Dear Mr Kimber

TfL Ref: 0375-21/22

Thank you for your request received by us on  24 May 2021 asking for
information about groundborne vibration on DLR assets.

Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of
the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act and our information access policy. 

Unfortunately, from the description provided, we are unable to identify
the information you require.

To enable us to assist with your request, please can you confirm what
source of vibration you are asking for the information about, for example
from trains, engineering works, road traffic, etc or something else.

The Freedom of Information Act allows you to request recorded information
held by Transport for London. There are limits on the time that we are
required to spend determining whether we hold the information you are
requesting and the time spent locating, retrieving and extracting it.
Therefore you should identify the information that you want as clearly and
concisely as you can, specifying the types of document that you are
looking for. You might also consider limiting your request to a particular
period of time, geographical area or specific departments of the
organisation.

Although your request can take the form of a question, rather than a
request for specific documents, we do not have to answer your question if
it would require the creation of new information or the provision of a
judgement, explanation, advice or opinion that was not already recorded at
the time of your request.

Please note that the 20 working day deadline for responding to your
request will depend on when we receive satisfactory additional
information to help clarify your request.  

If we hear nothing further from you by  15 June 2021 your response will be
treated as a new request.

In the meantime, if you have any queries or would like to discuss your
request, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours sincerely

Sara Thomas

FOI Case Management Team

General Counsel

Transport for London

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Dear Mr Kimber

TfL Ref 0375-2021/22

Thank you for your clarification of your request received by Transport for
London (TfL) on 25 May 2021 asking for information containing vibration
criteria used for protection of DLR assets from sources of vibration on
adjacent sites.

Please think carefully about whether the request is essential at this
current time, as answering FOI requests will require the use of limited
resources and the attention of staff who could be supporting other
essential activity. Where requests are made, please note that our response
time may be impacted by the current situation and so you may wish to
reconsider the timing of this request. Please notify us as soon as
possible if you would like to withdraw your request at the current time.

Should you wish to proceed with the request we will aim to issue a
response by 22 June 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
[1]http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/transpar... to see if this helps you.

We will publish anonymised versions of requests and responses on the
[2]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

Sara Thomas

FOI Case Management Team

General Counsel

Transport for London

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Dear Mr Kimber

TfL Ref 0375-2021/22

Thank you for your clarification of your request received by Transport for
London (TfL) on 25 May 2021 asking for information containing vibration
criteria used for protection of DLR assets from sources of vibration on
adjacent sites.

Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of
the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy.

Unfortunately we do not hold the information you have requested as we do
not have a document that sets out the vibration limits on DLR
infrastructure.

As the DLR is an automated service, there is a range of equipment attached
to our structures required to run the DLR trains.  As such, DLR
infrastructure is more sensitive to ground based vibrations than other
railway operations. Due to the variety of DLR infrastructure and equipment
arrangements and ground conditions along the DLR network, our engineers
assess the impact of proposed works on a site by site basis to determine
what further assessment or mitigation measures may be required; this is
dependent on the DLR assets, structures and equipment in the area that may
be affected.

We are not clear on which site adjacent to a section of the DLR you are
referring to but please contact our Outside Parties team at
[1][email address] and include which site you are working for,
so we can provide more advice via the engineer allocated to the job.

If you are considering submitting a further FOI request please think
carefully about whether the request is essential at this current time, as
answering FOI requests will require the use of limited resources and the
attention of staff who could be supporting other essential activity. Where
requests are made, please note that our response time may be impacted by
the current situation.

Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to
appeal.

Yours sincerely

Sara Thomas

FOI Case Management Team

General Counsel

Transport for London

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Dear Mr Kimber

TfL Ref 0516-2122

Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 11
June 2021 asking for the vibration criteria for assessment for the impact
on DLR assets from vibration due to construction activities on adjacent
sites.

Your request will be processed in accordance with the requirements of the
Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy. 

