Request ID: FOI-1270-2122 Date published: 07 October 2021
You asked
Please can you:
1) send me the latest noise and vibration report from the measurements on 12th and 13th August 2021 at our flat;
2) confirm whether or not Fitzroy Area continues to be recognised as a noise and vibration ‘Hotspot’ by TfL - and, if not, when the decision was taken that it should no longer be recognised as such;
3) provide a list of all the locations on the network where PVs have been installed, indicating the month and year of installation - and, in cases where those PVs have been removed, when that occurred and the reason (if known) for removal;
4) provide a list of any locations on the network where alternative (not PVs) rail noise and vibration dampening devices or measures have been installed - indicating the month and year of installation.
5) confirm what, if any, plans are in place to reduce the excessive and debilitating noise and vibration levels still being experienced by residents in the Fitzroy Area from Northbound and Southbound Victoria Line trains.
We answered
TfL Ref: EIR-1270-2122
Thank you for your email of 14th September 2021 asking for information about noise from the Victoria Line.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Environmental Information Regulations and our information access policy.
Your questions are answered in turn below:
Question 1) send me the latest noise and vibration report from the measurements on 12th and 13th August 2021 at our flat;
Answer: Please find the report attached.
Question 2) confirm whether or not Fitzroy Area continues to be recognised as a noise and vibration ‘Hotspot’ by TfL - and, if not, when the decision was taken that it should no longer be recognised as such;
Answer: The area between Oxford Circus and Warren Street of the Victoria line is currently recognised as a priority noise and vibration location.
Question 3) provide a list of all the locations on the network where PVs have been installed, indicating the month and year of installation - and, in cases where those PVs have been removed, when that occurred and the reason (if known) for removal;
Answer: The information for the London Underground network is provided in the table below:
Line
Station From
Station To
Length (m)
PV install date
Central
Wanstead
Leytonstone
100
Oct-16
Central
Wanstead
Leytonstone
80
Apr-17
Central
Liverpool Street
Bethnal Green
120
Jul-16
Central
Leytonstone
Wanstead
275
Aug-16
Central
Holland Park
Notting Hill Gate
47
Aug-18
Central
Holland Park
Notting Hill Gate
165
Aug-16
Central
Holland Park
Shepherds Bush
83
<2016
Central
Tottenham Court Road
Holborn
60
Jul-18
Jubilee
Green Park
Bond Street
170
Dec-17
Jubilee
St John's Wood
Baker Street
185
Sep-16
Jubilee
Baker Street
St John's Wood
255
Aug-16
Northern
South Wimbledon
Morden
340
Jul-17
Northern
Camden Town
Euston
170
May-17
Northern
Camden Town
Euston
120
May-18
Northern
Kentish Town
Tufnell Park
120
Jun-17
Northern
Euston
Camden Town
120
Mar-18
Northern
Euston
Camden Town
280
Jul-17
Northern
Camden Town
Kentish Town
460
Jun-18
Northern
Kentish Town
Camden Town
450
Aug-18
Northern
South Wimbledon
Colliers Wood
130
Oct-18
Piccadilly
South Kensington
Gloucester Road
80
Mar-17
Piccadilly
Earl's Court
Gloucester Road
510
Feb-17
Piccadilly
Gloucester Road
Earl's Court
380
Sep-17
Victoria
Vauxhall
Stockwell
220
Oct-16
Victoria
Stockwell
Vauxhall
180
Nov-16
Victoria
Stockwell
Vauxhall
180
Nov-16
Victoria
Vauxhall
Stockwell
220
Oct-16
Victoria
Pimlico
Victoria
545
Sep-16
Victoria
King's Cross
Euston
100
Jun-17
Victoria
Euston
King's Cross
110
Sep-17
Victoria
Oxford Circus
Warren Street
250
Jan-17
Victoria
Oxford Circus
Green Park
120
<2016
Pandrol Vanguard was removed between Baker Street and St John’s Wood on the Jubilee line. Track replacement works started in 2019 and are due to complete this year.
Question 4) provide a list of any locations on the network where alternative (not PVs) rail noise and vibration dampening devices or measures have been installed - indicating the month and year of installation.
Answer: It is not possible to answer this question for the entire history of the London Underground, which dates back to the 19th Century, without expending an inordinate amount of resource (and it is likely that we would only hold or be able to find the requested information in part). The request is therefore being refused under Regulation 12(4)(b) of the EIR on the basis that it is ‘manifestly unreasonable’. The purpose of this exception is to protect a public authority from exposure to a disproportionate burden or an unjustified level of distress, disruption or irritation in handling information requests, and is used when the cost of compliance with an EIR request would be too great. In assessing whether the cost or burden of dealing with a request is “too great” we take into account:
- the nature of the request and any wider value in the requested information being made publicly available; - the importance of any underlying issue to which the request relates, and the extent to which responding to the request would illuminate that issue; - the extent to which we would be distracted from delivering other services;
In this case we believe that the effort required to source all of the information within the scope of the request would be disproportionate to its value and would divert resource away from other more essential activities. We do not believe, therefore, that the public interest favours the expenditure of the resource required to answer it.
Question 5) confirm what, if any, plans are in place to reduce the excessive and debilitating noise and vibration levels still being experienced by residents in the Fitzroy Area from Northbound and Southbound Victoria Line trains.
Answer: TfL will continue to closely review this area, and where corrugation levels increase we will look to carry out further rail grinding. Overall the track in this area is in good condition, and it is unlikely that other track works would significantly impact noise levels.
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,
David Wells FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
