Electricity substation for Northern Line Archway Road N6
Request ID: FOI-0995-2223 Date published: 09 August 2022
You asked
Hi there,
Is the Electricity sub station on 138 Archway Road N6 operated by or on behalf of London Underground and is the sub station still active?
What is its current capacity / activity?
Are there any EMF reading from within the substation or in the nearby vicinity?
Are there any plans to decommission or expand the substation?
Are there any other future development plans of the site?
How often is the surrounding site cleaned on an annual basis?
Status on current grading of the building
Does TFL have any plans to improve the surrounding site? Cleaning up grounds and fixing fly tipping issues in response to neighbouring complaints
How often is maintenance carried out on the machinery on an annual basis?
How many times has TFL been called out to fix noise issues in the past year?
Many thanks
We answered
TfL Ref: FOI-0995-2223
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 23rd July 2022 asking for information about an electricity substation on Archway Road, N6.
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. Your questions are answered in turn below:
Question 1: Is the Electricity sub station on 138 Archway Road N6 operated by or on behalf of London Underground and is the sub station still active?
Answer: London Underground owns Highgate Substation at address 144 - 152 Archway Road, London N6 5BH. This is a typical operational substation that provides power to the Northern Line.
Question 2: What is its current capacity / activity?
Answer: This is an 11Kv substation which has 5MW of potential connected load (for DC Traction, Power & Lighting and Signals Supplies).
Question 3: Are there any EMF reading from within the substation or in the nearby vicinity?
Answer: London Underground complies with the Control of EMF Regulations 2006. There would be no risk of EMF externally to the building or the surrounding vicinity. There are very low levels of EMF within the substation but typically these would be below 500 μT with no specific controls required.
Question 4: Are there any plans to decommission or expand the substation?
Answer: There are no plans to either decommission or expand the substation.
Question 5: Are there any other future development plans of the site?
Answer: No.
Question 6: How often is the surrounding site cleaned on an annual basis?
Answer: The substation compound is subject to regular 6 monthly maintenance.
Question 7: Status on current grading of the building:
Answer: It is not sure what type of “grading” this question refers to (i.e. is it related to security, historical interest, or something else?). If you can clarify we can consider the question further.
Question 8: Does TFL have any plans to improve the surrounding site? Cleaning up grounds and fixing fly tipping issues in response to neighbouring complaints
Answer: The substation compound is subject to regular maintenance as referenced above in answer to question 6, and additional ad-hoc clearances take place for specific issues - i.e. fly tipping - as and when necessary.
Question 9: How often is maintenance carried out on the machinery on an annual basis?
Answer: Substation maintenance frequencies are typically: annual servicing and two-yearly maintenance of substation plant.
Question 10: How many times has TFL been called out to fix noise issues in the past year?
Answer: None - we are not aware of any specific noise issues for Highgate Substation. There was a complaint a few years ago but this was related to staff noisily opening the gates and the rattle of padlock / chain.
If this is not the information you are looking for 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
