Mum Raises Concerns Over New Merseyside E-Bike Rail Ban, Liverpool 2026

Key Points

• Merseyrail has stated that as of 1 January 2027, e-bikes that cannot be folded will be prohibited from using trains, stations, car parks, and bike stores, due to potential fires caused by lithium-ion batteries.
• Banned will be the use of modified and converted e-bikes, e-bike conversion kits and lithium-ion batteries for e-bikes, while folding e-bikes, regular bikes, and mobility scooters will not be banned.
• There was protest held by cyclists in Liverpool, including older cyclists, people with disabilities and families with young children, against the blanket prohibition on 17 September.
• It has been claimed by Merseyrail that fires are uncommon but can spread rapidly in the tunnels and busy stations, causing heat, toxic fumes, and smoke that cannot be dispersed.
• Steve Rotheram, metro mayor, and Steve Foulkes, chair of the transport committee, had asked for discussion of the issue stating that it was “a sledgehammer to crack a nut.”

Liverpool (Liverpool standard) September 18, 2026 – Cyclists gathered in Liverpool to protest against operator Merseyrail’s forthcoming e‑bike ban, as families, older riders and disabled users warned the rules will restrict their travel and daily routines. Starting in January, non‑folding e‑bikes will be prohibited from both the services and stations due to safety worries surrounding battery fires. The railway company stated that this decision was one they “did not make lightly,” emphasising that “our primary obligation is to ensure a safe environment for our staff and passengers.”

What will be banned on Merseyrail and what is still allowed?

As reported by multiple outlets covering the 17 September protest, the ban announced on 14 July covers the operator’s trains, stations, car parks and cycle stores across the Liverpool City Region and parts of Cheshire and Lancashire, and applies even to bikes left in station cycle storage. Enforcement from 1 January 2027 will allow refusal of entry, removal from trains or stations, or penalties under the railway byelaws.

• Banned: non‑folding e‑bikes; modified or adapted e‑bikes; e‑bike conversion kits; detached lithium‑ion e‑bike batteries.
• Still allowed: standard pedal bicycles; folding e‑bikes; approved mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs that meet national requirements.

Merseyrail says that while e‑bike fires are rare, they can develop quickly and with little warning, producing intense heat, dense smoke and toxic gases, and that the consequences would be particularly serious in enclosed parts of its network such as trains, tunnels and busy underground stations.

Who says the ban will limit their family’s freedom, and what did they tell reporters?

As reported by the BBC, Lucy Granville, a single mother from Aigburth in south Liverpool, said the prohibition of certain e‑bikes on Merseyrail services will “greatly diminish” her family’s freedom. She compared her utility e‑bike to a family vehicle and explained: “I have been using this bike for school runs for years,” noting that she and her son often travelled by train to explore areas like West Kirby. Granville added: “This bike combined with the train allows us to explore a much wider range of activities. We have a tight family budget and truly appreciate the opportunities that come from taking the train and then using the bike to go further.”

Sue Dixon, from Formby, who has used an e‑bike with a local group for four years, said: “We often rely on the train since most of us are over 80. We hope the trains will always be there for us because when we’re fatigued, they are our savior.” Dixon called on Merseyrail to reconsider, stating: “Please reconsider. There are alternative methods to ensure train safety. These costly e‑bikes are quite secure, and it’s unjust.”

What did campaigners, older riders and disabled advocates say at the Liverpool protest?

As reported by Birkenhead News, dozens of cyclists braved a downpour on Thursday, 17 September, to gather outside Mann Island in an event organised by Cycling UK before riding to Merseyrail’s offices on Lord Nelson Street. Christine Smith, 72, from Crosby, part of the Tour de Friends group in Waterloo, said: “Without getting on the train with my bike, I can’t get back from some of the longer journeys we go on.” She added: “I’m an advocate for Merseyrail, but they have got this wrong. Cycling is so important to me; all these people are friends, it’s a big part of my life.”

Kay Ingle, from Wavertree, spoke on behalf of Wheels for Wellbeing, an organisation that helps disabled people access safe cycling. She said: “The ban on e‑cycles has a particularly disproportionate impact on disabled people who cycle and also older people, but even parents who might need assistance in order to have a child seat on the back of their cycle.” Ingle warned the ban could deter travel and harm health and the environment, adding: “I think I’d like to see the ban reversed and then really what we need is action from national government to prevent unsafe and illegal e‑cycles and e‑motorbikes being used at all.”

