Request ID: FOI-4143-2324 Date published: 06 March 2024
You asked
Questions on Safety Features of London Underground:
i)
How are derailments, collisions and overrun at track ends prevented?
ii)
How is track switching safely performed? What are the installed devices for this purpose?
iii)
How is unauthorized entry prevented? What are features installed to ensure universal accessibility, specifically for people with special needs?
iv)
What are the procedures to ensure safe evacuation of passengers from stations/platforms/trains during emergencies? How do the structural safety measures comply with the Code?
v)
How are emergencies such as fire accidents, short-circuits, adverse weather conditions, and earthquakes taken care of?
vi)
What measures are taken to prevent or detect falling objects at vulnerable track sections and tunnel entrances?
vii)
What are the environmental safety measures taken for the operation of MRT? How does it comply with the Code?
We answered
TfL Ref: FOI-4143-2324
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 12th February 2024 asking for information about safety features on the London Underground.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy.
Specifically you asked:
“Questions on Safety Features of London Underground:
i) How are derailments, collisions and overrun at track ends prevented?
ii) How is track switching safely performed? What are the installed devices for this purpose?
iii) How is unauthorized entry prevented? What are features installed to ensure universal accessibility, specifically for people with special needs?
iv) What are the procedures to ensure safe evacuation of passengers from stations/platforms/trains during emergencies? How do the structural safety measures comply with the Code?
v) How are emergencies such as fire accidents, short-circuits, adverse weather conditions, and earthquakes taken care of?
vi) What measures are taken to prevent or detect falling objects at vulnerable track sections and tunnel entrances?
vii) What are the environmental safety measures taken for the operation of MRT? How does it comply with the Code?”
I can confirm that we hold the information you require. However, I am afraid it is not possible to source all of the information to answer your questions within the costs limit for responding to FOI requests, as set out under section 12 of the Freedom of Information Act. Under section 12 TfL is not obliged to provide information if it would cost more than £450 to determine if that information is held, and to then locate, retrieve or extract it from elsewhere. This is calculated at a rate of £25 per hour, equivalent to 18 hours work.
In this instance the exemption applies because of the breadth of information requested. The information you have requested relates to a range of complex matters, covering a number of different scenarios, some of which are both vague as well as being broad in scope. For example, your question 5 asks about four different types of “emergency” and how they are “taken care of”. This in itself would cover a vast range of recorded information, both in relation to the physical infrastructure and the procedures for ensuring the safety and well-being of staff and passengers, and in relation to the prevention and mitigation of such events as well as the action taken should they actually occur. The information requested has not been collated before and there is no single source for it. While it is difficult to estimate exactly how long it would take to find all of the recorded information that falls within the scope if your request, we believe it would be well in excess of the £450 limit.
In order to bring your request within the costs limit you may wish to reframe it to narrow its scope, focussing on the information that is of most importance to you. In doing so you may wish to review the guidance provided by the Information Commissioner on how best to access information from public bodies, published here:
Note that the Freedom of Information Act covers requests for specific, recorded information only. It does not cover requests for explanation, which should be addressed to our Customer Services team. Note further that any information that would be prejudicial to health and safety or national security would be exempt from release in any case.
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
