The Oyster Card is coming to Epsom next year it has been announced.

Speaking exclusively to the Epsom Guardian this afternoon, the borough's MP Chris Grayling said he received confirmation of the change from train company Southern this morning, which has the franchise to run services through the station.

Mr Grayling said that, in conjunction with the Department for Transport, Southern has agreed to the introduction of the Oyster Card at Epsom, with an expected starting date of next September, as part of its new franchise agreement.

Earlier this month, it was announced that Southern would continue to run services through Epsom until 2021, as part of a new franchise, Govia.  As part of this new franchise, next July, Southern will link up with train companies Thameslink and Great Northern franchise to serve a wider range of areas.

But it is not yet clear whether Epsom would be included in Zone 6 - for which this newspaper and Mr Grayling have campaigned over the past two years - or Zone 7.

In May, Mr Grayling, Epsom and Ewell’s MP since 2001, said one way to achieve 'Zone 6 for Epsom' 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.

This afternoon, Mr Grayling said Southern today confirmed this would happen.

Your Local Guardian:

He said: "Southern has got a new franchise starting shortly and they have agreed to put Epsom into an Oyster Card zone as part of that.

"It could become Zone 6 or it could be outside of London in Zone 7.

"I didn’t talk to anybody who thought the situation was a sensible one. 

"It is anomaly to have Epsom outside of a London zone. 

"Everyone has campaigned and put pressure on Transport for London to do something about it and it has been agreed as part of Southern’s new franchise agreement.

"The campaigning has paid off. 

"There are still more details to come but it’s a big step for Epsom."

A London zones 1-6 monthly travelcard costs £219.70 and an annual travelcard costs £2,288 - whereas a London zones 1-7 travelcard costs £238.90 per month and £2,488 a year.

What do you think of this announcement? Leave a comment below or email Hardeep Matharu at hmatharu@london.newsquest.co.uk.