Request ID: FOI-2166-2223 Date published: 20 December 2022
You asked
Hi, I'm basing my final year dissertation on Zone 1 of the London underground and am researching the accessibility of stations. I need to record the following information on each station across every tube line within Zone 1 - (presence of)
- Stairs
- Escalator
- Elevator
- Seating
- Shelter (if an open-air station)
- Visual notices (indication of services, wait times, delays etc.)
- Audio notices (indication of services, wait times, delays etc.)
- Hearing loop
- Tactile paving (between the platform and train doors)
- Manual ramp
- Help point/staff on the platform
This information cannot all be obtained via the accessible travel guides online which place an emphasis on wheelchair-accessible travel. I was hoping that if this information is stored anywhere, I would be able to access a copy of it just for zone 1 if possible?
Thank you!
We answered
TfL Ref: FOI-2166-2223
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 28th November 2022 asking for information about the accessibility of London Underground zone 1 stations.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy.
Specifically you asked:
“Hi, I'm basing my final year dissertation on Zone 1 of the London underground and am researching the accessibility of stations. I need to record the following information on each station across every tube line within Zone 1 - (presence of) - Stairs - Escalator - Elevator - Seating - Shelter (if an open-air station) - Visual notices (indication of services, wait times, delays etc.) - Audio notices (indication of services, wait times, delays etc.) - Hearing loop - Tactile paving (between the platform and train doors) - Manual ramp - Help point/staff on the platform
This information cannot all be obtained via the accessible travel guides online which place an emphasis on wheelchair-accessible travel. I was hoping that if this information is stored anywhere, I would be able to access a copy of it just for zone 1 if possible?
I can confirm that we hold the information you require. However, it is not possible to source the exact information requested for every zone 1 station within the costs limit for responding to FOI cases, as set out under section 12 of the Freedom of Information Act. Under section 12, TfL is not obliged to provide information if it would costs more than £450 to determine if that information is held, and to then locate, retrieve or extract it from elsewhere. This is calculated at a rate of £25 per hour, equivalent to 18 hours work. The exemption applies in this instance because there is no single source for all of the information requested. Rather, we would need to check multiple sources. Given the number of stations within zone 1 it is not possible to do this for every listed item for every station within the costs limit. However, that said, we can provide you with the information below and attached that has alredy been collated and which should go some way to meeting your interest.
The table below provides information on stairs, escalators, lifts, seating, shelters and tactile paving.
Tactile paving is not provided on the four stations in zone 1 on the Jubilee line extension because they have platform edge screens/doors.
The attached document “MBR Location” shows which stations have manual boarding ramps.
In terms of Visual notices (indication of services, wait times, delays etc.); Audio notices (indication of services, wait times, delays etc.); Hearing loop; and Help point/staff on the platform - there is no single, definitive, pre-collated database for this information. However, that said, note that there is a London Underground Customer Information Standard which sets out the customer information requirements for all stations. The attached document “Relevant information from the Customer Information Standard” shows the standard requirements for visual and audio signage and information, helps points and hearing loops.
If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for any 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,
David Wells FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
