I would like TfL to supply a list of which of its London Underground Stations passengers are directed to “Keep Right” like North Greenwich (with an assumption that others are signed “Keep Left”). It also request a list of London Underground Stations with mixed signs (for example Seven Sisters). Within the costing constraints of a FoI request, I would also like any policy documentation as to why those stations where the signs are “Keep Right” has been chosen. Many thanks.

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TfL Ref: FOI-1836-1920

Thank you for your email received by Transport for London (TfL) on 18 September 2019.

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 we do hold the information you require. You asked:

1. I would like TfL to supply a list of which of its London Underground Stations passengers are directed to “Keep Right” like North Greenwich (with an assumption that others are signed “Keep Left”).

    

    

2. It also request a list of London Underground Stations with mixed signs (for example Seven Sisters).

    

    

3. Within the costing constraints of a FoI request, I would also like any policy documentation as to why those stations where the signs are “Keep Right” has been chosen.

Unfortunately, to provide the information you have requested would exceed the ‘appropriate limit’ of £450 set by the Freedom of Information (Appropriate Limit and Fees) Regulations 2004.

Under section 12 of the FOI Act, we are not obliged to comply with a request if we estimate that the cost of determining whether we hold the information, locating and retrieving it and extracting it from other information would exceed the appropriate limit. This is calculated at £25 per hour for every hour spent on the activities described.

We have estimated that it would significantly exceed the cost to provide a response to your current request. The information you require isn’t centrally held. In order to produce a list of the signs, someone would have to visit and audit each station and walk every part of it to catalogue which areas were which direction as some may not be consistent owing to the need to control the flows in larger multipart stations. Similarly in many busy locations it is necessary to bring in a one way system to alleviate congestion at certain times of the day and  it may be necessary to direct people against the existing signage – which adds another variable to any collation or a unified list. This would be a significant task that would take many hours to complete.

To help bring the cost of responding to your request within the £450 limit, you may wish to consider narrowing its scope so that we can more easily locate, retrieve and extract the information you are seeking. If you want to refine your request or make a Freedom of Information Act request in future, please bear in mind that the Freedom of Information Act allows you to request recorded information held by Transport for London. You might also consider limiting your request to particular stations.

Although your request can take the form of a question, rather than a request for specific documents, TfL does not have to answer your question if it would require the creation of new information or the provision of a judgement, explanation, advice or opinion that was not already recorded at the time of your request.

Please note that we will not be taking further action until we receive your revised request.

In the meantime, if you have any queries or would like to discuss your request, please do not hesitate to contact me.

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

Yours sincerely

Eva Hextall

FOI Case Officer

FOI Case Management Team

General Counsel

Transport for London

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