Request ID: FOI-0374-2223 Date published: 13 June 2022
You asked
Dear Transport for London,
I would like to ask about how much it costs to install automatic ticket gates at any one station. I would appreciate a station name and the cost of gate installation at that station including all other necessary infrastructure.
We answered
TfL Ref: 0374-2223
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 19 May 2022 asking for information about ticket gates installation costs.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act and our information access policy.
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. You asked: I would like to ask about how much it costs to install automatic ticket gates at any one station. I would appreciate a station name and the cost of gate installation at that station including all other necessary infrastructure.
However, in accordance with the FOI Act, we are not obliged to supply 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 cost of a ticket barrier and the associated infrastructure costs including at a named station would be likely to prejudice both our commercial interests, as well as those of the supplier of our gates, Cubic. Disclosure of the gate and other costs 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. By giving out the costs you’ve asked for, for a named station, it would be possible to work out the cost for other stations. This is particularly commercially sensitive at this time as we are currently in the process of running a large procurement exercise that includes the items you have specifically asked about.
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.
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
