Welcome to our FOI page. From 1 February 2026, London Northwestern Railway (operated by WM Trains) will become part of DfT Operator Ltd (DfTO).
As a result of this transfer, London Northwestern Railway will be subject to the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2000.
This means that, from this date, members of the public will have the right to request access to recorded information held by London Northwestern Railway, in line with FOI legislation. This change reflects our commitment to openness, transparency, and accountability in how we operate.
Before making a request, please review the information already available on this page and in our Publication Scheme. Many of our commonly requested documents are published proactively to save you time and reduce unnecessary requests.
For more about your rights, visit the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).
What is Freedom of Information?
The FOIA gives the public the right to access recorded information held by public authorities.
It includes information about:
- How we operate as a train company
- Policies, performance, and decision-making
- Safety and environmental management
- Contracts and financial information
Please note: FOIA does not provide access to personal data about individuals or commercially confidential material.
Our Publication Scheme
Our Publication Scheme, which will be available soon, will set out the categories of information we plan to publish proactively.
Before You Make a Request
You may not need to make a formal FOI request. We already publish a wide range of information including:
London Northwestern Railway retains information only for as long as it is needed for operational, legal, or regulatory purposes.
We are currently finalising our Data Retention Policy, which will set out how long specific categories of information are kept — for example:
- Operational performance data
- CCTV footage
- Financial records
- HR and staff records
Once the retention period expires, information will be securely deleted or anonymised.
Please note: Requests for information beyond our data retention schedule may not be fulfilled, as the information may no longer exist.
We recommend checking our Data Retention Policy once it is published before submitting your request.
How to Make an FOI Request
All FOI requests must be made in writing via email to [email protected]
What to include:
- Your full name
- A valid email address for correspondence
- A clear description of the information you are requesting
- Relevant date ranges or document titles (if known)
- Requests must be made in writing - we cannot accept telephone or verbal FOI requests.
Please note: Anonymous or incomplete requests may not be processed.
- We aim to reply to valid FOI requests within 20 working days.
- If your request is complex, we will notify you and may extend the timeframe.
- Responses are usually provided electronically (PDF, Word, or Excel formats).
- Fees are rare, but we may charge for requests requiring extensive effort or large-scale data retrieval.
If the information you request falls outside our Data Retention Policy, we will explain that it is no longer held.
Certain information may be withheld if:
- It includes personal data protected under data protection law
- It is commercially sensitive or subject to confidentiality agreements
- Disclosure would compromise security or operational safety
If we refuse your request, we will explain why and reference the relevant exemption under the Act.
In some cases, we are not required to release information. The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and the Environmental Information Regulations (EIR) allow us to withhold information if there are valid legal or safety reasons.
If you are dissatisfied with the outcome of your request, you can request an internal review within 40 working days of our response to [email protected]
Include your original request and explain why you believe our response was incorrect or incomplete.
We aim to complete reviews within 20 working days.
Complaints to the ICO
If you remain dissatisfied after our internal review, you may contact the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO):
- Website: https://ico.org.uk/
- Phone: 0303 123 1113
Frequently asked questions
The FOIA and EIR apply to recorded information that is held at the time a request is received. You are not expected to create new information to respond to a request.
No. You don’t need to give a reason for your request — you just need to describe the information you’re looking for clearly.
If you can’t find what you’re looking for, you can submit a written request. We proactively publish many common topics through our Publication Scheme, which will be available soon.
Yes. You can request an internal review by another FOI team member, and if you’re still unsatisfied, you can appeal to the Information Commissioner’s Office.