Paul Allison, also from Tour de Friends in Waterloo, said:

“I regularly cycle between Southport and Waterloo and it’s like a safety net for me. You socialise, you make friends. It’s wrong to have a blanket ban and shouldn’t have been done.”

Laurie Canham, 80, from Crosby, said:

“We ride Tuesdays and Thursdays around 20 to 30 of us, the thing that I find off is the lack of consultation about it. I just want them to tell us why. They’ve taken a blanket approach without showing the reasoning.”

What safety reasons has Merseyrail given for the e‑bike ban?

As reported by the BBC and Birkenhead News, Merseyrail explained:

“While incidents are infrequent, lithium‑ion battery fires can escalate rapidly, are challenging to extinguish, and can emit extreme heat, dense smoke, and harmful gases.”

The operator said this poses a significant safety risk in confined areas of the network, such as trains, tunnels and bustling underground stations, where smoke and toxic fumes could accumulate swiftly and be difficult to clear through ventilation.

Merseyrail said:

“Given the unique operational conditions of the Merseyrail network, the repercussions of such an event could be particularly grave. Taking these considerations into account, we determined that a ban on e‑bikes was the most suitable approach to mitigate risks for passengers, staff and emergency responders.”

In a statement, a Merseyrail spokesperson said the decision to prohibit electric bicycles was “not taken lightly” and that “safety must always come first.” The spokesperson added that Merseyrail would reach out to representatives of the cycling community to continue conversations, answer questions and discuss the factors that led to the decision.

The operator’s review concluded that folding e‑bikes present a lower risk because they can be carried and stored more easily, reducing the chance of battery damage during boarding and travel, and that a clear and consistent ban was the only way to protect staff and passengers because modified bikes cannot reliably be identified. Merseyrail notes that while standards such as BS EN 15194 exist for e‑bikes, staff cannot verify whether an individual bike meets them, whereas mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs are manufactured to established standards including BS EN 12184.

What have transport leaders and politicians said about the ban?

As reported by Birkenhead News, Steve Brooks, Cycling UK director of external affairs, told campaigners: “On this one, Merseyrail have really, really got it wrong.” He added: “We know it’s going to have a massive negative impact on so many people across Merseyside, particularly older people, disabled people and people who are struggling to make ends meet.” Brooks said campaigners had asked Merseyrail to “show us your safety report, we’ll have a look at it and work with you to address those safety concerns,” adding: “They’ve made this decision without any consultation or conversation and we don’t think that’s right.”

Cllr Steve Foulkes, chair of the Liverpool City Region transport committee, addressed the campaigners and gave them his backing. He said:

“This decision does seem completely against that local transport plan policy. I think we are singing from the same hymn sheet.”

Foulkes added Merseyrail had “sole responsibility” for the decision on safety as a private operator and said this would be challenged by Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram and the committee “in the coming months.” Foulkes said:

“My view is we should talk, get round the table. It seems to me they’ve used a sledgehammer to crack a nut.”

Concerns about the approach have also been raised by Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram, who urged Merseyrail to think again. Speaking earlier this month, Mr Rotheram said there were “inconsistencies” in the policy.

Background: how did the Merseyrail e‑bike ban develop and what timeline has been set?

The ban was announced on 14 July after a safety review and will begin enforcement on 1 January 2027. It covers the operator’s trains, stations, car parks and cycle stores across the Liverpool City Region and parts of Cheshire and Lancashire, and applies even to bikes left in station cycle storage. E‑scooters have been banned on the network since 2023, and the operator says reports of lithium‑ion battery fires involving e‑bikes and e‑scooters across the UK have increased.

In the run‑up to the ban, the operator is keen to educate users. Cycling UK, the Merseyside Cycling Campaign and local groups organised the 17 September ride and planned to deliver more than 100 personal stories from people who could be affected by the ban to Merseyrail’s headquarters.

Prediction: how could the e‑bike ban affect commuters, older riders and disabled cyclists in Merseyside?

If the ban proceeds as planned, regular commuters who combine train and e‑bike for longer trips may reduce rail use or switch to cars, potentially increasing road congestion and journey costs for households on tight budgets. Older riders and disabled cyclists who rely on electric assist to complete journeys, and who use the train as a “lifeline” when fatigued, may face reduced access to leisure, healthcare and social activities unless folding e‑bikes or alternative transport are viable and affordable. Campaigners argue the disproportionate impact could deter active travel and harm public health and environmental goals, while Merseyrail maintains the rules are necessary to manage low‑probability but high‑consequence battery fire risks in tunnels and crowded stations.