Request ID: FOI-0354-2425 Date published: 10 May 2024
You asked
Please let me know if more drivers will be employed on Dial-a-Ride buses as recently many drivers have left their job. And please let me know if brand new electric buses will be purchased for Dial-a-Ride.
And let me know if new trains ordered for Piccadilly line have arrived and how much is the total cost. And what will happen to the old trains. And will new trains be ordered for the Bakerloo line? And how much was total cost of Elizabeth Line? And let me know if new trains will be ordered for the Circle line?
And how much Dial-a-Ride pays per year for the contract of taxis by Addison Lee for year 2024-25.
We answered
TfL Ref: FOI-0354-2324 Thank you for letter of 26th April 2024 asking various questions about Transport for London services. Your request has been considered under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy. I can confirm that we hold the information you require. Your questions are answered in turn below: Question 1: Please let me know if more drivers will be employed on Dial-a-Ride buses as recently many drivers have left their job. Answer:We currently have 291 drivers, with some drivers currently in training. Dial-a-Ride always aims to recruit sufficient numbers of drivers to meet customer needs. There are no plans to recruit new drivers at present, as the current cohort is sufficient to run the service. Question 2: And please let me know if brand new electric buses will be purchased for Dial-a-Ride. Answer: Dial-a-Ride will move to a zero emission fleet and we are currently undertaking a project to determine the best vehicle to meet the needs of customers, including whether new vehicles are needed, or if the current buses can be converted. This work is in very early stages, and no conclusions can be drawn at this stage. Question 3: And how much Dial-a-Ride pays per year for the contract of taxis by Addison Lee for year 2024-25. Answer: This information is exempt from disclosure under section 43(2) of the Freedom of Information Act on the basis that it is commercially prejudicial. Release of information under the Freedom of Information Act is considered to be to the world at large rather than the individual applicant. While it is appreciated that you have requested the information out of your own interest, to place this information into the public domain would inhibit TfL’s ability to negotiate the best value when contracting for the service in the future.
As a ‘qualified’ exemption, the use of section 43(2) is subject to consideration of the ‘public interest test’ to determine whether it is in the greater public interest for the exemption to apply and the information to be withheld, or for it to be released in any event. We appreciate the need for openness and transparency in the operation of our business, and the fact you have requested the information is in itself an argument in favour of release. However, we also have a responsibility to secure the best value when spending public money, and we believe that placing the requested information into the public domain would reduce our ability to secure the best price in future contracts, to the detriment of the public purse. We therefore believe that the greater public interest rests in the exemption applying. Question 4: And let me know if new trains ordered for Piccadilly line have arrived and how much is the total cost. Answer: Siemens Mobility Limited have the contract for the provision of new Trains for the Piccadilly line. This contract is for outright purchase of the trains, at a cost of £1.44 Billion for 94 trains. The first of the trains arrives this year for testing, and will enter passenger service from 2025. Question 5: And what will happen to the old trains. Answer:The use of the existing Piccadilly line trains is currently being reviewed to determine if any shall be retained as engineering vehicles once the new passenger trains are brought into service. Any need to dispose of rolling stock assets will be done in compliance with appropriate TfL Standards and procedures. Question 6: And will new trains be ordered for the Bakerloo line? Answer:TfL are currently developing the business case and exploring options to replace the Bakerloo line fleet, which are the oldest trains in passenger operation in the UK. The ability to undertake this fleet replacement is dependent upon funding being made available. TfL is actively engaging with the Department for Transport on a future funding settlement for the financial year 2024/2025, which the Bakerloo line Upgrade forms a part of. Question 7: And how much was total cost of Elizabeth Line? Answer: The total funding for the project was £18.9 billion. Question 8: And let me know if new trains will be ordered for the Circle line? Answer:There are currently no plans to purchase new trains for the Circle line, as the current fleet was commissioned in 2012 with a 40 year design life. If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for any 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,
David Wells, FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
