I will be reviewing various Freedom of Information (FOI) requests on the Transport for London (TfL) website, focusing particularly on information I found about London's buses.
Request for New London Bus Vehicle Specifications - Version 2.6 and Later Versions
Request ID: FOI-2818-2425
Date published: 11 December 2024
The latest London Bus Vehicle Specifications document we hold is version 2.5, which was released in response to FOI-0149-2425. The next version (2.6) is planned to be ready in March 2025.
How many TfL bus routes are normally worked by single-doored buses and which ones are they?
Request ID: FOI-2761-2425
Date published: 12 December 2024
TfL Bus Routes normally operated with Single Door buses are:-
124 138 146 162 192 233 273 318 315 322 336 352 354 356 367 379 383 385 394 424 434 456 463 464 470 B14 E10 E11 G1 H2 H3 H20 H26 K1 K4 K5 R1 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8 R10 S3 S4 SL7 U9 W4 W5
Arnos Grove station upgrade platform works
Request ID: FOI-2610-2425
Date published: 13 December 2024
The works at Arnos Grove are a crucial part of a £2.9bn investment to modernise the Piccadilly line which has been serving Londoners for 50 years and will see the delivery of 94 new air cooled, energy efficient trains which will increase capacity and mean more accessible, faster and smoother journeys for customers.
The size and shape of the new trains requires some adjustments to existing platforms to ensure the new trains can travel safely into stations and deliver on the overall improvements the new trains offer – this includes step-free access from train to platform at eleven additional stations on the Piccadilly line when all 94 new trains are in service.
I can confirm that we hold the information you require. However, in accordance with the FOI Act, we are not obliged to supply the information requested as it is subject to a statutory exemption to the right of access to information under section 43(2).
In this instance the section 43(2) exemption has been applied as disclosure of the specific breakdown of costs you have requested would or would be likely to prejudice both our commercial interests, as well as those of the current suppliers, respectively. Disclosure of these breakdowns would disadvantage them in their ability to participate in future competitive bidding processes for similar contracts with TfL and other organisations as well as hinder TfL’s ability to negotiate the best value for money for similar services in the future.
The use of this exemption is subject to an assessment of the public interest in relation to the disclosure of the information concerned. We recognise the need for openness and transparency by public authorities, particularly where the expenditure of public money is concerned, but in this instance the public interest in ensuring that we are able to obtain the best value for public money outweighs the general public interest in increasing transparency of our processes.
We can however advise of the overall contractual value for the works at this station to date (3/12/24) as £1,342,215. This includes the works to the platforms, drainage works, platform resurfacing works and new fire doors.
London TfL web cams
Request ID: FOI-2822-2425
Date published: 13 December 2024
TfL continues to respond to a Cyber Incident. The security of our systems and customer data is very important to us. As part of our response, measures were introduced which have restricted access to our systems including TfL Jamcams. TfL has issued details about the incident on our website and informed customers whose data was accessed. The following links provide further information which answers your questions:
Cyber security incident - Transport for London (tfl.gov.uk)
TfL provides update on ongoing cyber security incident - Transport for London
TfL provides update on ongoing cyber security incident - 12 September - Transport for London
In accordance with section 21 of the FOI Act, we are not obliged to supply you with a copy of the requested information as it is already accessible to you elsewhere.
We are working hard to restore both our internal and customer-focused systems which were impacted by measures introduced as part of our response. We are sorry for the inconvenience this incident may have caused and thank you for your patience. More information on our cyber security recovery can be found at Cyber security recovery - Transport for London (tfl.gov.uk)
We are conducting a thorough investigation alongside the National Crime Agency and the National Cyber Security Centre.
Cost of implementing new booking and scheduling system at Dial A Ride
Request ID: FOI-2648-2425
Date published: 13 December 2024
The total costs paid to the supplier for implementing the Via scheduling system so far are £754,684.
Annual support charges average £346,243 per annum over seven years.
Loading Surveys on TfL bus routes in the past year and outcomes
Request ID: FOI-2625-2425
Date published: 09 December 2024
I can confirm that we do hold the information you require. However, to provide the information you have requested would exceed the ‘appropriate limit’ of £450 set by the Freedom of Information (Appropriate Limit and Fees) Regulations 2004.
[...]
Although your request can take the form of a question, rather than a request for specific documents, TfL does not have to answer your question if it would require the creation of new information or the provision of a judgement, explanation, advice or opinion that was not already recorded at the time of your request. If you have specific questions relating to these topics we may be more easily able to respond to these than to a request for any information held.
