Transport for London has been slammed for misleading commuters by stating that Epsom is in London on its website - at the same time as the Surrey market town is battling to finally be included in Zone 6.

Epsom does not automatically appear as a destination choice on TfL's Journey Planner, but, when typed in, people are able to choose from a number of options - including "London, Epsom", even though Epsom is not in a London travel zone.

To add insult to injury when "Epsom station" is searched, a map appears locating Epsom station at a bus stop near London Waterloo station.

FROM SEPTEMBERF 24, 2014: 'Epsom must be in Zone 6 when Oyster Card arrives'

It lists "escalators" as one of the station's features and the address is given as "Waterloo Underground Station".

This was mysteriously changed on Thursday afternoon, after the Epsom Guardian searched for the station on the website, but before it has asked TfL for an explanation. 

Epsom Residents' Association councillor Clive Woodbridge said that listing Epsom as "London, Epsom" was misleading for travellers - especially those visiting the town for the first time who could end up with a fine if they assumed the Oyster card could be used in Epsom

He said: "It’s quite bizarre.

"They can’t say we are in London on one hand and deny us our rightful dues of being part of the London transport network on the other.

"We are not in London but we are clearly joined at the hip with London in terms of rail services.

"I don’t think the railway system serves Epsom’s rail users particularly well.

"When you go on Twitter for Southern and South West Trains every day there seems to be some poor service issue.

"It seems like Epsom is an afterthought."

Epsom Labour councillor Dan Stevens said the London, Epsom listing was "curious" and misleading and said the train companies were "turning a blind eye" to those turning up at Epsom station without a ticket - because so many assume it is in a London zone.

Conservative Epsom campaigner Dan Race agreed: "You can see why people travelling to Epsom fall foul of it.

"It’s something TfL need to address."

MP Chris Grayling, who together with the Epsom Guardian has been campaigning to get Epsom into Zone 6 since 2012, said TfL's website listings for Epsom underlined the logic as to why it should be put into Zone 6.

Your Local Guardian:

"London, Epsom" is given to commuters as a choice on TfL's Journey Planner website 

He said: "It’s very strange.

"If TfL can make a series of mistakes like this the assumption is that it thinks Epsom is in a London zone.

"If TfL are making this mistake other people will do too."

Asked for an explanation by TfL, a spokesman said: "The current database precedes all stations in and around the Greater London area with the term ‘London’, regardless of Oyster acceptance.

"We have changes planned to extend the areas to which it is possible to plan journeys and will use this opportunity to review the labelling so it is clearer for customers," the spokesman said.

Your Local Guardian:

The Epsom Guardian launched its Zone 6 for Epsom campaign in 2012

"Epsom station is operated by Southern, any decision to move the station into an Oyster zone would require the agreement of both the operator and the Department for Transport (DfT)."

TfL admitted that a bus stop near to central London's Waterloo station "has erroneously been labelled as Epsom station" and said this would be rectified.

In September, Mr Grayling said it had been confirmed the Oyster card would be coming to Epsom station this September, but it was not clear whether it would be placed in Zone 6 or 7.

Last week, he told the Epsom Guardian he is waiting to hear back from the DfT as to whether it will hold a consultation on Zone 6 for Epsom, ahead of the train companies' franchise renewal for the station in 2018.

Your Local Guardian:

Epsom does not automatically appear when typed into Journey Planner, but Epsom Downs - in Zone 6 - does 

He said he has also written to the Mayor of London Boris Johnson to ask why, since the latest rise in London travel fares, off-peak tickets from Ewell East station now cost more than those from Epsom because the latter is not in a London travel zone.

"It’s a chaotic situation," the MP added.

"It’s illogical for Epsom not to be in Zone 6 when Epsom Downs and Tattenham Corner is.

"And clearly TfL think that too."

Your Local Guardian:

The map on TfL's website on Thursday located Epsom station at a bus stop near London Waterloo station

Meanwhile, Crispin Blunt, Reigate and Banstead’s MP, has launched his own campaign to get the Oyster card south of Coulsdon South to Gatwick Airport including in Redhill and Reigate.

He said he started the campaign in recognition of the deterioration in train services caused by the London Bridge Thameslink works, which will continue until 2018, and is calling for a day of "direct action" on June 1.

Mr Blunt said: "A day when we communicate loud and clear that our patience has run out. I will ask rail users who travel to London to work to volunteer to stay at home."

Your Local Guardian:

A £20m redevelopment of Epsom station was completed in the summer of 2013 

What do you think? Leave a comment below or get in touch by emailing letters@epsomguardian.co.uk.