Could you please provide a breakdown of the number of signal failures on the Central Line so far in 2018 by month? Preferably with the date of each individual failure included so it is possible to get a clear picture of the frequency of these errors. Thank you.

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Our Ref:          FOI-1177-1819

Thank you for your request received on 30 July 2018 asking for information about the Central Line.

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 do hold the information you require.

There is a variety of signalling systems in use on the London Underground network, some dating back to the 1950s and some having gone into use in 2012. The range of different eras that the technology comes from presents different challenges in ensuring signal reliability. The reliability of signals on the Central line has improved markedly over the last decade, with delays due to signal issues down 88 per cent since 2005/06. However, we know that there is still more that we can do.

The Central line will form part of the Deep Tube Upgrade Programme, which will provide new trains and signalling for four Tube lines in the late 2020s and early 2030s. In the shorter term, investment is being made into the Central Line Improvement Project, which is aimed at making the service as reliable as possible until the brand-new system is ready to transform the line.

We have also created a team as part of our organisational change whose sole focus is working on signalling issues. We will continue to work on maintenance across many different aspects of ensuring reliability on the network, but this new team will work to drive reliability and make sure that our customers’ priorities are at the forefront of all work we undertake to improve and maintain signals.

Please find the requested information attached showing the number of failures affecting signalling. Please note that some of the failures may have re-occurred during a day (e.g. the days with three or four incidents) as we were unable to affect a full and complete repair until engineering hours.

We also publish information on London Underground performance for all lines on our website:

https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/publications-and-reports/underground-services-performance

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
[email protected]

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