Risk Assessments and Length Restrictions on Routes
Request ID: FOI-3194-2324 Date published: 04 January 2024
You asked
Please provide me with Risk Assesments and Length Restricitions, with Curtailment Length Restrictions for the following routes:
32
79
107
113
114
125
142
204
221
226
240
251
258
288
292
302
303
324
340
384
SL1
H12
N5
N32
N98
N113
605
606
628
632
642
653
683
688
140
182
186
SL8
SL9
SL10
N140
640
119
127
264
359
403
434
450
455
463
SL6
SL7
TR3
633
663
Thanks!
We answered
Our ref: FOI-3194-2324/GH
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 4 December 2023 asking for information about Risk Assessments and Length Restrictions on bus routes.
Your request has been considered under the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and our information access policy. I can confirm that we do hold some of the information you require.
TfL does not apply Length Restrictions or Curtailment Length Restrictions to routes or stands. Instead we conduct route tests if we want to change the dimensions of the vehicles on a route to ensure that it is safe.
Whilst we receive the Operator’s Route Risk Assessments these are the operator’s own commercial confidential documents. As such this information 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 would, or would be likely to prejudice our commercial interests, as well as those of our Bus Operators. Providing this information could give other Bus Operators an advantage when a route is retendered. Disclosure could therefore hinder TfL’s ability to negotiate the 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.
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
