Request ID: FOI-0929-2223 Date published: 08 September 2022
You asked
Would like current & historical data available for the Blackwall Tunnel and Woolwich Ferry closures. Ideally, would like the data to consist of: date, time closed, reopened & reason for the closure (e.g. vehicle breakdown, accident, repair, staff sickness etc)
This request for data is to better study the patterns on what the root causes are and help cross check against figures quoted publicly by media which appear to be misleading.
We answered
TfL Ref: 0929-2223
Thank you for your request received by us on 18 July 2022 and following clarification, 9 and 30 August 2022, asking for information about the Woolwich Ferry Service and Blackwall Tunnel Closures.
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 some of the information you require. You asked for:
current & historical data available for the Blackwall Tunnel and Woolwich Ferry closures. Ideally, would like the data to consist of: date, time closed, reopened & reason for the closure (e.g. vehicle breakdown, accident, repair, staff sickness etc)
In relation to the Woolwich Ferry service request, it was when the service was not in operation at all for a day or part of the day & not when service was partially in operation with a single ferry. This request for data is to better study the patterns on what the root causes are and help cross check against figures quoted publicly by media which appear to be misleading. I would like data going back to 2016 if that is possible
Please see the attached spreadsheets providing the requested data for the Woolwich Ferry and Blackwall Tunnel Closures since 2016 and the reasons why.
We would like to advise that information for the Blackwall Tunnel Closures details all incident records we hold that have led to its closure, as recorded by our incident recording systems. Closure Times are listed in minutes for each event. However, there are some significant gaps in the data for the early months of 2016, which were caused by the introduction of a new recording system for recording these incidents. Additionally, Incident Time may be the same as or longer than Closure Time.
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
