#Transport for #London Freedom of Information release:
#TfL has declined a Freedom of Information request for the New Routemaster bus design specifications. TfL confirmed it holds the information but said disclosure is exempt under section 43(2) of the Freedom of Information Act, which protects commercial interests. The authority stated that providing the requested information would prejudice its negotiating position and ability to secure best value for money if it were to tender for new bus designs in the future. After considering the public interest, TfL concluded that protecting commercial sensitivity outweighs the benefits of disclosure.
https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/transparency/freedom-of-information/foi-request-detail?referenceId=FOI-3577-2526

#Transport for #London has awarded a new five-year cleaning and facilities contract to Mitie, covering trains, Tube and bus stations, #TfL offices, the London Transport #Museum and waste services at City Hall. The contract includes waste management, pest control and a 24/7 specialist team to tackle graffiti across the network. More than 2,000 staff will deliver data-led cleaning services, supported by a new TfL Cleaning Centre of Excellence in London. All workers will receive at least the London Living Wage, secure hours and enhanced welfare benefits. Mitie will invest in apprenticeships, social enterprise initiatives and sustainability measures aligned with TfL’s net-zero targets. TfL will also work with Mitie and trade unions on a pilot to assess how cleaning services could be delivered in-house in future. The contract begins on 1 April 2026.
https://tfl-newsroom.prgloo.com/news/transport-for-london-awards-new-cleaning-contract-to-mitie

#Transport for #London Freedom of Information release:
#TfL has published a response to an FOI request on London bus dwell and boarding times, alongside a 2015 report by Steer Davies Gleave. The request reviewed historic parliamentary evidence showing that one-person operated buses generally had slower boarding than crewed Routemasters, though times improved with smartcards and cashless #travel. The released report compares New Routemaster #buses with traditional double-deckers on routes 53, 453, 24 and 29. While New Routemasters showed faster per-passenger boarding and alighting, their overall average dwell times were often higher. The study found rising journey times since 2008, largely due to congestion rather than vehicle design. TfL confirmed it holds no further data on Oyster-era dwell time improvements or comparative averages for all bus types beyond the attached report.
https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/transparency/freedom-of-information/foi-request-detail?referenceId=FOI-3469-2526

#Transport for #London Freedom of Information release:
#TfL has responded to a follow-up Freedom of Information request seeking the reupload of a music-free version of its Elizabeth line driver point-of-view video from Paddington to Heathrow. TfL confirmed it holds raw, unedited footage without added music. However, it refused to release or publish the material, citing exemptions under the Freedom of Information Act. TfL said the audio includes private conversations involving staff, making it personal data exempt from disclosure. It also argued that releasing the raw footage could harm its commercial interests, as the material may have future licensing or revenue value. Following a public interest test, TfL concluded that withholding the footage outweighed the case for disclosure, noting that an edited version is already publicly available.
https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/transparency/freedom-of-information/foi-request-detail?referenceId=FOI-3595-2526

Do you remember when the Shenfield #Metro skipped stations during peak times? 🚃🚉
Filmed in August 2016, a year after #Transport for #London, through #TfL Rail, took over the Shenfield Metro service from Abellio Greater Anglia, this shows a Class 315 running fast from Ilford to Stratford, skipping Manor Park, Forest Gate and Maryland.

#Transport for #London Freedom of Information release:
#TfL has published a response to a follow-up FOI request seeking missing documents linked to a 2015–16 Holborn escalator safety and customer flow study. The requester asked about a referenced Phase 2 trial document, a 2015 Canary Wharf escalator survey, and any preparatory material for a proposed combined report. TfL confirmed that searches were carried out but that the Phase 2 reference document and the P. Harley survey are no longer held. However, TfL identified and released a set of related materials, including an incomplete draft of the Holborn Phase 2 report, signage and floor vinyl designs, virtual assistant message scripts, and trial imagery. The released draft outlines plans to encourage standing on both sides of selected escalators to improve safety, reduce congestion and test sustainable behaviour change, using low-cost visual and audio interventions over a six-month trial period.
https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/transparency/freedom-of-information/foi-request-detail?referenceId=FOI-3550-2526

#Transport for #London Freedom of Information release:
A recent FOI response reveals the number and causes of fires on London #buses. In 2025, there were 4 diesel bus fires, 8 hybrid bus fires, and 1 electric bus incident downgraded to a non-fire, with no fires reported on hydrogen buses. Most fires occurred in engine bays, with minimal incidents in heating systems or saloons. In comparison, 2024 saw 5 diesel, 3 hybrid, and 3 electric bus fires. #TfL emphasises staff and passenger safety, highlighting ongoing collaboration with operators, manufacturers and the London Fire Brigade, alongside measures to learn from past incidents and international experience.
https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/transparency/freedom-of-information/foi-request-detail?referenceId=FOI-3426-2526

#Transport for #London Freedom of Information release:
#TfL has released its policy on #alcohol sales in retail units from 3 December 2020 to 3 December 2025. The policy covers shops in #Underground and #railway stations and sets rules on crime prevention, staff training, supervision, signage, and trading hours, including a ‘Challenge 25’ age-check scheme and sales restricted to 11am–10pm. TfL confirmed it does not hold records of which retail units were granted licences to sell alcohol or details of products sold, as these are issued and monitored by local authorities. Leases include provisions to withdraw alcohol sales if a premises causes unacceptable crime or disorder.
https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/transparency/freedom-of-information/foi-request-detail?referenceId=FOI-3438-2526