Request ID: FOI-3670-2324 Date published: 13 February 2024
You asked
This is a request pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
Since November 2023 the Central Line has experienced a shortage of trains causing severe delays and those problems form the context to this request. Please confirm:
1) How TfL generally determines how many of the available trains it runs to each destination on the Central Line during each day of service. If a policy for allocation of such trains exists, provide a copy of such policy.
2) Assuming TfL considers passenger numbers to each destination in allocating trains, when the data currently used for such purposes was collected.
3) Provide details of the number of passenger journeys from and to each station on the Central Line east of Leytonstone on a daily (if possible), alternatively monthly basis in the year 2023
4) Whether TfL has adjusted the number of trains running to Epping/Loughton and Hainault respectively since November 2023 in light of the shortage of trains
5) If in respect of (4) above TfL has adjusted the number of trains running to each destination provide the written policy or other basis on which such decisions are made and confirm the job title(s) of the person or people who make that decision on both a daily and on a wider basis.
We answered
TfL Ref: 3670-2324 Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 17 January 2024 asking for information about the Central line. 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. Over the last year, we have seen an increase in the number of unavailable trains on the line for customer service. This is mostly due to the age of the train and the need for essential repair works to keep the trains going. Trains have also been removed from service to support the delivery of the Central Line Improvement Programme (CLIP). Since late 2023, we have experienced an abnormally high number of traction motor failures on our Central line trains. When this happens, we have no choice but to withdraw the affected train from service and replace the damaged traction motor with one that has been repaired. Our engineers are urgently working to repair and overhaul the damaged motors, but this is a complex process undertaken by highly skilled, specialist technicians and the removal and refitting of every motor requires the 30-year-old train to be separated and the affected carriages lifted. Alongside the repair work, we have put in place additional arrangements to increase our supply of spare motors. This will allow us to start to rebuild some resilience and improve services over the coming weeks, reducing the number of trains out-of-service and allowing us to return trains to customer service more quickly. While this should help improve services for customers, the motor failures are still occurring at a higher rate than we’ve seen before so some disruption to normal service levels is likely to continue. We are continuing to work urgently to identify further solutions, keeping our customers and stakeholders updated. In the meantime, customers should continue to allow more time for their journeys, check before travelling and consider using alternative routes to or through central London. We are also investing in the fleet in the long-term via CLIP. This £500m programme will boost future reliability by replacing the train’s ageing Direct Current traction system with a modern, digitally controlled, equivalent that uses simple Alternating Current (AC) motors, as well as providing wheelchair bays, better customer information systems, CCTV in carriages and new seating. The first completely refurbished train is now in customer service. Your specific questions and our replies are as follows: Since November 2023 the Central Line has experienced a shortage of trains causing severe delays and those problems form the context to this request. Please confirm: 1) How TfL generally determines how many of the available trains it runs to each destination on the Central Line during each day of service. If a policy for allocation of such trains exists, provide a copy of such policy. There is no specific policy on this as the working timetable for the line in operation determines the required service levels and the number of trains needed to run. Each day many other variables can affect the service delivered ranging from fleet availability, train operator availability or general service disruption. In such instances, all factors are considered to determine the best course of action for the customers to maximise service provision on the day.
2) Assuming TfL considers passenger numbers to each destination in allocating trains, when the data currently used for such purposes was collected. Passenger numbers are considered during the development of working timetables and determining train destinations. However, destinations of trains are currently primarily driven due to the fleet and train operator availability, as well as any incidents on the day. 3) Provide details of the number of passenger journeys from and to each station on the Central Line east of Leytonstone on a daily (if possible), alternatively monthly basis in the year 2023. Please find the data requested attached. This shows number of trips to/from each station east of Leytonstone on the central line for each day in 2023. Note that some dates are date ranges (usually Tuesday-Thursday) as we do not necessarily have daily data for these day types. In these cases the figures shown are the total for the date range. 4) Whether TfL has adjusted the number of trains running to Epping/Loughton and Hainault respectively since November 2023 in light of the shortage of trains There have not been any changes to the timetable since November 2023, so the adjustment of number of trains to Epping/Loughton & Hainault has not been altered by any timetable. Any changes would be dependent on decisions made each day based on the availability of trains that may impact branch services. We are in the process of developing and implementing an emergency timetable that will protect the level of services delivered to branches, and so Service Control on a daily basis are having to manually operate the trains outside of the planned timetable. 5) If in respect of (4) above TfL has adjusted the number of trains running to each destination provide the written policy or other basis on which such decisions are made and confirm the job title(s) of the person or people who make that decision on both a daily and on a wider basis. There have been no planned changes to the destinations of trains. However on the day decisions may be made to divert trains to other branches, these decisions are made by the Service Controller and Service Manager taking into account the existing service levels, operational incidents and fleet and train operator availability. 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 Sara Thomas FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
