Hi, I am writing to you under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to request the following from Transport for London: 1. What was the total retail revenue (i.e. from retail/commercial units within the London Underground, rail and bus stations and arches under its railways) in: 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, and 2013? 2. How many ticket offices at Tube stations have been closed to date? 3. How many ticket offices are now operating as retail/commercial units? 4. How many of the retail/commercial units have been a) rented out and/or b) sold? 5. How many retail units are expected to open in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022? Please provide the information either in electronic form/soft copy via PDF or spreadsheet. If it is not possible to provide the information requested due to the information exceeding the cost of compliance limits identified in Section 12, please provide advice and assistance, under the Section 16 obligations of the Act, as to how I can refine my request.

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TfL Ref: 4501-1718

Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 12 February 2018 asking for information about revenue from retail and commercial units, and ticket office closures. I apologise for the delay in replying.

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. You asked:

1. What was the total retail revenue (i.e. from retail/commercial units within the London Underground, rail and bus stations and arches under its railways) in: 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, and 2013?

2012/13:          £56.7m

2013/14:          £59.0m

2014/15:          £58.3m

2015/16:          £65.4m

2016/17:          £67.5m

2017/18:          £73.7m (Latest Forecast)

2.         How many ticket offices at Tube stations have been closed to date?

In total, ticket offices at 260 Tube stations are now closed.  A small number of ticket offices at stations on the Tube network remain open. Seven form part of Network Rail’s infrastructure and are expected to close later this year, subject to agreement from London TravelWatch and the Department for Transport (Harlesden, Harrow & Wealdstone,  Kenton,  North Wembley, Queen’s Park, South Kenton,  and Wembley Central). Open ticket offices at other locations (e.g., Wimbledon) are not managed by London Underground but rather by other train operating companies.

3.         How many ticket offices are now operating as retail/commercial units?  

We now have three former ticket offices with retailers in occupation - Westminster, Marble Arch, Liverpool Street.  A further five have either been converted for retail use or are currently in delivery - Blackfriars, Bond Street, Charing Cross, Sloane Square, Stratford.  We also now have full funding approval for a second ticket office conversion at Liverpool Street and are currently working on the design/feasibility of seven former ticket office spaces.  Other former ticket offices are used as station control points or for other operational purposes. All revenue generated by converted ticket offices is reinvested into the network to ensure we continue to provide a safe, modern and reliable transport system for Londoners.

4.         How many of the retail/commercial units have been a) rented out and/or b) sold?

Across our whole estate,  circa 2500 units have been rented out with zero sold. This reflects our approach to prioritising long term, sustainable revenue generation as opposed to one-off capital receipts.

5.         How many retail units are expected to open in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022?

We are currently planning to deliver approximately fifty new retail lettings in the 2018/19 financial year.  We do not hold the information for future years.

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

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