Apply for London tube line shapefiles and stations point shapefiles
Request ID: FOI-0226-2223 Date published: 17 May 2022
You asked
I am a student in UCL Barttlet CASA. My dissertation topic is 'under multi-transport mode the accessibility of London Greenspace'. Therefore, I need London tube line shapefiles and stations point shapefiles for my research.
We answered
TfL Ref: 0226-2223
Thank you for your email received by Transport for London (TfL) on 29 April 2022 asking for information about London Underground shapefiles.
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.
However, in accordance with the FOI Act, we are not obliged to supply the information you have requested as it is subject to statutory exemptions to the right of access to information, under Section 38(1)(b) and Section 24 of the Act.
In this instance the exemption has been applied as disclosure of the information requested would be likely to adversely affect the safety and security of Transport for London (TfL) employees and members of the general public as well as national security.
Disclosure of this information to you has to be regarded as a disclosure to ‘the public at large’. This information could potentially be obtained and utilised by individuals who may wish to use this detailed level technical information to cause disruption or harm to the London Underground network.
Disclosure of information could compromise security and safety preparedness on London Underground’s network and would place members of the public and TfL staff at risk by highlighting areas on the network which could be susceptible to being targeted. It is our concern that the release of details about the operating environment could be combined with other information already in the public domain to help plan an attack.
Whilst we make no suggestion that you would use the information for anything other than your own personal interest, the London Underground system is an attractive terrorist target for several reasons including its importance to London and the knock on effect to the nation’s economy if it is disrupted, the publicity gained from attacking an iconic transport system and the attractiveness of the system for a mass casualty attack due to its open, mass transport nature. It is also important to the functioning of London and its economy.
The use of these exemptions 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, but in this instance the public interest in applying the exemption, in order to minimise risks to operational resilience, safe operation of the London Underground network, the welfare of staff and members of the general public, outweighs the public interest in disclosure. In applying this exemption we have taken into account the tribunal decision referred to in the following link: http://informationrights.decisions.tribunals.gov.uk/DBFiles/Decision/i968/2013_02_28;%20Decision;%20EA.2012.0127.pdf
In the meantime, whilst being a one-off edition and having not been updated since, a geographic representation of the London Underground network as of 2014, is available, which may be of interest. Please see the attached PDF.
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
Jasmine Howard FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
