Request ID: FOI-2976-2223 Date published: 09 March 2023
You asked
Hello, last year MTR had it's concession agreement to operate the Elizabeth line extended by two years.
The original concession agreement from 2014 is published on the TfL website however with the recent extension there were changes made to this agreement.
Can I please have an up to date copy of the concession agreement which includes all changes made to the original 2014 agreement.
We answered
TfL Ref: 2976-2223
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 10 February 2023 asking for information about an updated MTR Elizabeth line concession agreement.
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 the information you require. You asked for the following:
last year MTR had its concession agreement to operate the Elizabeth line extended by two years.
The original concession agreement from 2014 is published on the TfL website, however, with the recent extension there were changes made to this agreement.
Can I please have an up to date copy of the concession agreement, which includes all changes made to the original 2014 agreement.
Please see the attached copy of the contract in question, which has been redacted. The redactions have been made under section 43(2) of the Freedom of Information Act, the exemption protects against the release of information that would unfairly prejudice commercial interests. Material has been redacted where release would prejudice TfL’s commercial position in future negotiations. Section 43(2) is a ‘qualified exemption’, meaning we have to consider whether the greater public interest rests in applying the exemption and withholding the material, or in releasing it in any case.
We appreciate that there may be some limited interest in the material, as evidenced by your request, and the fact it has been requested under FOI is an argument in itself for release. However, TfL is a publicly funded body and it is imperative that in commercial negotiations we are able to secure the best value for the public purse. We believe that withholding the redacted material will allow us to do this. In this case, therefore, we believe that the greater public interest is served by applying the exemption.
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 FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
