Dear Mr Whitby

TfL Ref: 1240-2122

Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 29 August 2021. Please accept my apologies for the considerable delay in acknowledging your correspondence.

We will aim to issue a response by 27 September 2021 in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and our information access policy.

We publish a substantial range of information on our website on subjects including operational performance, contracts, expenditure, journey data, governance and our financial performance. This includes data which is frequently asked for in FOI requests or other public queries. Please check http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/transpar... to see if this helps you.

We will publish anonymised versions of requests and responses on the www.tfl.gov.uk website. We will not publish your name and we will send a copy of the response to you before it is published on our website.

In the meantime, if you would like to discuss this matter further, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours sincerely

Jasmine Howard
FOI Case Officer
FOI Case Management Team
General Counsel
Transport for London
 

TfL RESTRICTED

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Dear Mr Whitby

TfL Ref: 1240-2122

Thank you for your request received by us on 29 August 2021 asking for
information about track improvements on London Underground’s Central line.

Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of
the Environmental Information Regulations and our information access
policy.  I can confirm that we hold the information you require. You asked
for the following:

I wrote to you about 2 years ago regarding the noise on the Central Line
(Leyton - Bank), it sounds like some sections of track have been renewed,
but the noise on the Bethnal Green eastbound is seeming to get worse every
journey I make.

Is there some form of document I could view to see for future Central Line
track improvements? Could I also have a document of the track improvements
for the past year.

Is there any time track maintenance will take place in the eastern part of
the Central Line?

We can advise that the noise near Bethnal Green’s eastbound rail track is
the Pandrol Vanguard track form installed to reduce ground borne
vibrations for neighbouring properties. Unfortunately, this track form
causes high levels of high pitch and roaring noise inside the train and
tunnel. Current mitigation to reduce this noise is to grind and smooth the
rail surface, although the effects only last a few months.

Our rail tracks are regularly patrolled and inspected; whenever a fault is
identified track maintenance is arranged to rectify the fault.
Additionally, a rail grinding train runs every nine to twelve months
smoothing any rough rail surfaces, helping with noise reduction.

Please see the following for details of work completed or in progress at
our stations on the eastern part of the Central line recorded on a
financial yearly basis:

Bank: Platform 6                                 167m Deep Tube Track
Renewal   Completed: 2019/20

St Pauls to Bank                                 244m Deep Tube Track
Renewal   Completed: 2019/20

Stratford to Leyton                              1300m Deep Tube Track
Renewal. In progress, completion due: 2022/23

Future works in the pipeline for 2022/23 to 2023/24

Leyton Platform One to Stratford            700m Ballasted Track Renewal

Stratford to Leyton Platform Two            694m Ballasted Track Renewal

Leyton to Stratford                                  1173m Re-rail
Flat-bottom Conversion

Liverpool to Bethnal Green                     120m Deep Tube Track
Renewal

If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable
to access it for any reason, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to
appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would
like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.

Yours sincerely

Jasmine Howard

FOI Case Officer

FOI Case Management Team

General Counsel

Transport for London

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Dear Mr Whitby

Thank you for your further email received by us on 26 September 2021
regarding your Environmental Information Regulations request. Please
accept my apologies for the considerable delay in getting back to you.

I would like to advise that we are in the process of investigating further
and will endeavour to respond in full as soon as possible.

In the meantime, thank you for your patience.

Yours sincerely

Jasmine Howard

FOI Case Officer

FOI Case Management Team

General Counsel

Transport for London

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Dear Mr Whitby

TfL Ref: 1482-2122

Thank you again for your further email received by TfL on 26 September
2021. You have asked for information about sections of London
Underground’s Central line that have been grinded, given concerns relating
to noise. Your request is being considered under the terms of the
Environmental Information Regulations (EIRs).

Unfortunately because of its complexity, we have been unable to resolve
your request within the initial statutory 20 working day deadline. This is
because we are in the process of finalising our response.

To enable us to fully consider your request, in accordance with the EIRs
we have had to extend the deadline for providing a response to 40 working
days from the date we received your request. The amended date for a final
response is now 18 November 2021 . We are working hard to ensure that you
receive a response before this date. 

I apologise for the delay and any inconvenience this may cause you. If you
have any queries or would like to discuss your request, please do not
hesitate to contact me.

If you are not satisfied with this response, please read the attached
help-sheet entitled ‘Your Right to Appeal’.

Yours sincerely

Jasmine Howard

FOI Case Officer

FOI Case Management Team

General Counsel

Transport for London

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Dear Mr Whitby

TfL Ref: 1240-2122

Thank you for your request received by us on 26 September 2021 asking for
information about rail grinding works which have taken place on London
Underground’s Central line over the past year and annually to 2023/24,
following your previous request for information (reference: 1240-2122)
concerning track improvements.

Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of
the Environmental Information Regulations and our information access
policy.  I can confirm that we hold some of the information you require.

Please see following requested information extracted from the Central line
database for rail grinding works implemented during July 2020 to October
2021, inclusive of meterage completed.

Bethnal Green to Liverpool Street

27/08/2020 – Westbound – 1780m

28/08/2020 – Westbound – 570m

29/08/2020 – Eastbound – 2100m

Liverpool Street to Bank

03/05/2021 – Eastbound – 330m

03/05/2021 – Eastbound – 624m

06/05/2021 – Westbound – 335m

06/05/2021 – Westbound – 426m

North Acton to West Acton

22/05/2021 – Eastbound – 1180m

02/10/2021 – Eastbound – 1060m

02/10/2021 – Westbound – 597m

West Acton to Ealing Broadway

02/10/2021 – Eastbound – 1368m

02/10/2021 – Eastbound – 1150m

02/10/2021 – Eastbound – 475m

02/10/2021 – Westbound – 888m

Barkingside to Newbury Park

12/07/2020 – Inner Road – 310m

13/07/2020-Inner Road – 948m

Newbury Park to Gants Hill

17/04/2021 – Outer Road – 50m

17/04/2021 – Outer Road – 520m

17/04/2021 – Outer Road- 1300m

16/04/2021 – Inner Road – 2200m

16/04/2021 – Inner Road – 2055m

In the meantime, we are in the process of developing plans for future rail
grinding works during 2022, therefore we do not currently hold the
confirmed data you are seeking in regards to engineering works for the
forthcoming year to 2023/24.

If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable
to access it for any reason, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to
appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would
like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.

Yours sincerely

Jasmine Howard

FOI Case Officer

FOI Case Management Team

General Counsel

Transport for London

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