Anyone can send a Freedom of Information request to a public body and sometimes they get an answer. TfL probably get more requests than most and publish responses on their website for everyone to see. These can prove illuminating regarding the intricacies of the transport network, or they can make you wonder why on earth anybody thought they needed to ask. The following (clickable) examples are all from 2022.
Sometimes TfL refuse to answer the question because the information's private.
We won't tell you that 1) How many cyber attacks have been launched on TfL public WiFi between 2016-2022? 2) I would like to request the transport safety videos that were shown in the safety and citizenship presentations in primary schools before 2015. 3) Please provide me with a map of cameras for the ULEZ extension zone. You are withholding this information which I am legally allowed to have, therefore please forward by return email. 4) How many secret spy cameras have been found in TfL owned toilets between 2012-2022? 5) What are TFL’s plans are surrounding “Operation London Bridge”? We have some information from our venue stakeholders on what will take place over the period of national mourning, but there is limited information out there on the infrastructure that will be in place in and around London, including transport. Do you have a document or any information that you can share with me?
Sometimes TfL refuse to answer the question because they don't have the information.
We can't tell you that 1) Have you a copy of the 1969 London Underground rule book Appendix S11 duties of guards? 2) I would like to know the following; The number of reported dog thefts in London from 2015 to 2021. The number of dog thefts in each London borough in 2021. The top breeds of reported stolen dogs in London in 2021. The number of prosecutions for dog theft in London in 2021. 3) I am requesting if you can please attach an MP3 sound file of the horn jingle sound that plays on the platforms at Norwood Junction station every time that a fast train passes through without stopping. 4) Please could you share the expense and (expected) income to TfL as a result of the collaboration with Adidas and Arsenal FC. 5) Coming from Vauxhall bridge towards lambeth bridge when was the milbank camera set at 20mph? Can you kindly tell me how much this camera has taken set at 20mph?
Sometimes TfL refuse to answer the question because the information is already freely available.
We don't need to tell you that 1) I was wondering if you had a document or data that shows the gradient information for Crossrail please? Ideally It would show the gradient value and the length. 2) Please include the following information: TfL’s annual income from advertising, by financial year, from 2015-16, until 2020-21. 3) Average Number of entries and exits to London Underground and Overground Stations. And available food pitches for hire outside stations in zones 1 & 2 that lie on TFL land. 4) I am looking for route maps for the following routes E1,2,3,5,6,7,8,9,10 120 282 140 207 607 427 X140 N140 N7 5) I am looking at opening a restaurant and have the above locations as potential sites. I would be grateful if you could provide me with passenger info over the last 5 years for the number of people that pass through both Piccadilly underground V Leicester Square. As soon as you can please. Many thanks!!
Sometimes TfL refuse to answer the question because it would cost too much to collect the information.
We can't afford to tell you that 1) Can you please confirm how many of your staff have been referred to your own Occupational Health to prove they have a valid reason to be exempt from wearing a face covering? 2) How many British Muslim employees have you recruited? Please provide figures for every year since 2010. What is the average length of service? How many British Muslims have you employed in communications/media roles since 2010? 3) I have noticed that several crossing have had their push button/green man lights removed for pedestrians and not replaced. Please can you provide a list of all the places where this has happened in Enfield over the last 3 years. Also please can you explain why these have been removed and then not replaced. 4) Can you please list the number of devices deployed by your organisation for the following? Desktop PCs and Laptops Mobile Phones (Smartphones, PDAs handheld devices) Printers Tablets Servers Storage Devices Networking Infrastructure (E.g., Switches, Routers, etc) Security Infrastructure. Does your organisation have any plans for refreshing or replacing the above devices? 5) I would like a full list of all Boris Bikes that were missing and were then found outside of the Greater London county border.
Sometimes TfL provide some but not all of the information requested.
We can tell you some of you that 1) I would like to ask for the costing for installation of the social distancing stickers on the entire tube train network. I would also like the total cost for the entire network including stations. Can you tell me the time taken to install the entire operation? 2) How many miles (or kilometres) of bus lane have been removed from TfL travel zones in London since 2010? Also, how many bus routes have been shortened or abolished in part of in whole over the same period? 3) Who is responsible for the repair of the passenger information boards at Edgware station? Are there subcontractors or outside engineers involved, and if so what are there names? Please send me copies of emails between the staff at Edgware and the engineering department concerned sent since 1/11/2021. How many complaints have been received about this matter since it first occurred? 4) As I understand it, TfL are planning to make significant changes to the number 14 and number 170 Bus Services. To help me better understand why this decision has been made, please can you provide me with all of the different data points that have been used to make this decision? 5) How are your drivers trained? I have regular issues with metroline who you sub contact the route too. Only this week I have had to go and turn engines of myself and get abuse for doing so! Nearly 2 years I've had to put up with this and a driver has been arrested for threatening me at my own doorstep! What training classes do you provide, I would love to sit one. please let me know as half the drivers here seems to be picked up from the street and just given a uniform.
