A Freedom of Information request reveals only one verified report of paranormal activity at TfL stations in two years, despite ongoing intrigue about sightings at King’s Cross.
Recent reports have ignited curiosity about potential paranormal activity on the London Underground, particularly following a claimed sighting at King’s Cross Station. A Freedom of Information (FOI) request submitted to Transport for London (TfL) revealed that in the last two years, there has only been one verified report of such activity at their stations.
The solitary incident involved a 15-year-old boy who reported seeing ghosts at King’s Cross on the Metropolitan Line in December 2023. The FOI request aimed to uncover all reports of paranormal activity made to TfL across various transport services, including the Tube, Docklands Light Railway (DLR), London Overground, Elizabeth Line, and Tram networks, since January 1, 2022.
In response to the request, TfL staff undertook an extensive review of London Underground incident reports, employing keywords such as ghost, paranormal, spirit, apparition, ghoul, phantom, poltergeist, and banshee. This led to the identification of 156 results, yet remarkably, only one referenced paranormal activity— the account from the distressed teenager at King’s Cross.
Gemma Jacob, Senior FOI Case Officer at TfL, elaborated on the findings, stating, “We have carried out a keyword search of all London Underground incident reports over the requested timeframe using the following words: ghost, paranormal, spirit, apparition, ghoul, phantom, poltergeist, banshee. The search returned 156 results, but only one of them related to paranormal activity. This related to a distressed 15-year-old boy at King’s Cross on the Metropolitan line in December 2023, who also mentioned that he had seen ghosts.”
Beyond the specific case from December, it was noted that many of the 156 results pertained to individuals being in ‘good spirits’, typically an indication of alcohol consumption. Furthermore, when inspecting the Customer Contact Centre database, which yielded over 1,000 cases, TfL suggested that the majority likely related to phantom charges on Oyster cards rather than supernatural events. Notably, there were no reported paranormal occurrences on the DLR, Elizabeth Line, Trams, or London Overground services.
The request also included a query for any internal staff logbooks or documents related to ghost sightings at Aldgate East station. This station’s relevance may stem from its proximity to the area associated with the infamous Jack the Ripper murders of 1888. However, Ms Jacob confirmed that TfL held no records of ghost sightings at this particular location.
King’s Cross Station has a longstanding reputation for ghostly encounters. In fact, it has been linked to various supernatural occurrences, including a notable incident in 1988 when a commuter reported witnessing a distressed woman with long brown hair roaming the corridors. This apparition allegedly screamed and appeared to pass through individuals seeking to assist her. Many believe that these sightings could be linked to the King’s Cross fire of 1987, which tragically led to several fatalities, possibly lending to its haunted reputation.
Overall, while paranormal activity remains a point of fascination for many, the latest findings offer a glimpse into the largely anecdotal nature of ghost sightings on the London Underground.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/london-underground-haunted-tfl-tube-ghost-b1206947.html – This article corroborates the recent FOI request to TfL regarding paranormal activity on the London Underground, including the solitary incident at King’s Cross involving a 15-year-old boy. It also mentions the extensive search of incident reports using keywords related to paranormal activity.
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSx0LF0NaqY – This video discusses the FOI request submitted to TfL and the findings related to paranormal activity on the London Underground, specifically highlighting the incident at King’s Cross.
- https://www.walks.com/blog/ghosts-of-the-london-underground/ – This blog post provides information on various ghost sightings and legends associated with different London Underground stations, including King’s Cross, which is known for its haunted reputation linked to past tragedies.
- https://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/london-underground-haunted-tfl-tube-ghost-b1206947.html – This article also mentions the lack of paranormal reports on other TfL services like the DLR, Elizabeth Line, Trams, or London Overground, aligning with the findings from the FOI request.
- https://www.walks.com/blog/ghosts-of-the-london-underground/ – This source details the historical context and legends surrounding Aldgate East station, which is near the area of the Jack the Ripper murders, though it does not specifically mention ghost sightings at this station.
- https://www.walks.com/blog/ghosts-of-the-london-underground/ – This blog post discusses the King’s Cross fire of 1987 and its potential connection to ghost sightings in the area, contributing to the station’s reputation for paranormal activity.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative references recent events, including a Freedom of Information request and a specific incident in December 2023. However, it also mentions historical events like the King’s Cross fire of 1987, which does not impact the freshness but adds context.
Quotes check
Score:
6
Notes:
The quote from Gemma Jacob, Senior FOI Case Officer at TfL, is included, but no online source could be found to verify it as the earliest reference. This suggests it might be original or recent.
Source reliability
Score:
7
Notes:
The narrative originates from a reputable news outlet, the Daily Mail, which generally provides reliable information. However, the topic of paranormal activity is inherently anecdotal and subjective.
Plausability check
Score:
5
Notes:
The claims about paranormal activity are largely anecdotal and cannot be verified through empirical evidence. The narrative does provide context and official responses from TfL, which adds some plausibility to the reporting process itself.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The narrative is relatively fresh, referencing recent events and official responses. However, the subject matter is inherently speculative, and while the source is generally reliable, the plausibility of paranormal claims remains unverifiable.
