Merseyrail to introduce ban on non-folding e-bikes

Merseyrail has announced plans to introduce a ban on non-folding e-bikes. Enforcement of the ban will begin on 1 January 2027.

The move is being introduced to help keep passengers, colleagues and the railway safe.

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 Merseyrail network since 2023.

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The following items will not be allowed anywhere on the Merseyrail network:

Non-folding e-bikes
Modified or adapted e-bikes
E-bike conversion kits
Detached lithium-ion e-bike batteries carried separately

The 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. Merseyrail says it remains committed to supporting active and sustainable travel across the Liverpool City Region.

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.

We’ve taken this decision following a detailed safety review and because we believe it is the right thing to do to help prevent a serious incident before it happens.”

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 1 January 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.

The decision follows similar action taken by several transport operators, including Transport for London.