stop Ministers doing pet projects in their own constituency. However the issue is now firmly on the agenda given the promises made in 2014.
In addition, there is a firm requirement in the South West Trains franchise renewal process for the introduction of Oyster or a similar system as part of that new franchise as well. But that’s a couple of years away – and I don’t want us to wait that long.
So whilst things are happening much too slowly, I am pushing to get this sorted as quickly as possible.