Greater Anglia among railway operators to ban e-scooters from next month

Mobility scooters, electric wheelchairs and e-bikes are exempt from the ban.

Author: Matt SoanesPublished 24th May 2023

Greater Anglia is among railway operators which will ban the carriage of e-scooters on all trains on its network from next month.

Great Northern, which operates in Norfolk and Cambridgeshire, are also set to introduce the same measure on June 1 over safety fears - as will LNER.

It comes amid fears e-scooters or e-bikes could catch fire due to faulty lithium-ion battery packs, causing serious damage and potentially leading to injuries.

Transport for London has also banned e-scooters after two fires on their network.

Matt Wakefield, from Greater Anglia, said: “Safety of our passengers and staff is our number one priority, and we know that e-scooters have battery packs which vary greatly in quality.

“The decision has therefore been made to ban these items from carriage on our network due to recent incidents elsewhere and the risks associated with them using faulty lithium batteries and catching fire.”

Jenny Saunders, who works for Great Northern's parent company GTR, said: “In line with most other UK train operating companies and Rail Delivery Group advice, from 1 June we will not allow e-scooters or similar devices on trains or stations."

"Too many e-scooters have poor-quality lithium batteries that do not comply with European standards and make them a serious safety hazard, with the risk of explosion, fire and release of poisonous gas.”

Mobility scooters, electric wheelchairs and e-bikes are exempt from the ban.

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