While on the Southbound 468 bus in Croydon (passenger on the upper deck when the bus was stationary in Wellesley Road at the Croydon road underpass before turning right into Park Street) I noticed what looked like damage to the painted surface of the metal pillar that supports the power cables for the Croydon tram service. Please provide the following information under the Freedom Of Information Act: 1 How often is the metal pillars power infrastructure of the trams inspected? 2 How frequent is routine maintenance of repainting some or all pillars? 3 What routine testing is done of painted surfaces for the effect of pollution from vehicles (taking paint samples for laboratory analysis)? 4 What investigation or Maintenance will be done as a result of this request please? 5 What email address should I use regarding future tram enquiries?

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TfL Ref: FOI-1943-1920

Thank you for your email received by Transport for London (TfL) on 26 September 2019.

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 hold some of the information you require. You asked:

1 How often is the metal pillars power infrastructure of the trams inspected?

A structural inspection is carried out every 2 years as per the industry standard.

2 How frequent is routine maintenance of repainting some or all pillars?

As required – usually if damaged or painted with graffiti.

3 What routine testing is done of painted surfaces for the effect of pollution from vehicles (taking paint samples for laboratory analysis)?

We do not do this.

4 What investigation or Maintenance will be done as a result of this request please?

We have passed it to the operations team and they will carry out an inspection.

5 What email address should I use regarding future tram enquiries?

For future tram enquiries or complaints, please see the TfL website for contact details https://tfl.gov.uk/help-and-contact/

If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for some 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

Eva Hextall

FOI Case Officer

FOI Case Management Team

General Counsel

Transport for London

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