Request ID: FOI-3421-2223 Date published: 12 April 2023
You asked
I would like to know the following information:
Data on all available underground, DLR and overground TfL line and/or station temperatures, in degrees Celsius, between the calendar years 2018 and 2022.
I would be grateful for the data to be as frequent as is taken by the data loggers, indicating the time, line and temperature at each interval. If that is not possible, I would be grateful for the average temperatures on each line at the most frequent regular intervals available.
Please can I ask that the data specifically include London Overground, Docklands Light Rail and Elizabeth Line services, although I understand that the latter will only likely be available from 24 May 2022.
I would also like to ask that, where possible, data on the sub-surface lines be disaggregated into their relevant tube lines and, where possible, data on the London Overground is disaggregated by the distinct lines served by the network.
We answered
TfL Ref: FOI-3421-2223
Thank you for your request which we received on 17 March 2023, asking for information about temperature data on the TfL network.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Environmental Information Regulations (EIRs) and our information access policy. I can confirm that we hold some of the information you require. You specifically asked for:
Data on all available underground, DLR and overground TfL line and/or station temperatures, in degrees Celsius, between the calendar years 2018 and 2022.
I would be grateful for the data to be as frequent as is taken by the data loggers, indicating the time, line and temperature at each interval. If that is not possible, I would be grateful for the average temperatures on each line at the most frequent regular intervals available.
Please can I ask that the data specifically include London Overground, Docklands Light Rail and Elizabeth Line services, although I understand that the latter will only likely be available from 24 May 2022.
I would also like to ask that, where possible, data on the sub-surface lines be disaggregated into their relevant tube lines and, where possible, data on the London Overground is disaggregated by the distinct lines served by the network.
With regard to temperatures at tube stations, please find the attached extract from a study on temperature effects on the London Underground, that contains discussion on platform temperatures between 2013 and 2020. Also, attached is a temperature map for 2018.
As for the rest of your questions, it would be extremely difficult to prepare and interpret our database for release in the way you require and would take an excessive amount of staff time. Given the extent of the information you are looking for, we are applying Regulation 12(4)(b) as we believe that your request is ‘manifestly unreasonable’ because providing the information would impose unreasonable costs on us and require an unreasonable diversion of resources.
The use of this exception is subject to a public interest test, which requires us to consider whether the public interest in applying the exception outweighs the public interest in disclosure. We recognise that the release of information would promote accountability and transparency in public services. However, the time it would take to provide the information you have requested would divert a disproportionate amount of our resources from its core functions and on balance we consider that the public interest currently favours the use of the exception.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.
Yours sincerely
Eva Hextall FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
