Emergency Response Units about their different liveries.
Request ID: FOI-4512-2324 Date published: 26 March 2024
You asked
Is there a reason for the two different emergency response unit Volvo trucks livery? I
have seen one with police and the blue and yellow Battenberg on it. And I have also
seen emergency in red on the front and TFL logos without any police written on the
vehicle. Is there a reason for this? Do they perform different roles or is it just two
different designs? Also one truck has a ladder on it while the other does not is there
also a reason for this?
We answered
TfL Ref: FOI-4512-2324
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 4th March 2024 asking for information about emergency response unit vehicle liveries.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act / Environmental Information Regulations and our information access policy.
Specifically you asked:
“Is there a reason for the two different emergency response unit Volvo trucks livery? I have seen one with police and the blue and yellow Battenberg on it. And I have also seen emergency in red on the front and TFL logos without any police written on the vehicle. Is there a reason for this? Do they perform different roles or is it just two different designs? Also one truck has a ladder on it while the other does not is there also a reason for this?”
I can confirm that we hold the information you require.
TfL’s Emergency Response Unit (ERU) uses two variants of truck, as follows:
The “PWay”. This predominantly deals with track incidents and carries equipment / components for that purpose. This vehicle is marked as TfL only and uses Amber Hazardous lights when on task. This can be driven by an ERU Operator to an incident but has no ability to act in the same way as “Bluelights”. Rather, it operates under normal driver highway regulations. It also carries a ladder for working at heights.
“Rolling Stock” - this deals predominantly with Rolling Stock issues, including incidents and accidents on the tracks. After the 07/07 bombings the Government enquiry concluded that TfL should have a “Bluelight” response capability. It was agreed that the British Transport Police could arrange for Trained “Bluelight” drivers to take Railway staff to a Category 1 or 2 incident under Bluelight conditions, following their rules. This in turn requires National Police Markings (Yellow / Blue battenberg) for those vehicles. When a Police driver is available, the vehicle used will be marked in Police colours. When an ERU driver is used, the vehicle used will be in TfL markings with only Amberlights and adhering to normal driver rules and regulations.
If this is not the information you are looking for 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,
David Wells FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
