Request ID: FOI-0101-2324 Date published: 03 May 2023
You asked
12.4.23 clarification
Thank you very much for your response. I have two questions.
(1)
Could you detail the nature of the information you hold regarding tube station signage, particularly for signs that provide directions between the platforms and the exits?
For example, an answer to this could be "We hold printable files for all station signs" or "We have a database, that contains the text for directional signs".
My request is to provide this for all stations that are part of the London Underground, London Overground, Elizabeth Line, and DLR.
(2)
Could you provide an image or the text for all directional signage in all tube stations? By "directional signage" I mean the image/text of any sign that gives directions from the platform to the exits (or helps obtain such directions):
For example, your answer would be
Aldgate East:
- Exit 1, High Street (south side), Leman Street, Conference forum
- Exit 2, High Street (north side), Toynbee Hall, Petticoat Lane Market
- High Street, Leman Street (near stairs, platform end)
- ...
Oxford circus:
- ...
- ...
...
Equally, your answer could be a set of printable files that contains this information.
I hope this clarifies the request.
Dear Transport for London,
I would like to request information about signage giving directions across your network particularly exit signs.
For example, at Aldgate East Station, some of the the signs include:
- Way out | to Toynbee Hall (on platform)
- High Street, Leman Street (near stairs, platform end)
- Exit 1, High Street (south side), Leman Street, Conference forum
Typically a sign like this is also present:
- Line, Eastbound/Westbound platform 1/2
Do you hold information about such signs for stations across your network (London Underground, London Overground, the Elizabeth Line, the Docklands Light Railway)? If yes, please share whatever data you do hold (including text, design files, images).
The intention behind this request is to improve accessibility for travellers with reduced mobility, reduced vision, or other access requirements.
We answered
TfL Ref: 0101-2324
Thank you for your clarified request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 12 April 2023 asking for information about station signage.
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:
1)
Could you detail the nature of the information you hold regarding tube station signage, particularly for signs that provide directions between the platforms and the exits?
For example, an answer to this could be "We hold printable files for all station signs" or "We have a database, that contains the text for directional signs".
My request is to provide this for all stations that are part of the London Underground, London Overground, Elizabeth Line, and DLR.
(2)
Could you provide an image or the text for all directional signage in all tube stations? By "directional signage" I mean the image/text of any sign that gives directions from the platform to the exits (or helps obtain such directions):
For example, your answer would be Aldgate East: - Exit 1, High Street (south side), Leman Street, Conference forum - Exit 2, High Street (north side), Toynbee Hall, Petticoat Lane Market - High Street, Leman Street (near stairs, platform end) - ... Oxford circus: - ... - ... ...
Equally, your answer could be a set of printable files that contains this information.
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.
Under section 12 of the FOI Act, we are not obliged to comply with requests if we estimate that the cost of determining whether we hold the information, locating and retrieving it and extracting it from other information would exceed the appropriate limit. In this instance, we have estimated that it would significantly exceed the cost limit to collate electronic copies of all ‘Direction Signs’ used in each of our Tube stations across the London Underground network. This is because we do not keep a central register of the directions signs used in each Tube station - signage files and schemes for stations are split across multiple different storage media - some is in printed form and some as digital files - in various formats and in various locations. Also to be noted, as stations are upgraded or extended or are undergoing improvement or upgrade works, directions signage would change depending on requirements and we would have to check all current signs in every station and compile this information. We consider that even to try and provide the information you have asked for, for a single station such as Oxford Circus, would exceed 18 hours which, at £25 per hour (the rate stipulated by the Regulations), exceeds the ‘appropriate limit’.
To help bring the cost of responding to your requests within the £450 limit, you may wish to consider refining your requests to concentrate on matters which are important to you. For example you may want to ask for an electronic version of one particular sign or type of signage. 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.
You may be interested in looking at the available signage information on our website using the following two links as examples of what type of information is available:
