Merseyrail to ban non-folding e-bikes from January 2027

Merseyrail has announced plans to ban non-folding electric bikes across its network following a detailed safety review.

The new rules will come into force on 1 January 2027 and will apply at all Merseyrail stations and onboard its trains.

Merseyrail said the decision had been taken to protect passengers, staff and railway infrastructure from the potential risks associated with lithium-ion battery fires.

Although fires involving e-bikes are rare, they can develop quickly and with little warning. The operator said incidents in enclosed railway environments, including trains, stations and tunnels, could have serious consequences.

Its safety review also highlighted the challenges emergency teams may face when responding to a lithium-ion battery fire. E-scooters have already been prohibited across the Merseyrail network since 2023.

Under the new rules, the following items will not be permitted:

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

The ban will cover station buildings, platforms, car parks and cycle storage facilities, as well as all Merseyrail trains.

Passengers will still be allowed to travel with standard pedal bicycles and folding e-bikes. Approved mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs that meet national requirements will also continue to be permitted.

Merseyrail said it remains committed to supporting active and sustainable travel across the Liverpool City Region while ensuring the network remains safe.

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.