Sometimes TfL do answer the question and it's quite interesting.
We can tell you that(useful) 1) Can you please tell me how many Poster Tube Maps & Poster Night Tube Maps have been released between 2017 & 2022? Please also provide PDF copies of these Tube Maps. 2) Can you list the London Bus routes which cross the Greater London Boundary? Do TfL receive revenue from non-London Local and Country Councils for accepting non-TfL bus tickets on cross-boundary London Bus routes? 3) If possible could I please be provided the platform diagrams for the end of each tube and TFL rail line. 4) How many times per month in 2019, 2020, 2021 has Blackwall tunnel closed for any amount of time? 5) What is TfL’s routine system for and periodicity of inspecting its bus stop and bus shelter estate for faults?
Sometimes TfL answer the question and you think blimey, seriously?
We can tell you that(cheeky) 1) Please state if the London Transport Museum or any of its exhibits contain asbestos and so please list where it is located. 2) Please can you tell me the annual wage of every single Tube driver on the London Underground in the last financial year. Please include their job title and salary. 3) I would like to know the maximum decibel level between Chalk Farm and Euston. Appears to be unacceptably high. 4) I travel on the underground Monday to Friday and see a lot of underground staff not wearing masks I know that certain people will be exempt from wearing masks due to medical conditions Can you tell me what are the criteria for the staff exemption as they all appear to be front line and healthy? 5) What is the name and artist for the background audio used in the video “Station Progress: Bond Street (July 2019)” uploaded to the Crossrail YouTube channel?
Sometimes TfL answer the question and you wonder why on earth someone wants the information.
We can tell you that(specific) 1) Please can you provide information about who owns the boundary fence along the London Overground rail line between Kensal Rise and Brondesbury Park stations where private gardens along Chevening Road back on to this. 2) May I request the name or supplier of the hold music used when calling TfL Customer Service? 3) Could I please have a copy of the scaffolding licence for 3 Camberwell Church Street, SE5. I understand that this is a public document, this scaffolding has now been up for many months now and there is no work taking place. 4) The speeds of buses travelling between Wood Green Stop BU and Stop BV are of interest to a story I'm working on and I'd like to collect the data of the busses that travel between these two stops for one day, January 24, 2022. 5) I wanted to know what the cleaning protocols are at the stations network and trains as I cannot see anything but filth on the buses and tubes I know its not easy to clean these things but more money needs to be invested to ensure these are cleaned everyday and I do not believe that is the case.
Sometimes TfL answer the question and you can almost hear them sigh as yet another person asks for the same thing.
87) To whom it may concern, I would to request access to announcements, that are used on all tube lines, London Overground, TfL Rail/Elizabeth Line, train and tube stations, Trams and the announcements used on the iBus system. I would love to use them personally for purely enthusiastic purposes. Thank you in advance.
And sometimes TfL answer the question politely and fully even though the person asking has issues and should probably learn to calm down.
1) In February last year the 184 bus route became fully electric. However the U/W of the single decker bus is 12.491 tons (ie excluding battery and passengers) whereas the weight limit for Alexandra Park Road N22 is 7.5 tons. For this reason the double decker bus is restricted to twice a day. I want to request the impact assessment for introduction of the electric bus as cannot believe the bus exceeds the legal limit. Above all the impact on the underlying infrastructure must be taken into account before gas mains pipes/ utilities are damaged. The issue has national implications given the increasing emphasis on the switch to electric notwithstanding the well known disadvantage of excess weight. My MP Catherine West requested this months ago. I will not be fobbed off any longer.
I've never submitted an FoI request myself because lots of other people do and they often sound a bit needy.
I do sometimes wonder if TfL would receive fewer requests if they made more of their information available in a more obvious place, or if they had a general email address where you could just ask them things and some poor employee didn't have to spend hours constructing a pitch-perfect legally watertight response, but I guess the cranks would only abuse the system. Anyway the responses are always worth a dig, even if only to roll your eyes.
