8th April 2019 Dear Sir/Madam DELAYS ON THE NORTHERN LINE ON 2ND OCTOBER 2018 – APPLICATION UNDER THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000 AND/OR THE ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION REGULATIONS 2004 I wish to know the following information regarding the delay on the Northern Line during the early evening of 2nd October 2018: 1. What was the reason for the signal failure at Morden that caused the delays on the Northern line on the evening of 2nd October 2018? 2. What was done to notify all of the affected trains and stations relating to this signal failure on 2nd October 2018? 3. In particular, what was done to notify Belsize Park and Camden Town tube stations relating to this signal failure on 2nd October 2018? 4. What is TFLs policy about notifying passengers of signal failures and delays such as this? 5. What was done to notify passengers regarding any possible delays and the signal failure before they entered the platforms to catch the trains on 2nd October 2018? (I require a copy of the documents and reports held by TFL relating to this signal failure and TFLs attempts to rectify it and notifying all stations of its occurrence etc. in accordance with Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority v. Information Commissioner and anor. [2015] 1 W.L.R. 2879.) I make this application under section 8(1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and/or regulation 5(1) of the Environmental Information Regulations 2004.

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TfL Ref: FOI-0083-1920

Thank you for your email received by Transport for London (TfL) on 8 April 2019, asking about a signal failure at Morden.

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

I wish to know the following information regarding the delay on the Northern Line during the early evening of 2nd October 2018:

1. What was the reason for the signal failure at Morden that caused the delays on the Northern line on the evening of 2nd October 2018?

    

   The signal loop approaching platform 1 at Morden station was flickering. This was due to a cut breaking the loop circuit, please find the attached IRF report for more details. The signal loop gives trains the authority to safely move into the section, effectively giving them a green signal. The loop failure meant that all trains on arriving into that section became non-communicating with the signalling system.

    

   Announcements should be made at least every 15 mins to all trains and stations, we have a standard for train operators to make a public announcement within 30 seconds in between stations, 90 seconds on a platform and 3 minute intervals there after. However, we do not hold recordings of the announcements.    

    

   Please note that in accordance with TfL’s obligations under Data Protection legislation some personal data has been removed from the attached report, as required by section 40(2) of the FOI Act. This is because disclosure of this personal data would be a breach of the legislation, specifically the first principle which requires all processing of personal data to be fair and lawful. It would not be fair to disclose this personal information when the individuals have no expectation it would be disclosed and TfL has not satisfied one of the conditions which would make the processing ‘fair’.

    

   This exemption to the right of access to information is an absolute exemption and not subject to an assessment of whether the public interest favours use of the exemption.

    

2. What was done to notify all of the affected trains and stations relating to this signal failure on 2nd October 2018?

    

   Please find below a list of messages from the Line Information Assistant on the Northern line to LU Control Centre and all stations that the incident has taken place and consequently to customers:

    

   20.05 – Due to a signal failure at Morden there are severe delays on the entire Northern line.

    

   20.15 – Suspended Tooting Broadway to Morden with severe delays the remainder of the line.

    

   20.40 – Severe delays entire line.

    

   22:25 – Minor delays on the whole line. This remained the case until end of traffic.

    

3. In particular, what was done to notify Belsize Park and Camden Town tube stations relating to this signal failure on 2nd October 2018?

    

   Messages of the impact of the signal failure at Morden were consistent on the whole line, including the aforementioned stations.

    

4. What is TFLs policy about notifying passengers of signal failures and delays such as this?

    

   Although this is not a policy as such, the standard we follow is stipulated in our Manager’s Handbook on communicating to customers. Please find a copy attached.  

    

5. What was done to notify passengers regarding any possible delays and the signal failure before they entered the platforms to catch the trains on 2nd October 2018?

According to our standards, we communicate delays to customers before they enter platforms by making public address announcements in the ticket hall areas and on platforms, displaying delays on electronic service update boards in ticket hall areas, writing on manual service update boards and free standing general information boards. We also display delays on the dot matrix indicators (the illuminated black indicators on platforms).

If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for some reason, 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

Eva Hextall

FOI Case Officer

FOI Case Management Team

General Counsel

Transport for London

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