Andrew Dismore

Tube station lighting in summer daylight hours

Question No: 2016/3389

Andrew Dismore

Why, during 15 hours of bright sunshine do Burnt Oak, Colindale and Brent Cross stations, for example,  have all their electric  lights on like an airport runway 24 hours a day, when other open surface level stations switch the lights off during daylight hours. Do you agree that this is a waste of money and energy and, if so, will you issue guidance to TfL on when it is appropriate to turn lights off?

Written response from the Mayor

Station staff are instructed to turn off lights during daylight hours where it is possible.

Unfortunately, a legacy of a number of London Underground stations, including the three listed above, is that lighting is controlled by Mini Circuit Breakers, which for safety reasons can only be operated by trained electricians.

There is a programme in place to convert station lights so that they are operated by sensors, allowing them to operate more efficiently. This work has been carried out at Boston Manor and Dollis Hill stations, and work at Stanmore, Willesden Green, Arnos Grove, South Ealing and South Harrow station is underway.

In addition, efficient lighting is often installed as part of station upgrades. Those recently delivered include Harrow-on-the-Hill, Earls Court, Paddington, Chancery Lane, Baker Street, Embankment, Moorgate, Tottenham Court Road, Blackhorse Road and Vauxhall stations. Such upgrades will continue and include Colindale, which is due to be delivered in 2020.

consultation on bus services on the Finchley Road

Question No: 2016/3398

Andrew Dismore

Transport for London has been consulting on bus services on the Finchley Road. The consultation proposes to “extend route 13 to North Finchley in the north and divert it to Victoria in the south (replacing route 82)” as part of an effort to reduce traffic flow through the Finchley Road. However, these proposals in effect rename the 82 bus as 13 while scrapping the existing 13, a proposal that was heavily rejected in a consultation which was cancelled just before the 2015 election. Why is TfL trying to pull the wool over the eyes of local bus users, by reintroducing a previously unpopular plan in this way?

Written response from the Mayor

TfL reviews the bus network to ensure it adapts to changing patterns of demand. The services you mention are being reviewed because there has been an increase in capacity on the Jubilee line, which runs along a similar route, and because we need to reduce the number of services along Oxford Street.

Because of the feedback from the earlier consultation, TfL has made new proposals with the removal of route 82 and the diversion of route 13 at Marble Arch south towards Victoria. Peak hour frequencies on Finchley Road would reduce from 27 buses an hour to 22 buses an hour, which would better match current demand. This would allow for other bus services elsewhere in London to be enhanced.

The new proposals keep in place the majority of bus links from Finchley Road, including to Oxford Circus via revised route 113.  Where links have been broken, passengers will be able to travel to other parts of the West End by changing for free onto high-frequency route 9 at Hyde Park Corner or routes 6 or 139 on Oxford Street. Thanks to my Hopper ticket, these onward journeys would be free for Pay As You Go passengers if they are made within an hour of the first journey.