20 things we learnt from TfL FoI requests in February 2026
1) The assignment of stations to zones was implemented some 30 years ago, broadly fitting six concentric zones within the geography of London. Very few changes have since been made - generally only in very specific circumstances where any adverse revenue impacts could be mitigated. 2) There is no track-mounted rail running edge lubrication on the DLR. Lubrication of the running rail gauge corner/wheel flange interface is presently through dry lubrication sticks mounted on the B92/B2007 vehicles which contact the wheel flanges. However the new B23 trains are fitted with liquid flange lubrication. 3) TfL spent £8,439,102 on advertising costs in 2025, down from £8,609,454 in 2024. 4) In winter 2023/4 TfL gritted or salted 40,681 km of roads across 38 days, rising to 46,796 km across 48 days in winter 2024/5. The winter season does not officially end until April. 5) The full list of curtailment points on bus route 16 is Paddington, Edgware Road Station, Kilburn High Road Station, Kilburn Quex Road, Cricklewood Broadway, Cricklewood Bus Garage, Neasden Shopping Parade and Brent Park Superstores.
6) There are 6455 traffic signal sites in London, of which 245 have cameras that are able to enforce red light offences. 7) In 2024 there were 5 complaints about grafitti/vandalism/litter on the Central line, rising to 159 complaints in 2025. On the Bakerloo line the corresponding increase was from 3 to 77. 8) Last year step-free access was unavailable at Wimbledon Park station due to unavailability of staff on 245 separate occasions. 9) Route 309 was rerouted on the Aberfeldy Estate in August 2024. The promised additional stop has not materialised because the necessary submission from the borough team has only just entered the design review process. The location has been unsuitable for a temporary stop due to the presence of traffic, street furniture, guardrails, trees and bushes. 10) 86,305 passengers boarded route 25 at Bus Stop M last year, slightly more than the 85,818 passengers who boarded route 8. I'm thrilled to be able to bring you this pie chart of 2025 boardings at Bus Stop M. The tiny vertical sliver is for night routes N25 and N205.
11) Of all the miles cycled by cyclists across England, 22% are in London. 12) In April 2025 barriers were added to platform 4 at Ealing Broadway to prevent passengers running from the stairs to carriage 7 of Elizabeth line trains. This had previously been the location with the most accidents, generally caused by people running and then misjudging the step between the train and the platform. The barriers also encourage passengers to move further along the platform, reducing overcrowding. This is intended to be a temporary measure whilst longer-term solutions are investigated. 13) Buses on route 145 no longer serve Dagenham Dock station because Messina Way has been blocked while the owner of the road pressures the local authority to adopt the road, and there is no feasible alternative route. 14) TfL maintain a database of 20332 bus stop names and locations at tfl.gov.uk/bus-stops.csv 15) If the first cap-based journey of the day is made off-peak and a following journey is made at peak time, the off-peak daily travel cap applies.
16) The youngest person employed as an Underground train operator is 23 years of age. 17) Police Officers, Traffic Wardens, London Safety Camera Partnership officers and Civil Enforcement Officers are exempt from red route restrictions while undertaking legitimate enforcement activity. 18) During the last twelve months there have been 47 occasions on which pigeons have been culled at TfL stations or depots. 70% of culls involved the shooting of fewer than 5 pigeons. The highest number killed in one cull was 16. 19) About 800 people per day transfer between Bethnal Green (Overground) and Whitechapel stations, although this is not an OSI so they get charged for two journeys. 20) TfL's service vehicle fleet currently includes 523 Fords, 185 Volkswagens, 158 Renaults, 15 Volvos, 13 Mercedes, 6 Dafs, 3 Mitsubishis, 2 Isuzus, 2 Nissans, 1 Citroen and 1 Grove Coles All Terrain Hydraulic Crane.
