Transport For London Reveals Findings On Paranormal Reports At Stations

Transport for London (TfL) has responded to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request regarding reports of paranormal activity across its network, including the London Underground, DLR, London Overground, Elizabeth Line, and Trams. The request specifically asked for records of ghost sightings and related incidents since January 2022, as well as any internal staff logs concerning Aldgate East station, a location long associated with ghostly tales.

TfL carried out a keyword search across all London Underground incident reports using terms such as "ghost," "paranormal," "spirit," "apparition," "ghoul," "phantom," "poltergeist," and even "banshee." The search yielded 156 results, but almost all were unrelated to supernatural occurrences. Most references to "spirit" referred to people being "in good spirits" following incidents or reports of alcohol consumption.

The only confirmed reference to paranormal activity involved a 15-year-old boy at King's Cross station on the Metropolitan Line in December 2023. According to the report, the boy appeared distressed and mentioned seeing ghosts. No further details were provided about what he saw or whether staff investigated the claim.

King's Cross is well known for its ghostly lore. As one of the country's busiest stations, thousands of commuters pass through London's King's Cross every day, but from time to time some report seeing the ghost of a woman. She's said to have long, brown hair and is wearing modern clothes. Whether this is what the boy reported we don't know.

A separate search of TfL's Customer Contact Centre database identified an average of 30 potentially relevant cases per month. However, these were mostly related to reports of "phantom" or "ghost" Oyster card charges - incidents where passengers believed they had been incorrectly charged for travel. Due to the sheer volume of these reports, TfL stated that manually reviewing them all would exceed the financial limit set by the FOI Act, meaning they were unable to determine if any contained genuine paranormal claims.

As for the request regarding Aldgate East station, TfL confirmed that they hold no internal staff logbooks or records documenting ghost sightings at the station.

Despite TfL's lack of official records on ghostly encounters, the London Underground has long been linked to eerie sightings and unexplained phenomena. Some of the capital's most infamous hauntings have occurred on the network, with stations steeped in spectral lore.

One of the most famous ghost stories centres on Aldwych Station, which closed in 1994 and is now used as an events space and filming location for movies and TV shows. Staff working in the disused tunnels have reported hearing strange noises and experiencing unexplained icy blasts of air. The station is also said to be haunted by the ghost of an actress, often spotted walking along the platform. Legend has it that she remains bitterly tied to the site after her theatre - where she once starred as a leading lady - was demolished to make way for the station.

At Elephant and Castle Station, both staff and passengers have reported disembodied footsteps echoing through the tunnels, accompanied by the sound of doors slamming and unexplained banging and tapping noises. Some claim to have seen a ghostly woman boarding trains, seemingly unaware of those around her. One particularly unnerving account came from an off-duty train driver who saw the spectral figure walk straight through a carriage on his journey home, forcing him to step aside as if she was oblivious to his presence.

Covent Garden Station is said to be haunted by the spirit of a tall man in a grey suit, who has been spotted by staff and commuters alike. One chilling encounter took place on Christmas Eve when a ticket inspector was disturbed by persistent knocking on his office door. Upon opening it, he was met with the silent, spectral figure, who promptly vanished into thin air as he walked away.

Beyond these well-known cases, ghostly activity has been reported in King William Street Station, now disused, as well as along various lines, including the Northern Line, Jubilee Line, and Bakerloo Line. Other famous Underground legends include the Liverpool Street Station ghost, the mysterious entity known as "the Supervisor", the Screaming Spectre of Farringdon, and the phantom on the Kennington Loop - a stretch of track used to turn trains around, where a shadowy figure has been seen lurking in the darkness.

While the TfL FOI response may not confirm the existence of ghosts in its official records, Londoners who frequent the Underground might argue otherwise. Whether dismissed as urban legends or considered genuine hauntings, the stories persist - perhaps as much a part of the city's transport network as the trains themselves.

Of course, the lack of official records does not mean strange experiences do not happen. Many ghost sightings go unreported, especially if staff or passengers feel they might not be taken seriously. While this FOI response does not confirm widespread paranormal activity, it does highlight an intriguing case at King's Cross, a station that has its own share of ghostly folklore.

Would you report a ghost sighting on the Tube? Let us know in the comments.