Follow-on to FOI-3941-1920: Thank you for handling this case. I can understand current resources should be focused more on the Coronavirus crisis. I can narrow my scope to “GTFS data for all London public transport modes in 2016”.

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TfL Ref: FOI-0121-2021

Thank you for your further request of 26^th April 2020 asking for GTFS data for 2016.

Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy. 

Specifically you asked:

“I can narrow my scope to “GTFS data for all London public transport modes in 2016”. I hope that could help.”

I am afraid that it is still the case that to meet your request would trigger the £450 costs limit set out in section 12 of the Freedom of Information Act. TfL holds vast amounts of data, much of which is already published (see the links in my response of 21^st April 2020 below) and some of which is not. In effect, while refined, your request is asking for all data that TfL holds in relation to any of the transport modes under the TfL banner (which includes the London Underground, London Overground, TfL Rail, buses, trams, river services, cycle hire and more) for the entire year 2016, and for this to be converted to GTFS format (having had it previously explained to you that TfL does not currently use or produce any GTFS data). This is an impossible task within the 18 hour costs limit. I can only suggest that you review our website further, and if there is any specific dataset that you are interested in I can ask colleagues in our Data Analytics team whether it is possible for it to be converted (however, note that this team is currently heavily occupied with TfL’s response to the Coronavirus pandemic). If you do consider narrowing your request further I would advise that you read the advice given by the Information Commissioner on how best to obtain information from public bodies, which can be found on its website here:

https://ico.org.uk/your-data-matters/official-information/

Note that the advice states that applicants should not “Deliberately ‘fish’ for information by submitting a very broad or random requests in the hope it will catch something noteworthy or otherwise useful. Requests should be directed towards obtaining information on a particular issue, rather than relying on pot luck to see if anything of interest is revealed.”

On a more general matter, please note that the Government has announced a series of measures to tackle the coronavirus. It is essential for London that we continue to provide a safe transport network for essential journeys.

In current circumstances, we are not able to answer FOI requests readily and we ask that you please do not make a request to us at present.

Answering FOI requests will require the use of limited resources and the attention of staff who could be supporting other essential activity. In any event, please note that our response time will be affected by the current situation.

Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.

Yours sincerely,

David Wells

FOI Case Officer

FOI Case Management Team

General Counsel

Transport for London

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