Dear Sir, Last year, the Kew Society commissioned a feasibility study into the provision of step-free access across the tracks at Kew Gardens. London Underground was consulted as part of this process. We are now developing the preferred option and looking to gather statistics on wheelchair users and others with restricted mobility who might benefit from improvements at Kew. Does Transport for London have any figures on the number of disabled people using the Underground generally? Obviously, we would want information from a more normal time than we have seen this year. Do you have figures for disabled people using the District Line? Or the Overground? I presume there are no statistics for Kew Gardens Station itself but would be delighted to be proved wrong on that point.

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TfL Ref 0841-2021

Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 13 August 2020 asking for information about disabled passenger data for the London Underground.

Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy. You asked: Does Transport for London have any figures on the number of disabled people using the Underground generally? Obviously, we would want information from a more normal time than we have seen this year. Do you have figures for disabled people using the District Line? Or the Overground? I presume there are no statistics for Kew Gardens Station itself but would be delighted to be proved wrong on that point.

We do not hold the specific information you have asked for as unfortunately our standard data products don’t provide the data across our network broken down by those who have restricted mobility.

We have published a report on our website which provides general numbers on disabled customers from 2019 which you may want to access here: http://content.tfl.gov.uk/travel-in-london-understanding-our-diverse-communities-2019.pdf.

We can also provide the contact details for a member of staff who I believe you have been in contact previously and who has worked on several Step Free Access projects, on the London Underground network - xxx. xxx is happy to work with the Kew Society in discussing issues around the planning, design and funding of a step-free access scheme at Kew Gardens station. He can be contacted at xxx@tube.tfl.gov.uk.

The impact of current circumstances on TfL’s resources means we are not able to answer FOI requests readily and we ask that you please do not make a request to us at present.

Answering FOI requests will require the use of limited resources and the attention of staff who could be supporting other essential activity. In any event, please note that our response time will be affected by the current situation.

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

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