What TfL does TLC pay for Fare Card Readers and Turnstiles?
Request ID: FOI-2384-1920
Date published: 20 November 2019
You asked
Hello, I would like to know how much it costs for TfL to install fare card (Oyster/Contactless) reader, i.e. the kind used on the DLR. How much does installing one reader typically cost? Is there a fixed cost for installing any number of readers at the same entrance?
Similarly, how much does installing one standard fare gate cost? Is there a fixed cost for installing any number of fare gates at the same entrance? How about wide (wheelchair accessible) fare gates?
Thank you for your help!
We answered
TfL Ref: FOI-2384-1920
Thank you for your request of 7th November 2019 asking for information about the cost of installing Oyster/Contactless card readers and gates on the TfL network.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy.
Specifically you asked:
“I would like to know how much it costs for TfL to install fare card (Oyster/Contactless) reader, i.e. the kind used on the DLR. How much does installing one reader typically cost? Is there a fixed cost for installing any number of readers at the same entrance?
Similarly, how much does installing one standard fare gate cost? Is there a fixed cost for installing any number of fare gates at the same entrance? How about wide (wheelchair accessible) fare gates?
I can confirm that we hold the information you require. However, there is no single price that we can quote in answer to each of your questions. The price of installation varies depending on the difficulty of the work in question, which would include the size of the station and the volume of equipment being delivered. Generally speaking, the more equipment being installed at any one time the cheaper the cost, but this will still vary on a case by case basis depending on the complexity of the works in question (so the cost of installing a single validator at one station will not necessarily be the same as that of another similar station). There is no discernible difference in the installation costs for delivering a Wide Aisle Gate over a standard one, with the only cost difference in this instance being the capital costs of the equipment itself.
In terms of exact prices paid for specific works, this information is exempt from disclosure under section 43(2) of the FOI Act. Under section 43, we are not obliged to release information where it would harm the commercial interests of TfL or any other party to do so, and where it is in the overall public interest for the exemption to apply. In this case, TfL believes that it is in the public interest that the costs should remain between us and the current supplier, as release would undermine our position in any potential future negotiations with other potential suppliers. While we recognise the need for openness and transparency by public bodies, we also recognise that TfL is largely a publicly funded body, and that it would be detrimental to the public purse (both taxpayers and fare-paying passengers) if we were unable to secure the best value for money in any future procurement exercise. As such, we believe that the public interest is best served by exempting the information.
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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