FOI request: is there a difference in sleeper type between the northbound Victoria line and the southbound Victoria line on the section between Highbury and Islington and Kings Cross stations, particularly beneath Barnsbury Street? Does, for example, the northbound Victoria line beneath Barnsbury Street possess concrete sleepers while the southbound possesses wooden sleepers, or do they both possess concrete sleepers in this section of track?

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TfL Refs: FOI-0174-2021 and FOI-0185-2021

Thank you for your requests received by Transport for London (TfL) on 7^th and 9^th May 2020 asking for information about track fasteners and sleepers on the Victoria Line.

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

Specifically you asked:

“Does the southbound Victoria line between Highbury and Islington and King’s Cross station, on the stretch beneath Barnsbury Street, possess any type of track fasteners such as Pandrol Vanguard or Delkore?”.

And;

“Is there a difference in sleeper type between the northbound Victoria line and the southbound Victoria line on the section between Highbury and Islington and Kings Cross stations, particularly beneath Barnsbury Street? Does, for example, the northbound Victoria line beneath Barnsbury Street possess concrete sleepers while the southbound possesses wooden sleepers, or do they both possess concrete sleepers in this section of track?”.

I can confirm that we hold the information you require. On both the northbound and southbound sections of track beneath Barnsbury Street (and the rest of the Highbury and Islington - King’s Cross section) the track consists of hardwood timber sleepers, Mk2 re-rail baseplates and Pandrol E-clips.

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

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 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,

David Wells

FOI Case Officer

FOI Case Management Team

General Counsel

Transport for London

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