Please would you provide information relating to disruption on TfL Rail on the following dates, specifically: - contact with Network Rail and Greater Anglia during or after the event - any internal reporting of the event (including the Social Media summary for these days), such as action plans for remediating the issues involved or improving handling of customer service in such situations. The dates and incidents requested are: - Thursday 9th November (pm peak - train without movement at Goodmayes requiring rescue) - Tuesday 17th October (pm peak - signalling system issues in Liverpool Street area) - Thursday 21st September (pm peak - train fault in Stratford area, plus GA disruption at Ingatestone) - Thursday 31st August (pm peak - points failure on the Electric Lines at Ilford Depot)

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TfL Ref: 2231-1718

Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 12 November asking for information on actions taken during and after TfL Rail disruption at specific dates in 2017. I apologise for the length of time this response has taken.

Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy. I can confirm that we hold some of the information you require.

However, in accordance with the FOI Act, we are not obliged to supply the documentation requested as it is subject to a statutory exemption to the right of access to information under sections 24 and 38(1)(b) of the Act. In this instance the exemption has been applied as disclosure of the information requested would be likely to adversely affect the safety and security of TfL employees and members of the general public as well as compromise national security.

We have significant concerns, which are shared by Network Rail about the release of this information into the public domain, and when another public authority raises security concerns we have a duty to consider these very seriously.

Some of the information covered by your request (both on the points failure) discuss TfL Rail’s contingency plan and illustrate the exact actions that would be taken in the event of an issue in an area like this. To the travelling public normally, the plan is communicated out on a train-by-train basis, so the full extent of the situation being managed and the actions being taken are not fully communicated to manage customer safety and security. Another document discusses how we would deal with a trapped train, which is a high risk situation with potential safety implications on a vast scale. Any disclosures made under the provisions of the FOI Act are deemed to be a ‘disclosure to the world at large’ and the release of this information raises serious safety and security issues. The explanation of our contingency plans for service and trapped trains, as well as details of the roles of individual key staff even in part, leave us exposed to malicious acts that can be focused on areas that the person involved knows causes a maximum impact, for example by limiting stock access to depots and creating safety risks with the management of trapped trains and overcrowded platforms.

Additionally there are security concerns about the potential safety risks associated with the disclosure of the requested information and the level of disruption which could be caused to the rail network. This information could be obtained and utilised by individuals who may wish to use this detailed operational information about how the network would operate during disruption to cause interference to the workings of the critical rail network infrastructure. Individuals could then plan further actions to maximise disruption and escalate the situation, placing members of the public and TfL staff at risk by highlighting areas on the network which could be targeted in an attack. Whilst we make no suggestion that you would use the information for anything other than your own personal interest, disclosure to you has to be regarded as a disclosure to ‘the public at large’.

The use of this exemption 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, but in this instance we do not believe that there is an overwhelming public interest in disclosure of the information; we consider that the public interest in applying the exemption, in order to avoid any compromise to the safety and security of the general public when using the rail network and to train operating staff outweighs the public interest in disclosure.

In applying this exemption we have taken into account the tribunal decision referred to in the following link:

http://informationrights.decisions.tribunals.gov.uk//DBFiles/Decision/i968/2013_02_28;%20Decision;%20EA.2012.0127.pdf

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.

Yours sincerely

Sara Thomas

FOI Case Management Team

General Counsel

Transport for London

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