Request ID: FOI-2553-2122 Date published: 04 March 2022
You asked
I would like to request information regarding London Underground stations and how many times certain stations have been left unstaffed and open to the public between Jan 1st 2022 until Feb 1st 2022.
Ealing Broadway:
West Acton:
North Acton:
Hanger Lane:
East Acton:
Perivale:
We answered
Our Ref: FOI-2553-2122
Thank you for your request received on 8 February 2022 asking for information about certain unstaffed stations.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy. I can confirm we do hold the information you require.
All London Underground stations are rostered to be staffed during operating hours. Stations located underground have specific staffing requirements and minimum staff numbers, which vary depending on the size of the station. This is a fire regulation requirement arising from the King's Cross fire in 1987.
While there is no regulatory or legal requirement for London Underground's above ground stations to remain staffed when services are operating, we continue to plan to staff all stations at all such times. Sometimes operational requirements may mean that some above ground stations become unstaffed temporarily, for example when an incident occurs elsewhere on the line and the assistance of another member of staff is required. During these times the gates are temporarily left open, and the station remains safe to operate. This only ever relates to above ground stations.
We are committed to staffing all stations while trains are running. There are, however, a number of reasons that there may be times during the day that staff are not visible on the platform or in the ticket hall. These include meal breaks, travelling between stations, or station inspections. The amount of time stations above ground are unstaffed remains a very small proportion of overall operating hours.
We will continue to monitor the level of staffing across the network to ensure that customers are kept safe and receive the best possible level of service and assistance at all times.
Please find the requested information on how many times each requested station has been left unstaffed and open to the public between 1 January and 1 February 2022 below:
Ealing Broadway* 28 West Acton 54 North Acton 11 Hanger Lane 44 East Acton 4 Perivale 14
*Please note that we are not the lead operator at Ealing Broadway Station. While on occasion we may not have London Underground staff present, the station will still be staffed by TfL Rail staff.
If this is not the information you are looking for please feel free to contact me.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.
Yours sincerely
Gemma Jacob Senior FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
