20 things we learnt from TfL FoI requests in September 2025
1) TfL plan to introduce an additional two trains per hour between Highbury & Islington and Crystal Palace in the weekday peak from December 2026 onwards. 2) The carriage of lithium-ion batteries on trains, whether attached to a bike or carried separately, is not recommended due to their risk profile. TfL is currently reviewing this aspect in collaboration with legal and safety teams and further guidance may follow. 3) TfL has a team of over 500 revenue inspectors. In total they issue about 250 penalty fares a week. 4) The DLR's longest platforms are at Lewisham and the shortest are at Cutty Sark. 5) 30.97% of the 620 trains on the tube network have air conditioned carriages. 6) No senior TfL staff attended leisure away days in the last year. 7) A Metropolitan line train travelling from Amersham to Croxley would display Destination Code 234 (and from Chesham 235). 8) The next release of the Pocket Tube Map is planned for July 2026. 9) The two smallest cycle hire docking stations are both at Royal Avenue, Chelsea (10 docks). The largest are at Edgware Road Station (64) and Jubilee Plaza, Canary Wharf (63). 10) The six most common first names amongst TfL staff are Paul, David, Michael, James, Andrew and Mark. The six most common surnames amongst TfL staff are Patel, Ahmed, Smith, Ali, Williams and Khan.
11) During the year-long closure of Cutty Sark station TfL expect a 1.2% reduction in total DLR demand (equivalent to a reduction of approximately £1.5m in revenue). 12) 46% of journeys from Tooting Broadway station are to destinations in zone 1. Only 1% are to destinations in zone 6. 13) 18 different variants of the Central London Tube map are displayed across tube, DLR, Overground and Elizabeth line carriages. 14) Since 2019 bus spider maps have only been produced for bus stops with five or more bus routes that are close to at least two of the following: i) a station, ii) a significant place of interest, iii) a significant shopping centre. They're also produced for hospitals. Spider maps are gradually being reinstated to ensure coverage across all Zone 1 stations and Elizabeth Line stations within Zones 1 to 6. 15) 89% of 55-64 year olds agree that “listening to loud music without headphones or having calls on speaker phone” on public transport is annoying, but only 61% of 25-34 year olds. 16) New Piccadilly line rolling stock is now expected to enter passenger service "between July and December 2026" rather than in late 2025. 17) Only one station on the Bakerloo line has male and female public toilets inside the gateline (Wembley Central). There are 16 such stations on the Metropolitan line, 13 on the Central line, 10 on the District line, 6 on the Jubilee line, 5 on the Piccadilly line and 4 on the Northern line. 18) The tube stations receiving the most complaints about toilet cleanliness are Stratford, Stanmore and Baker Street. 19) 6,448 licensed taxi vehicles are linked to a single, unique registered keeper. 20) The on-hold music used by Santander Cycles customer service (0343 222 6666) is ‘Passion’ by Richard Evans.
