Request ID: FOI-2156-2425 Date published: 21 October 2024
You asked
Please provide the distance, in miles and chains, from Platform A at Tottenham Court Road station to block marker board XR102.
We answered
TfL Ref: FOI-2156-2425
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on6 October 2024 asking for information about the distance between a platform and block marker board on the Elizabeth line.
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 that we hold the information you require. However, this information is exempt from disclosure under sections 24 – national security and section 38(1)(b) – health and safety of the FOI Act. Whilst we make no suggestion that you would use the information for anything other than your own personal interest, disclosure of this information to you has to be regarded as a disclosure to ‘the public at large’. This information could potentially be obtained and utilised by individuals who may wish to use this information to cause disruption or harm to the Elizabeth line and the rest of TfL’s network.
The London Underground system and our other networks are attractive terrorist targets for several reasons, including their importance to London and the knock on effect to the nation’s economy if they are disrupted, the publicity gained from attacking an iconic transport system and the attractiveness of the system for a mass casualty attack due to its open, mass transport nature. It is also a critical part of our national infrastructure.
Disclosure of information could compromise security and safety preparedness and would place members of the public and TfL staff at risk by highlighting areas on the network which could be susceptible to being targeted. It is our concern that the release of this information could be combined with other information already in the public domain to help plan an attack. The use of these exemptions is subject to an assessment of the public interest in relation to the disclosure of the information concerned. We recognise the need for openness and transparency by public authorities, however, we are not aware of any meaningful public interest in disclosing the requested information. Therefore, the public interest in applying the exemption, in order to minimise risks to London’s transport infrastructure, safe operation of the London Underground network, and the welfare of TfL staff and members of the general public outweighs the public interest in disclosure. The Information Commissioner’s Office has previously issued a Decision Notice regarding the application of sections 24 and 38 to withhold information in relation to the security of public transport. Whilst the information requested in this case is different to the information you have requested, we believe the same arguments can be applied:
