Metropolitan Line National Rail Service Improvements
Request ID: FOI-4565-2324 Date published: 09 April 2024
You asked
A letter compiled with the RAIB report after a near miss at Chalfont and Latimer in 2022 (https://www.orr.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2022-08/raib-chalfont-and-latimer-station-2022-08-17.pdf) suggests that London Underground and Chiltern Railways were jointly investigating various service improvements to national rail services on the Metropolitan Line after the 4 Lines Modernisation is completed. I would like access to reports (and any closely related ones if found) on this topic including:
- Investigation into the different train protection systems that could be implemented (Supposedly there was a workshop in February 2021 that investigated this)
- Assessment of performance improvements attainable by higher speed running for Chiltern trains over the Metropolitan main line (Planned completion of this report was November 2022)
- February 2022 joint project with DfT, NR and TfL looking at potential operation of faster, longer trains on London Underground infrastructure after 4LM is completed
We answered
Our Ref: FOI-4565-2324 Thank you for your request received on 11 March 2024 asking for information about the Metropolitan line and National Rail service improvements. Your request has been considered under the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and our information access policy. - Investigation into the different train protection systems that could be implemented (Supposedly there was a workshop in February 2021 that investigated this) - Assessment of performance improvements attainable by higher speed running for Chiltern trains over the Metropolitan main line (Planned completion of this report was November 2022) - February 2022 joint project with DfT, NR and TfL looking at potential operation of faster, longer trains on London Underground infrastructure after 4LM is completed
I can confirm that we do hold the information you require. However, the work we undertook was paid for by the DfT and our client who received the report was the Chiltern train operating company. We were acting in a consultancy role for the works, and the contract states that the ownership of the work completed is the client’s (Chiltern). We are therefore not obliged to provide you with these reports as they are subject to a statutory exemption to the right of access to information under section 43(2). In this instance the section 43(2) exemption has been applied as disclosure would be likely to prejudice our commercial interests. Releasing information which for which we do not own and was collated specifically as part of a consultancy role would be likely to hinder TfL’s ability to engage with other parties in the future. You may wish to contact Chiltern Railways for this information as the organisation who own these documents. The use of this exemption is subject to an assessment of the public interest in relation to the disclosure of the information concerned. We recognise the need for openness and transparency by public authorities, particularly where the expenditure of public money is concerned, but in this instance the public interest in ensuring that we are able to carry out such work according to the terms of agreed contracts outweighs the general public interest in increasing transparency of our processes. If you are not satisfied with this response please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal. Yours sincerely Gemma Jacob Senior FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
