Dear Mr Gaston

Thank you for your email requesting for the update of the Freedom of Information request.

Please accept my apologies for the delay in responding to your request.

Unfortunately because of its complexity, we were unable to resolve your request within the initial statutory 20 working day deadline. We are still trying to compile the information you have requested and not been able to resolve your request.

You will hear from us by 19 February. If we are unable to respond by this date, we will contact you to let you know when we can respond.

Once again, thank you for your patience.

Yours sincerely

Paulina Tuffour
FOI Case Officer

FOI Case Management Team
General Counsel
Transport for London

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Dear Mr Gaston

TfL Ref: FOI-2890-1718

Thank you for your email received by us on 10 January 2018 asking for
information about the details of temporary closures at Oxford Circus tube
station. Please accept my apologies for the delay in responding to you.

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

“a) The number of temporary closures at Oxford Circus Tube Station from
October 1, 2014 through to January 10, 2018 - or the most up-to-date
information you have available.

b) The date of each temporary closure

c) The time of each temporary closure

d) The duration of each temporary closure

e) The reason for each temporary closure”

Please find attached the information you required regarding closures at
Oxford Circus tube station.

“In addition - could you provide any information regarding the ongoing
decision to restrict the available entrances to one-way at Oxford Circus
Tube Station during peak periods, and any information about whether this
scheme will continue through 2018.”

Oxford Circus station has two sub-surface ticket halls, one at the corner
of Argyll Street and Oxford Street and one directly underneath Oxford
Circus. Due to the size constraints of the concourse and the gateline in
the Argyll Street ticket hall, this area operates as exit-only throughout
the day to maintain a safe customer environment.

The ticket hall directly underneath Oxford Circus has four staircases from
street level to the concourse space below, one on each corner of the
junction. During the AM peak (7am – 10am) and until the mid-afternoon,
customers can both enter the station and exit the station from this area.
From about 3pm and throughout the PM peak, customers primarily enter the
station from this area.

The station team has over the past year trialled several different
initiatives to reduce the number of times we need to close the station to
entering customers during the PM peak (4pm to 7pm). We have now adopted an
approach to reduce the flow of entering customers by closing the entrance
on the south-east corner of Oxford Circus (Entrance 2) between 5pm and 7pm
and closing the entrance on the north-west corner (Entrance 4) during the
PM peak as required. In addition, we control the number of gates and
escalators available as required. Although reducing the flow of entering
customers will cause a slight increase in journey times, it creates a more
reliable journey as the number of times the station is closed to entering
customers is reduced.

Since these changes have been adopted, we have noticed a reduction in the
number of times we need to close the station to entering customers in the
PM peak. We will continue to monitor the situation and will adapt the
operation of our station as required. With the introduction of the
Elizabeth line later this year, we expect some reduction in crowding on
the platforms which should reduce the need for the entrance controls
described above.

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

Paulina Tuffour

FOI Case Officer

FOI Case Management Team

General Counsel

Transport for London

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