TfL Ref: FOI-0026-1718 

Thank you for your email received by us on 04 April 2017 asking for the cost of enforcing the single bus rule on Hammersmith Bridge.

Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy.  I can confirm that we hold the information you require. You asked:

What is the current cost of staffing to enforce the one-bus-at-a-time rule over Hammersmith Bridge?

As of March 2017 the cost which TfL is incurring for staffing the Hammersmith Bridge is a weekly charge, so will not be exactly equivalent to a month. Currently our contractor will send 5 staff to Hammersmith Bridge to oversee the flow of buses.

The weekly cost of a complete service is approximately £6600 per week. 
A complete service sees the contractor supply 5 staff (including 4 customer services assistants and one supervisor). This allows us to ensure that there is always two people on duty on each side of the bridge to manage the flow of buses and deal with customer queries.

They will also ensure all staff are equipped with Emergency Radios.
The Times of Operation (when the staff will be present) is as follows:
07:00 – 22:00 Monday to Friday
07:00 – 20:00 Saturday & Sunday

As you would expect we are keeping this under review, and we have been exploring options to reduce the overall cost to the business that the restricted bridge access has caused by reducing hours and using in-house staff.

Have estimates been sought to repair the bridge to make it fit for normal bus use (rather than the latest patch and mend)? If so how do these costs compare to the above?

Hammersmith Bridge is not one of the bridges which is controlled by TfL. Hammersmith bridge is instead operated by Richmond and Hammersmith & Fulham boroughs, and the repair/strengthening works are being carried out by them.

The Hammersmith and Fulham Council may be better placed to assist you. They can be contacted at [email protected]

If this is not the information you are looking for, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.

Yours sincerely

Paulina Tuffour
FOI Case Officer

FOI Case Management Team
General Counsel
Transport for London