However, we would suggest that you have a look at our BUSTO dataset available on the TfL website at https://crowding.data.tfl.gov.uk/. Whilst it doesn’t contain survey data and outcomes, it does hold bus load data which may be useful to you. The BUSTO dataset takes an estimate of bus loadings in addition to boardings and alightings on a typical day, using observed passenger data averaged over a number of dates in autumn 2023. There is a user guide accompanying the data that provides a fuller explanation behind BUSTO and instructions on how to use it. This is also available through the link provided above.
We conduct surveys on bus loadings throughout the year in order to reinforce the BUSTO data as well as providing a snapshot of more recent demand.
Please also note the following:
- The bus network is under continuous review
- TfL seeks to make the best use of available resources and match capacity to demand wherever economic and practical
- TfL now makes use of extensive electronic ticketing data collected where passengers board and consequently bus network review no longer relies on manual surveys
- Manual surveys do still provide a useful validation and/or additional data – especially where absolute numbers are low; where paper tickets and/or where non-validation are prevalent. Schools routes, for example, are often affected by such issues and manual surveys help us understand any capacity issues that are identified.
Request ID: FOI-2594-2425
Date published: 10 December 2024
1. What is the Project title and purpose?
When TfL consulted on expanding the ULEZ London-wide in 2022, we also asked people for their views to help shape the future of road user charging in the capital. We did exploratory work around a number of different options including distance-based charging. A scheme such as this has not been developed as a proposal in London, and the Mayor has ruled it out. ‘Gladys’ was the internal name used to refer to the technology feasibility work undertaken as part of the Future Road User Charging (RUC) project.
2. What was the Initiation date?
May 2022.
3. What is the project cost?
Approximately £3m was spent on the Future RUC project and it is now closed.
4. What are/ has been the staffing numbers and grades?
Over the duration of the Future RUC project a total of 23 internal staff were engaged on the project, in the Technology and Data team:
5 x Band 2
13 x Band 3
5 x Band 4
There were 15 third-party staff engaged on the project.
5. What companies have been contracted to the project?
Super Charge
LA international
Smart Sourcing
Methods
6. What is the current status?
The project was formally closed.
7. How does “Project Gladys” differ from “Project Detroit”?
Gladys was the internal name used to refer to technology feasibility work undertaken as part of the Future RUC project.
Project Detroit is a new core technology platform for existing RUC schemes that is being built to replace the currently outsourced system when the current contract expires in 2026. The confirmed scope of this project is to replicate the capability of the existing charging system that processes automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) events and according to a set of pre-defined business rules to support the Congestion Charge, HGV permit scheme linked to the Direct Vision Standard, LEZ, ULEZ, and, in the future, user charges at the Blackwall and Silvertown Tunnels. The new system is required to go live before the current contract expires.
Netherne-on-the-Hill bus service
Request ID: FOI-2683-2425
Date published: 12 December 2024
We have not carried out a full study as our judgment was that given the size of the Netherne-on-the-Hill village area (approx. 600 households) and the likely cost of a TfL bus service it would be far from having a robust business case compared to other schemes we have been working on within Greater London.
Please see the published response to a recent Mayor’s Question:
Reference: 2024/3968
Answer by Mayor Sadiq Khan
Date: Tuesday 26 November 2024
My response to Mayor’s Question 2024/3254 outlined that Transport for London (TfL) investigated the possibility of extending bus route 463 from Coulsdon to Netherne Village and concluded that such a scheme would not be viable given the estimated annual cost of £1 million when compared to the expected demand.
Additionally, the introduction of a standalone service between Netherne and Coulsdon was investigated and this is estimated to cost around £300,000 to £400,000 per annum.
TfL has also shared the details of these costs with Surrey County Council, whose responsibility this is, and remains open to discussing how a service to Netherne could be provided and funded.
#Transport for #London Freedom of Information release:
— CLondoner92 (@CLondoner92) December 13, 2024
Netherne-on-the-Hill bus service
We haven't conducted a full study, as the small size of Netherne-on-the-Hill (600 households) and the cost of a TfL bus service don't make it a strong business case.https://t.co/abi6PoObe1 pic.twitter.com/B1UrG8UUtY
I hope the information you find is interesting, particularly the Bus Vehicle Specification, which is expected to be released next year.#Transport for #London Freedom of Information release: Rail Grinding on the London Underground Tube Network tfl.gov.uk/corporate/tr...
— CLondoner92 (@clondoner92.bsky.social) December 13, 2024 at 2:55 PM
[image or embed]
I would like to extend an invite for you to follow me on X (formerly Twitter) for transport-related updates. You can find me by searching for @CLondoner92 or by clicking on the direct link to my X page here. I am also present on BlueSky and Mastodon. I look forward to connecting with you on these platforms. Thank you for your support.
