Liverpool city region train operator Merseyrail says it intends to introduce a ban on non-folding e-bikes across its network. Tony McDonough reports
Merseyrail has announced plans to ban non-folding e-bikes from its trains.
From January 1, 2027, no passenger will be allowed to bring a non-folding e-bike on any Merseyrail service across the Liverpool city region network. The operator says the ban is designed to “help keep passengers, colleagues and the railway safe”.
It said: “While fires involving e-bikes are rare, they can happen very quickly and with little warning. In railway environments, particularly stations, tunnels and trains, the consequences of a battery fire could have serious consequences.”
Merseyrail’s safety review highlighted the challenges of responding to a lithium-ion battery fire and that’s why it is acting now. E-scooters have already been banned on the network since 2023. The following items will not be allowed anywhere on Merseyrail:
- Non-folding e-bikes.
- Modified or adapted e-bikes.
- E-bike conversion kits.
- Detached lithium-ion e-bike batteries carried separately.
This ban will apply across all Merseyrail stations, including station buildings, car parks and cycle storage facilities, as well as onboard trains.
Passengers will still be able to travel with standard pedal bicycles, folding e-bikes, approved mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs that meet national requirements.
Managing director Neil Grabham said: “Like many transport operators across the country, we’ve been looking closely at the growing number of incidents involving lithium-ion batteries.
“While these incidents remain rare, the risk they pose in a railway environment, particularly one running underground trains, means we can’t ignore them. We’ve taken this decision following a detailed safety review.”
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Merseyrail says it will spend the remainder of 2026 focusing on education and awareness enforcement. The operator will work with passengers, schools and colleges to ensure everyone understands the changes and has time to plan-ahead.
From January 1, 2027, passengers travelling with a banned item may be refused entry to the network, asked to leave a train or station, or face enforcement under the Railway Byelaws.