Train stations in and around Watford will not be rezoned because “operators would lose out on revenue”, according to the Department for Transport.

The Watford Lib Dems have been campaigning to get stations such as Watford Junction into into zone 6, which would make fares for commuters cheaper.

The campaign was given a setback in October when the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, rejected a petition launched by the Lib Dems which had collected around 6,000 signatures, because he was more focused on making travelling for all Londoners affordable.

Now, in a letter to the Mayor of Watford Peter Taylor, minister for rail, Andrew Jones MP, says he is “aware” of the petition but says it has no support from Transport for London.

Mr Jones wrote: “When considering any proposals, the department would need to have regard to the impact on taxpayers. Amending fare zones would be expected to reduce the revenue operators receive. This revenue is essential for the funding of day-to-day operations. Since rail already accounts for more than half of our transport budget, we do not think it is fair to ask taxpayers to further subsidise rail travel.

“Normally it would be for a train operator of TfL to propose changes to travelcard boundaries.”

The Lib Dems in Watford say commuters in Epping pay £1,000 less despite travelling the same distance.

Cllr Ian Stotesbury, and parliamentary candidate for the Lib Dems in Watford, believes passengers in Watford are being “ripped off”.

Cllr Stotesbury said: “Watford commuters are receiving a double whammy of bad news this week from the government. Not only are they being asked to pay an extra £110 a year, they’re also saying they’ll do nothing to end the current unfair zoning arrangements for our town.

“Watford commuters are being ripped off. Our MP, Richard Harrington, has already said publicly that he backs our campaign but it’s clear his government don’t agree with him.”

Mr Harrington said: “I would like to see all the stations in my constituency re-zoned, including Bushey Station and Kings Langley. I know that travel is a huge cost for many of my constituents and so I think that moving to zone 6 would make a huge difference.

“For this to happen, there would have to be an inter-franchise agreement between TfL and West Midlands Rail, and so I have raised this with them on several occasions, and will continue to do so.”