Request ID: FOI-2750-2223 Date published: 16 February 2023
You asked
Please can you provide me with the guidance provided by train operators for Tfl service regards ventilation on the tube and tram.
Are doors meant to be closed or open whilst stationary at platforms and any health and safety policy relating to ventilation regarding coronavirus on Tfl services.
Many Thanks
We answered
Our ref: FOI-2750-2223/GH
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 25 January 2023 asking for information about ventilation on TfL services.
Your request has been considered under the requirements of the Environmental Information Regulations and our information access policy. I can confirm that we do hold the information you require.
Please can you provide me with the guidance provided by train operators for Tfl service regards ventilation on the tube and tram. Please see our published safe travel guidance: https://tfl.gov.uk/campaign/safer-travel-guidance Are doors meant to be closed or open whilst stationary at platforms and any health and safety policy relating to ventilation regarding coronavirus on TfL services. On the tube, doors open automatically while stationary on the platform ensuring a frequent exchange of air primarily induced by the tube movement and supplemented by tunnel ventilation fans, with air within the carriage changing over 20 times each hour. The air exchange rate exceeds the minimum recommend requirement by the Railway safety standards board (RSSB) to mitigate against the spread of covid. Vehicles for the TfL surface rail fleet typically have their doors released (unlocked) either automatically or by the driver/train operator at each stop, albeit only opening either if a passenger presses the door open button or for the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) if the train operator selects all platform side train doors to open. The tube and DLR fleets are also equipped with openable hopper windows which are typically fixed opened, but can be shut by passengers dependent on thermal comfort. As a final point, given that vehicles for the TfL surface rail fleet typically travelling in the open air over short distances, with doors opening at each stop, there is no additional mitigation measure currently applied or anticipated as such to the surface rail fleets. The TfL Engineering team carried out reviews of existing ventilation systems across our transport modes to ensure we achieved the minimum ventilation rates recommended by SAGE/rail industry bodies such as RSSB (Rail Safety and Standards Board) of 6-12 air changes per hour [ACH]). The air inside a Tube carriage changes more than 20 times every hour, which is greater than the 6-12 times per hour recommended. We have published this assessment in response to another Freedom of Information request and it is available on our website here: https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/transparency/freedom-of-information/foi-request-detail?referenceId=FOI-0219-2122
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.
If you are not satisfied with this response please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.
Yours sincerely
Graham Hurt FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
