ATO

In December of 2006 I asked Transport for London when ATO would be enabled on their trains. Here is the response I receieved:

Dear Mr Johnston

Thank you for your request for information dated 8 August 2006 which was received by Transport for London on the same date. You asked for the times that each London Underground (LU) tube line, other than the Victoria and Central (which already have ATO) will:

(a) have ATO capable train stock
(b) have ATO enabled on the line in regular service.

Your request has been considered under the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. I'm for the delay in our response, I am pleased to enclose the information you have requested.

(a) Estimated Date for ATO Capable Train Stock

The LU Operational Lines are being upgraded under the PPP Performance Specifications for each infrastructure company (Infraco).

The Performance Specifications give earliest and latest implementation dates by which Metronet and Tube Lines are incentivised to provide enhancements to the technical aspects of the train service capability.

ATO operation as currently employed on the Central and Victoria Lines is incentivised and the Infracos propose that ATO functionality be available by the Latest Implementation Dates in the PPP Contracts, which are roughly as follows:

Jubilee Line - 2011
Northern Line - 2012
Piccadilly Line - 2015

Bakerloo Line - 2020
Victoria Line - 2013

Metropolitan and Hammersmith & City Lines - 2015
District Line - 2018



(b) Estimated date for ATO enabled on the line in regular service:

It is LU's intention to use the ATO function shortly after the technical capability is delivered. Precise timings for Trial Operations and bringing into service are being developed.

London Overground future plans

In November 2007 I asked Transport for London what their plans were for the London Overground concession - the details on the web site are better now that when I asked, but are still not as detailed as this helpful reply I received:

Dear Alistair

Thank you for your email.

London Overground

New trains

TfL has ordered 44 new high capacity, three and four-car trains which are expected to be introduced on the London Overground network from November 2008. However, the new trains have to undergo rigorous testing before entering passenger service and no-one can predict if this will create any delays. The new trains will provide increased capacity, quicker boarding and alighting times, air conditioning and greater security with on-train CCTV.

Timetable

In the short term, the existing timetable will continue to operate but with some minor changes from December this year. Further improvements through to December 2010, including more frequent services, will be delivered as part of a longer term investment programme. From September 2009, capacity on the Gospel Oak to Barking line will increase to 4 trains per hour throughout the day and from December 2010 up to 8 trains per hour will operate on the North London line.

Stations

Over the next 6 months to May 2008, all the Overground stations will be undergoing intensive cleaning and repair of the existing systems and fabric. Between August 2008 and November 2010, all Overground stations will be extensively refurbished and have updated systems. The systems are: improved lighting, CCTV, Public Address, real time train information and Help Points. In addition, buildings, platforms, stairways and footbridges will be refurbished to improve the look, feel, safety and security of the station for all the travelling public.

It is not possible, at this stage of the project, to give definitive dates for when each station will see these improvements. However, passengers will be updated as each station refurbishment progresses to give them plenty of notice of any disruption. It is not intended at this moment that any of the stations will close to passengers completely during these upgrades.

I hope this is useful.

Kind Regards,

XXXX
Transport for London
Central Customer Services

Victoria line 2009 stock feedback

In July 2006 London Underground & Metronet displayed a mock-up of the new 2009 train stock. Here is the press release (note that the link below does not work thanks to the TfL site redesign). You'll see that at the end of the press release it says: "Results of the market research will be announced in October 2006". I only have minor complaints about the stock, but wanted to know what people thought, so having not seen any evidence of this release, I submitted an FOI request:

Last Summer (2006) there were trials of a mock-up of the new Victoria Line stock outside Euston station. I am requesting the results of the Customer Acceptance Testing that was done at the time.

This press release:

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/press-centre/press-releases/press-releases-content.asp?prID=846

States that the results would be published in October 2006 - I have not yet found them.

I would also like a summary of the main points raised by the public while the display took place - I believe there was a book to leave comments - what were the most frequently raised issues in praise of and in opposition to the stock?

Yours

Ali Johnston

Yesterday (13th April 2007) I received the response. Here are the two files:

• The PDF of customer comments
• The PDF of the market research

Some interesting reading - the stock is very well received, with the main complaints being the seating.

Ali