TfL Ref: 0185-1920
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 12 April 2019 asking for information about ticket barriers / gatelines on the London Underground.
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 some of the information you require.
The manufacturer of our ticket barriers is Cubic: https://www.cubic.com/. The barriers do not have a fixed lifespan per se, but our supplier agreement includes an arrangement for Cubic to maintain the gates and replace any parts as and when required to keep them in operation.
In accordance with the FOI Act, we are not obliged to supply some of 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 unit cost of each ticket barrier and the installation and maintenance costs would or would be likely to prejudice both our commercial interests, as well as those of Cubic respectively. Disclosure of the pricing information would disadvantage Cubic in their ability to participate in future competitive bidding processes for similar contracts with 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.
You can find a copy of the redacted contract using the following link to the contracts finder website: https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/3d1a3016-5d9a-492c-9de8-b873d521ca81
Please note that under Section 21 of the Freedom of Information Act we are not obliged to provide you with information which is readily accessible by other means.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.
Yours sincerely
Sara Thomas
FOI Case Management Team
General Counsel
Transport for London
