Merseyrail has announced a ban on electronic bikes across its entire network, including trains, stations, car parks, and cycle storage facilities, following a detailed safety review. The ban will take effect from January 1, 2027, with fines to be enforced under railway byelaws for those caught travelling with banned items.
Fire Concerns Prompt Action
The decision is driven by the risks posed by lithium-ion batteries, which can cause fires that spread rapidly with little warning. In railway environments, particularly underground tunnels and enclosed trains, such fires could have severe consequences. Merseyrail’s safety review highlighted the challenges of responding to a battery fire in these confined spaces.
Neil Grabham, Managing Director at Merseyrail, said: “Keeping our passengers and colleagues safe is our number one priority. 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.”
What Is Banned and What Is Allowed
The ban applies to non-folding e-bikes, modified or adapted bikes, conversion kits, and detached lithium-ion batteries. E-scooters have already been prohibited since 2023. However, passengers can still travel with standard pedal bicycles, folding e-bikes, approved mobility scooters, and powered wheelchairs that meet national requirements.
Merseyrail’s network includes numerous tunnels, and the new Class 777 trains lack windows, which exacerbates the danger of battery fires. The operator is focusing on education and awareness throughout 2026, working with passengers, schools, and colleges to ensure everyone understands the changes and has time to plan ahead.
Enforcement and Penalties
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. Merseyrail says the ban is a preventive measure to avoid a serious incident before it happens, following similar actions by other transport operators, including Transport for London, which introduced the ban in March 2025.
