Request ID: FOI-1287-2425 Date published: 20 August 2024
You asked
In response to my freedom of information request regarding the previous commercial branding of Bond Street to Burberry Street during London Fashion Week, your reference FOI-2089-2324, TfL made the commitment to ensure there was documentation of a site survey having been completed, documentation of TfL considering and assessing the risks to passengers and others using a station with a commercial rebranding and documentation of how these assements relate to the Equality Act 2010, for any future decisions made on the rebranding of stations for advertising purposes.
I sincerely hope that TfL has held itself to these commitments, so under the freedom of information legislation, I would like to please request the above documentation surrounding the rebranding of Old Street station to 'Fold Street', as part of a promotion for Samsung.
We answered
Our Ref: FOI-1287-2425
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act and our information access policy. I can confirm that we do hold the information you require. Old Street Tube station was temporarily renamed ‘Fold Street’ from 24-28 July in partnership with Samsung. Selected roundels in the station were temporarily changed to say ‘Fold Street’ with other signage at the station and on maps remaining as Old Street during this activity. Signage within trains, including the in-car digital displays which show what the next station is, automated train announcements, and route maps within the trains, were not changed as part of the temporary take-over. There were also no changes to other digital information, for example TfL Journey Planner or our app, TfL Go. Station staff were fully briefed in advance and station announcements were regularly made to inform customers throughout the campaign that this was Old Street station. Ahead of the collaboration going live, TfL also engaged with Govia Thameslink so staff can assist customers interchanging between their services and the Underground station. TfL also advised Moorfields Eye Hospital of the temporary change to some of the signage to minimise any impact to anyone visiting the hospital, and the hospital posted on X (https://x.com/Moorfields/status/1816036849414021260) to let visitors know of the changes. For short term changes we do not carry out a formal Equality Impact Assessment, but we do a comprehensive site survey at the station with station staff, in advance of agreeing partnerships, to consider customer impacts and agree which parts of the station can be changed. Please find the requested information attached. Please note that we also publish all our commercial partnerships contracts on our website: https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/business-and-advertisers/transparency-policy-on-commercial-partnerships. 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.
Yours sincerely
Gemma Jacob Senior FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
