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FOI request detail

Oxford Circus - Fox incident & associated issue

Request ID: FOI-3478-2425
Date published: 17 February 2025

You asked

I am writing to express my serious concerns regarding an incident that took place on January 19th, 2025, at Oxford Circus Station (Eastbound Central Line), where a fox was trapped on the railway tracks. Under the Freedom of Information Act, I request access to the relevant footage to understand exactly what transpired.

We answered

TfL Ref: FOI-3478-2425

 

Our Customer Services team has passed over your request of 25th January 2025 asking for CCTV footage of an incident involving a fox on the tracks at Oxford Circus London Underground station.

 

Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy. 

 

I am afraid that TfL does not hold CCTV footage of the incident in question, and hence the recorded information you have requested under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act is not held. That said, colleagues have reviewed the Incident Report Form that was created at the time and we can provide the following information about the incident. 

 

The station team received a number of calls concerning a the fox on the track at Oxford Circus on the 19th January, with first reports around 16.20. At 18.20 the fox was seen to be lying flat between the running rails, as described in your communication. The Station team escalated the incident to Service Control, and the Central Line Service Manager then instructed the Central Line Duty Reliability Manager (DRM) to attend. At 19.30 the DRM arrived along with the Emergency Response Unit (ERU). Traction current was turned off at 19.30 and the Central line was partially suspended between 19.30-19.50. The ERU accessed the track and retrieved the fox which was unharmed. They exited to street level and released the fox in nearby Hanover Square Gardens.

 

Our Customer Services team will address your wider correspondence.

 

Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

David Wells

FOI Case Officer

FOI Case Management Team

General Counsel

Transport for London

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