Request ID: FOI-0813-2223 Date published: 26 August 2022
You asked
I would like to know, when, who and why was the decision taken by TFL to not to provide yellow Oyster pad/ contactless card readers on the two most westerly footbridges from the Southeastern platforms (1 & 2) at Abbey Wood station connecting to the Elizabeth line platforms (3 & 4) at the same station in time for the opening of the Elizabeth line on 24th May 2022 and likewise the ongoing non installation of them to date with the amount of people interchanging there.
It currently means that people travelling on Southeastern (or Thameslink) services direct from stations beyond the oyster/contactless card area east of Dartford have to manually exit the ticket barriers at Abbey Wood and then tap in on their contactless/oyster card rather than being able to use either of these two footbridges.
I am thus requesting information held by TFL, and TFL to release all relevant correspondence it holds into this matter. This should be appropriate correspondence between TFL and the following parties in regards to this matter:
• Southeastern
• MTR Crossrail Limited
• Department for Transport
• Greater London Authority
• London Boroughs of Bexley and Greenwich
• Rail Delivery Group
• Association of Train Operating Companies
• London Travelwatch
• Any other relevant correspondence from an individual or organisation not noted above
Finally, as part of the same freedom of information request, I would like to ask TFL’s position on the Elizabeth line as it is stated as a Train Operating Company on nationalrail.co.uk.
Can you TFL therefore confirm that a) TFL views it as not a London Underground line and the entire Elizabeth Line, including the core section between Paddington and Abbey Wood and all stations on it are therefore a National rail service. Additionally if a) is correct that b) when travelling on an Elizabeth line service both TFL’s conditions of carriage AND the National Rail conditions of Travel apply.
We answered
Our Ref: FOI-0813-2223
Thank you for your request received on 4 July 2022 asking for information about Abbey Wood Station
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy. I can confirm we hold some of the information you require. You asked:
I would like to know, when, who and why was the decision taken by TFL to not to provide yellow Oyster pad/ contactless card readers on the two most westerly footbridges from the Southeastern platforms (1 & 2) at Abbey Wood station connecting to the Elizabeth line platforms (3 & 4) at the same station in time for the opening of the Elizabeth line on 24th May 2022 and likewise the ongoing non installation of them to date with the amount of people interchanging there.
It currently means that people travelling on Southeastern (or Thameslink) services direct from stations beyond the oyster/contactless card area east of Dartford have to manually exit the ticket barriers at Abbey Wood and then tap in on their contactless/oyster card rather than being able to use either of these two footbridges.
In 2016 MTREL (then MTR Crossrail) approached TfL to consider the installation of Interchange validators at Abbey Wood. These were not included in the original design for the station. The TfL position was such that these are not generally provided within the paid area at Network Rail (NR) interchanges (although there are some exceptions). On the Elizabeth line, the interchange at Shenfield is not provided with such validators within the paid area of the station. There was no funding for the change, and as this was deemed as not required, no change to the project design was implemented.
At the time it was reasonable to assume that most customers travelling from point A (any Southeastern station) to point B (a destination on the Elizabeth line or an Underground station connecting from this line) would, as they can now, purchase a through ticket or travelcard (day or period) from their origin station to their destination station including the zones in which they were travelling (e.g. Greenhithe to Zone U1234). For most journeys this would have been the most economical ticket for the journey, and commuting was generally done by most customers using a weekly or longer period season ticket.
It has become apparent following the opening of the Elizabeth line that the introduction of “flexi season tickets” (in response to post-pandemic changes to working patterns), which are a National Rail only product, has resulted in cheaper ticket options being available for many journeys by using a combination of flexi season tickets for the National Rail portion of a journey, and pay as you go for the TfL part of the journey. It should be noted that journeys on the Elizabeth line are charged as London Underground for both single and return journeys on both paper tickets and contactless journeys.
It became clear upon the opening of the Elizabeth line that a number of customers are using the combination of tickets. Following feedback we are now installing six readers to allow interchange at the west and central footbridge. Work to install these is planned to begin this autumn. Customers interchanging via the ticket hall will be able to continue to touch in and out at the ticket gates.
I am thus requesting information held by TFL, and TFL to release all relevant correspondence it holds into this matter. This should be appropriate correspondence between TFL and the following parties in regards to this matter:
• Southeastern
There was no initial correspondence with Southeastern Railway in 2016 on the provision of validators. However, there has been subsequent correspondence in 2022, please find this attached.
• MTR Crossrail Limited
The attached correspondence with MTR Crossrail Limited shows that validators were requested, but these were not included in the scope for the delivery of the new station and the request was rejected by TfL.
Please note that some information contained within the correspondence is exempt from disclosure under s31(1)(a) of the FOI Act (Prevention and detection of crime).
In this instance the exemption applies as this information could be used by people with nefarious intent on identifying ways in which they could evade paying the correct fare. Disclosure would be likely to prejudice our efforts to prevent and detect this future fraudulent behaviour.
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 we consider that there is greater public interest in ensuring that the correct fares are paid for any journeys made on our network.
In accordance with our obligations under Data Protection legislation some personal data has been removed, as required by section 40(2) of the FOI Act. This is because disclosure of this personal data would be a breach of the legislation, specifically the first principle of Article 5 of the UK General Data Protection Regulation which requires all processing of personal data to be fair and lawful. It would not be fair to disclose this personal information when the individuals have no expectation it would be disclosed and TfL has not satisfied one of the conditions which would make the processing ‘fair’.
This exemption to the right of access to information is an absolute exemption and not subject to an assessment of whether the public interest favours use of the exemption.
We do not hold any correspondence on this subject with the following organisations:
• Department for Transport • Greater London Authority • London Boroughs of Bexley and Greenwich • Rail Delivery Group • Association of Train Operating Companies • London Travelwatch • Any other relevant correspondence from an individual or organisation not noted above
Finally, as part of the same freedom of information request, I would like to ask TFL’s position on the Elizabeth line as it is stated as a Train Operating Company on nationalrail.co.uk.
Can you TFL therefore confirm that a) TFL views it as not a London Underground line and the entire Elizabeth Line, including the core section between Paddington and Abbey Wood and all stations on it are therefore a National rail service. Additionally if a) is correct that b) when travelling on an Elizabeth line service both TFL’s conditions of carriage AND the National Rail conditions of Travel apply.
I can confirm that the Elizabeth line is not a Train Operating Company but it is a transport mode that is currently operated by MTR for TfL. Both TfL and National Rail Conditions of Carriage apply, dependent on which type of ticket is purchased. If it is a pay as you go ticket then TfL’s Condition of Carriage apply, if the ticket is purchased from a machine/ticket office then it will be National Rail’s.
If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for some reason, please feel free to contact me.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.
Yours sincerely
Gemma Jacob Senior FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
