Thank you for the information you sent last August. As the time had passed for critically high temperatures on the Tube by that time of year I filed it away for consideration at a more appropriate time. With the exceptional weather over the last 2 months I have now looked closely at what you sent and there are baselines for which I would like some clarification. File “Average Monthly Platform Temperatures (2013-16) R” Central Line March 2009 Q1 Where the carriage heaters on, I understand these are about 15kWs? Central Line November 2008 Q2 Where the carriage heaters on, I understand these are about 15kWs? Victoria Line February 2009 Q3 Where the carriage heaters on, I understand these are about 15kWs? Victoria Line November 2008 Q4 Where the carriage heaters on, I understand these are about 15kWs? Central Line 22nd-24th July 2015 Q5 What were the ambient overground temperature at the time of these tests? File “Rolling stock thermal images R” Q6 What were the ambient overground temperature at the time of these images? Q7 Would you supply me images at other times of the year, particularly in July and August. It would be interesting to compare images throughout the year in the same location, knowing what the ambient temperature was when each of the images where taken.

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TfL Ref: FOI-1350-1819

Thank you for your  request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 7 August 2018 asking for information about tube temperatures.

Your request has been processed in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy. You asked:

File “Average Monthly Platform Temperatures (2013-16) R”

Central Line March 2009

Q1 Where the carriage heaters on, I understand these are about 15kWs?

Central line rolling stock heaters operate when in carriage temperatures are below 17 degrees Celsius. We can not therefore confirm the frequency/duration of heaters being active or not during these periods.

Central Line November 2008

Q2 Where the carriage heaters on, I understand these are about 15kWs?

We do not hold information regarding the removed 67TS Central line rolling stock.

Victoria Line February 2009

Q3 Where the carriage heaters on, I understand these are about 15kWs?

Victoria Line November 2008

Q4 Where the carriage heaters on, I understand these are about 15kWs?

The new Victoria line rolling stock do not have heaters.

Central Line 22^nd-24^th July 2015

Q5 What were the ambient overground temperature at the time of these tests?

File “Rolling stock thermal images R”

Q6 What were the ambient overground temperature at the time of these images?

In accordance with the FOI Act, TfL is not obliged to supply ambient temperature information as it is subject to a statutory exemption to the right of access to information under section 43(2).

In this instance section 43(2) has been applied as disclosure of the information requested would be likely to prejudice the commercial interests of TfL and/or the Met Office. The data in question is intellectual property held by TfL on behalf of the Met Office.

The use of this exemption is subject to an assessment of the public interest in relation to the disclosure of the information concerned. TfL recognises the need for openness and transparency by public authorities, but in this instance the public interest in ensuring that TfL is able to obtain the best value from public assets, outweighs the general public interest in increasing transparency of TfL’s processes.

Q7 Would you supply me images at other times of the year, particularly in July and August. It would be interesting to compare images throughout the year in the same location, knowing what the ambient temperature was when each of the images where taken.

Unfortunately we do not hold the detailed information you request.

Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.

Yours sincerely,

Melissa Nichols

FOI Case Officer

FOI Case Management Team

General Counsel

Transport for London

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