FOI request detail

Heritage route 15

Request ID: FOI-1979-1920
Date published: 23 October 2019

You asked

The Heritage Route 15 operates step entrance vehicles under an agreed exemption. Please can you send me a copy of the exemption document.

We answered

TfL Ref: FOI-1979-1920

Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 1st October 2019 asking for information about the heritage route 15 bus.

Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy.

Specifically you asked:

The Heritage Route 15 operates step entrance vehicles under an agreed exemption. Please can you send me a copy of the exemption document.

The Department for Transport (DfT) gave an exemption for the continued use of Routemasters on route 15 because they operate a limited service over part of that route, which operates at a high frequency with fully accessible buses. Therefore there is an accessible service available to anyone who might not be able to use the heritage vehicles.

Despite a search of our records (including an electronic search of relevant keywords and personnel), we have been unable find a copy of the letter confirming that position. To further search our records and archives by other means could only be achieved at disproportionate cost. 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, and then locating, retrieving or extracting it from other information, would exceed the appropriate limit of £450. This is calculated at £25 per hour for every hour spent on the activities described – equivalent to 18 hours work. It is possible that the DfT may hold a copy of the letter. FOI requests to the DfT can be made through its website via the following link: https://forms.dft.gov.uk/foi-dft-and-dft-agencies/

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

Yours sincerely,

David Wells

FOI Case Officer

FOI Case Management Team

General Counsel

Transport for London

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