Request ID: FOI-0447-2425 Date published: 31 May 2024
You asked
Dear Transport for London,
Could you please provide estimates of the greenhouse gas emissions (in grams per passenger kilometer) for the following modes of transport within London. Alternatively, you could provide the historic data for the most recent year for which you have data available.
London Underground
London Overground
Elizabeth Line
Docklands Light Railway
River boat
London Bus
Taxi
IFS CLoud Cable Car
We answered
TfL Ref: EIR-0447-2425
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 7th May 2024 asking for information about greenhouse gas emissions per passenger kilometre for various TfL modes.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Environmental Information Regulations and our information access policy.
Specifically you asked:
“Could you please provide estimates of the greenhouse gas emissions (in grams per passenger kilometer) for the following modes of transport within London. Alternatively, you could provide the historic data for the most recent year for which you have data available.
London Underground London Overground Elizabeth Line Docklands Light Railway River boat London Bus Taxi IFS CLoud Cable Car”.
I can confirm that we hold some of the information you require.
In regard to the London Underground, London Overground, Elizabeth Line, Docklands Light Railway and buses, please see this previous, similar request that was answered in January, published on the following page of our website, and which provides the requested information:
For ease, the document that was sent with that response is attached.
For the Cable Car, the figure for the most recent year (2023/24) is 94 g/pkm.
For taxis, TfL does not hold data on passenger numbers, and hence we are unable to calculate a grams per passenger kilometre figure. That said, you may be interested in the London Atmospheric Emissions Inventory (LAEI) 2019 data that can be found via the following link, which provides road emissions data by vehicle type, including taxis and private hire vehicles:
In regard to river services, TfL does not hold data for passenger services as these are privately operated and we do not receive the necessary data to make the required calculation. However, we can provide the following estimate for the Woolwich Ferry – which is 3,876 g / pkm.However, it should be noted that the ferry carries cyclists, cars, vans and lorries as well as pedestrians, hence the higher figure. The calculation also uses the shortest distance between the ferry terminals of 0.55km, although in reality the ferry does not travel in a straight line between the terminals – for example, the ferries turn 180 degrees during the journey. This figure is therefore indicative only.
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
