Dear Sir/Madam, Could you please provide an excel spreadsheet (or similar) showing usable station platform areas for every station platform on the London Underground? If this is not possible, an average usable platform width value will be sufficient.

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TfL Ref: FOI-2147-2021

Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 25^th January 2021 asking for information about London Underground station platforms.

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

Specifically you asked:

“Could you please provide an excel spreadsheet (or similar) showing usable station platform areas for every station platform on the London Underground? If this is not possible, an average usable platform width value will be sufficient.”

I can confirm that we hold the information you require. However, it is not possible to proivde the information (either the actual figures or an average) within the costs limit for responding to requests, as set out in section 12 of the Freedom of Information Act. Under section 12, a public authority such as TfL is not required to respond to a request if it would cost more than £450 to determine if the information is held, and to then locate, retrieve or extract that information from elsewhere. This is calculated at a rate of £25 per hour, equivalent to 18 hours work. While we hold the information you have requested, it has not been collated before nor is it readily to hand. To source it (or to source the figures to calculate an average) we would have to review records for each individual London Underground station. With 270 stations on the network this would have to be achieved at a rate of one station every four minutes. We do not believe this is realistic, particularly considering the actual number of platforms will be far higher than 270, with many of the larger stations have multiple lines running through them. However, that said, I can provide you with the following information that I hope will be of use. New platform widths must meet the Station Capacity Planning standard S1371, which includes the following:

3.7.3 New platforms

3.7.3.1 The following minimum widths shall apply:

a) Side platforms: 3m (from platform nosing to wall finish at floor level).

b) Island platforms: 6m (between platform nosings).

Where existing platforms are altered they must meet the following:

3.7.4 Existing platforms

3.7.4.1 When new or altered assets are proposed to existing stations and compliance with platform requirements for new stations (insert no. for new stations clause above) cannot be met without major rebuilding/alterations to the existing building structure, then the platform width shall be optimised and shall comply with the following:

a) Deep tube – not less than 3m

b) Surface and sub-surface – not less than 2.5m

c) Temporary installations for less than 6 months duration – not less than 2m.

They shall not be located within 5m of platform entrances or exits.

Note: Temporary installations on designated step free platforms shall comply with a) or b).

Note: For existing island platforms, a), b) and c) applies to each side of the platform.

Note that given the age of the London Underground system there will be a number of variations among existing platforms in practice.

If you are considering submitting a further FOI request please think carefully about whether the request is essential at this current time, as answering FOI requests will require the use of limited resources and the attention of staff who could be supporting other essential activity. Where requests are made, please note that our response time may be impacted by the current situation.

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,

David Wells

FOI Case Officer

FOI Case Management Team

General Counsel

Transport for London

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