Request ID: FOI-0926-2223 Date published: 12 August 2022
You asked
Dear Sir,
I note the Woolwich ferry is scheduled to operate a daily two-boat service on weekdays and a one-boat service at weekends and on public holidays.
For the years 2021-22 and 2022-23 (so far) please could you provide:
(a) the number of weekdays where no service was provided;
(b) the number of weekend days where no service was provided; and
(c) the number of weekdays where a one-boat service was provided instead of the scheduled two-boat service.
For each day under each of headings (a), (b) and (c) above, please provide the reason for the failure to provide the scheduled service. If this information is not held or would be too difficult to compile, a summary of reasons for not providing the service and the number of days of service lost due to each reason would be acceptable (e.g. 10 days lost due to strike action, 8 days lost due to mechanical failure, etc.).
If it is easier for you to respond in terms of hours rather than days, that is fine.
I look forward to receiving your response (by email please).
I should add that it would be a basic courtesy to motorists and would-be foot passengers, when the ferry is not running, for TfL to do much more than it does currently to let people know, so they don't get all the way to the pier before finding out, and also to state the reason for the lack of service. Far too often the ferry isn't running and one simply cannot find out why not, the tacit implication being that there's no legitimate expectation that it should run as scheduled. If reasons were given out at the time whenever the service is suspended, I wouldn't have needed to trouble you with this request.
We answered
TfL Ref: 0926-2223 Thank you for your request received by us on 18 July 2022 asking for information about the Woolwich Ferry service. 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 for: For the years 2021-22 and 2022-23 (so far) please could you provide: (a) the number of weekdays where no service was provided; Please see the following tables provided for each of the questions referenced in your request:
Number of Weekdays
Reason
69
Industrial Action
49
Planned closure – essential maintenance
7
Unavailable Resource/resilience levels
5
Bank Holiday
1
Technical Issues with Intelligent Dock Locking (IDL)
(b) the number of weekend days where no service was provided; and
Number of Weekend Days
Reason
14
Planned closure – essential maintenance
6
Unavailable Resource/Resilience levels
2
Industrial Action
2
Technical Issues with Intelligent Dock Locking; Dame Vera Lynne ferry service
1
Trials for alternate mooring procedures
(c) the number of weekdays where a one-boat service was provided instead of the scheduled two-boat service.
Number of Weekdays
Reason
162
Restricted service
37
Vessel in layby/on grid – Tidal restrictions/crew availability
9
Unavailable Resource/resilience levels
1
Vessel inspection following Intelligent Dock Locking issues
A restricted one boat service continued to operate from 2020 to 12 April 2021 due to the pandemic. From 1 January 2021, this was for a total of 102 days. Within that period, we were scheduled to run 70 days of a one boat service instead of two. A restricted one boat service operated between 17 January 2022 and 27 July 2022 (a period of 192 days), due to unavailable critical resources/resource resilience levels. Within this period, we were scheduled to run 134 days of a one boat service instead of two On Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 July 2021, we additionally ran a two boat service to support the planned closure of Blackwall Tunnel. In addition, on 9 June 2022, we extended our restricted service from 18:00 to 20:00 to help ease the volume of traffic due to the Dartford Tunnel closure. 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 Jasmine Howard FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
