TfL Ref: 2610-2425
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 15 November 2024 asking for information about the costs of the Piccadilly Line Upgrade (PLU) platform works at Arnos Grove Underground Station.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy. You specifically asked as follows:
1st Visit
Cost of design of works and supervision of works
Cost paid to contractor to carry out works
Cost of bus replacement service
2nd Visit
Cost of further design of works and supervision of works
Cost paid to contractor to carry out works
Cost of bus replacement service
The works at Arnos Grove are a crucial part of a £2.9bn investment to modernise the Piccadilly line which has been serving Londoners for 50 years and will see the delivery of 94 new air cooled, energy efficient trains which will increase capacity and mean more accessible, faster and smoother journeys for customers.
The size and shape of the new trains requires some adjustments to existing platforms to ensure the new trains can travel safely into stations and deliver on the overall improvements the new trains offer – this includes step-free access from train to platform at eleven additional stations on the Piccadilly line when all 94 new trains are in service.
I can confirm that we hold the information you require. However, in accordance with the FOI Act, we are not obliged to supply the information requested as it is subject to a statutory exemption to the right of access to information under section 43(2).
In this instance the section 43(2) exemption has been applied as disclosure of the specific breakdown of costs you have requested would or would be likely to prejudice both our commercial interests, as well as those of the current suppliers, respectively. Disclosure of these breakdowns would disadvantage them in their ability to participate in future competitive bidding processes for similar contracts with TfL and other organisations as well as hinder TfL’s ability to negotiate the best value for money for similar services in the future.
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, particularly where the expenditure of public money is concerned, but in this instance the public interest in ensuring that we are able to obtain the best value for public money outweighs the general public interest in increasing transparency of our processes.
We can however advise of the overall contractual value for the works at this station to date (3/12/24) as £1,342,215. This includes the works to the platforms, drainage works, platform resurfacing works and new fire doors.
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
Sara Thomas
FOI Case Management Team
General Counsel
Transport for London
