TfL Ref: 2475-1920
 
Thank you for your request received by us on 15 November 2019 asking for information about tube capacity utilisation statistics for the Metropolitan line.
 
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. You asked for:
 
Tube capacity utilisation
 
At a recent Mayor's Question Time tube capacity utilisation statistics were published: https://www.london.gov.uk/questions/2019/19838
 
1) I would like to know estimates of tube capacity utilisation statistics for the Metropolitan line for the 1st of every month for the previous 4 months.
 
Unfortunately we do not hold this information. As mentioned in the response provided in the above link referenced in your request, ‘Transport for London (TfL) does not have a way to monitor train loadings accurately in real time. Although it holds ticketing data, this only indicates where customers entered and exited the network, not which route they took within it. This analysis is based on the typical weekday TfL uses for planning purposes, where a combination of survey data and assignment modelling are used to determine the combination of routes passengers are likely to have taken through the network.’
 
2) I would also like to know what the tube capacity utilisation statistics be if the metric used was i) 2 people standing per square metre or ii) 3 people standing per square metre? If this is not possible then I would like to know what square capacity of the tube and number of passengers were used to calculate the capacity utilisation in the statistics that were published on 22nd October in the link I provided
 
I can advise that we have used a calculation of four passengers per square metre.
 
In the meantime, we are investing £5.4 billion to modernise the trains, track and signalling on the oldest parts of the Underground – which includes the Metropolitan line as well as District, Hammersmith & City and Circle line services. This work will improve journeys on 40 per cent of the Tube network, and is the largest single upgrade in the history of the Underground. It will result in greater capacity and improved frequency, as well as improved journey times, better reliability and better customer information.
 
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
 
 
Jasmine Howard
FOI Case Officer
Information Governance
Transport For London