VIDEO: Oysterisation on Harlow Trains - it could happen

Yesterday, Harlow won a crucial first step towards Oysterisation of ticketing on our trains, when I asked Transport Secretary Justine Greening for support for my campaign for this to happen.

Her reply was positive, and she agreed to meet with me personally to see how this can be done - potentially helping tens of thousands of Harlow commuters and families, and hopefully saving them money as well.

Encouragingly, she also promised to discuss with me how Harlow could benefit from this Conservative-led Government's investment in 2,700 new carriages - helping to relieve the pressure of rush-hour.

You can watch the video above, or our full exchange was:

Robert Halfon (Harlow): I welcome the right hon. Friend’s statement and what she said about smartcards. Will she consider extending Oysterisation to outer London towns, such as Harlow, which would benefit commuters? May I also ask her to increase investment in rolling stock, when financial conditions allow, so that we can have more trains at peak times running from London to Harlow and vice versa?

Justine Greening (Transport Secretary): I am sure that my hon. Friend is aware that we earmarked £45 million in the autumn statement to enable us to extend the use of smartcards and Oysterisation further in the south-east. With regard to capacity, we are making a substantial investment with 2,700 new carriages. I would be happy to sit down with him and get his views on how his local area could benefit from that.

by Robert Halfon - Working Hard for Harlow.