A response will be sent to you by 8 July 2021. 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
[1]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

Sara Thomas

FOI Case Management Team

General Counsel

Transport for London

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Dear Mr Kimber

TfL Ref 0516-2122

Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 11
June 2021 asking for the vibration criteria for assessment for the impact
on DLR assets from vibration due to construction activities on adjacent
sites.

Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of
the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy. You
asked: Please provide the vibration criteria for assessment for the impact
on DLR assets from vibration due to construction activities on adjacent
sites.

Unfortunately we do not hold the information you have requested. We
reiterate, due to the nature of DLR assets and control systems and the
variety of ground conditions and assets along the DLR network, the DLR do
not apply a generic thresholds for vibration, nor do DLR use tables for
each asset indicating maximum vibrations that each asset can accommodate.

Please note that the condition of DLR assets adjacent to any development
would also be a key factor when considering impact of vibrations from
adjacent construction. The location of a proposed development and method
of working is essential to know when considering the risks it presents to
existing DLR assets and operations.

As per our previous response, please contact our Outside Parties team at
[1][email address] and include which particular site is of your
interest, so we can allocate an engineer to provide more advice specific
to your works proposals.

The process our Outside Parties Engineers follow is described below, to
give you a better understanding of how we manage external risks to our DLR
assets and operations:

 1. When contacted about a proposed development that may impact DLR assets
or operations, we will ask the developer to complete a Developers
Questionnaire. This document allows the developer to outline their
proposal along with the location and type of construction works
anticipated, so that we can review the DLR assets in the location and
advise on potential impact and anticipated mitigation measures
required

 2. Where there will be an impact or risk to DLR assets or operations, we
support the developer and our time is recoverable. We would ask the
developer to complete an ROCD form and a New Customer Form to record
this commitment. These documents set out the agreement to cover DLR
engineer time and KAD (the DLR Operator/maintainer) support costs.
NOTE: where developer proposals involve altering or creating new DLR
assets, the Developer will be required to enter into a Development
Agreement.

 3. For all new jobs we undertake a works review and risk assessment to
determine what additional measures and agreements may be required,
e.g. impact assessments, asset protection agreements, licences, etc.
Until we have visibility of Developer proposals, we cannot comment on
the potential impact and mitigation measures that are required.

I attach two documents to provide general guidance for developments that
could impact DLR assets and operations:

 1. Guidance to Third Party Developers – this is general guidance on the
considerations when designing and planning works adjacent/over/under
DLR property and assets. NOTE – this document is being updated,
however I have attached the current version in use. You may notice
that it refers to DLR Engineering Standard ES-101 Noise and Vibration
Policy. This policy relates to the vibrations caused by DLR
operations, not vibrations that the DLR assets can accommodate from
external works.
 2. Advice on the Protection Process – this provides general guidance to
the Developer on the process of our reviews and outline timescales for
access and responses.

Please note that in accordance with TfL’s obligations under Data
Protection legislation some personal data has been removed, as required by
section 40(2) of the FOI Act. This is because disclosure of this personal
data would be a breach of the legislation, specifically the first
principle which requires all processing of personal data to be fair and
lawful. It would not be fair to disclose this personal information when
the individuals have no expectation it would be disclosed and TfL has not
satisfied one of the conditions which would make the processing ‘fair’.

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

Sara Thomas

FOI Case Management Team

General Counsel

Transport for London

From: FOI
Sent: 21 June 2021 11:44
To: 'Robert Kimber' <[2][FOI #758139 email]>
Subject: new ref 0516-2122 CRM:0138130

Dear Mr Kimber

TfL Ref 0516-2122

Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 11
June 2021 asking for the vibration criteria for assessment for the impact
on DLR assets from vibration due to construction activities on adjacent
sites.

Your request will be processed in accordance with the requirements of the
Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy.

A response will be sent to you by 8 July 2021. 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
[3]http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/transpar... to see if this helps you.

We will publish anonymised versions of requests and responses on the
[4]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

Sara Thomas

FOI Case Management Team

General Counsel

Transport for London

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