Rail Operator Bans E-Scooters Following Safety Concerns
Lithium-ion batteries are considered to be a hazard
Rail Operate Northern has banned all e-scooters, hoverboards, and e-skateboards from its trains and stations over fire safety fears.
From 1 December 2022, the ban by the second largest train operator in the UK will be in effect on 345 trains and at over 500 stations in northern England.
Northern, who operate almost 2,000 services daily, have introduced the ban because of the fire risks associated with the lithium-ion batteries used in Personal Mobility Transport (PMT), which can overheat and catch fire. According to Northern, they pose a real fire risk due to the ‘thermal runaway’ of the battery.
A spokesman said: “Once the thermal runaway reaction has started there is no way of stopping it or extinguishing the fire until the reaction has finished. A large amount of potentially toxic smoke is emitted and jets of flame are often produced. The result of such a malfunction onboard a train could cause serious harm to passengers and staff.”
Mobility Scooters
Northern has pointed out that that the ban does not apply to mobility scooters, which are still allowed to be carried if they have been registered with the Mobility Scooter Permit Scheme. Passengers are advised to refer to Northern's dedicated guidance on mobility scooters. Also exempt from the ban are non-electric scooters and electric bikes, however, the latter must not be charged onboard.
Tricia Williams, the chief operating officer at Northern, said: “The safety of our customers and staff is our number one priority. As these devices have become more and more popular, so have the horror stories of lithium batteries overheating and catching fire. Most of these devices are not actually approved for use in the UK – and from 1 December, our staff will refuse travel to anyone attempting to board one of our trains, or access one of our stations with such a device.”
As Move Electric reports, it is also illegal to use e-scooters, hoverboards, and e-skateboards on public roads in the UK. Other public transport operators, including Transport for London, also introduced bans on privately owned e-scooters and e-unicycles from their services and stations following several incidents where such devices caught on fire.
E-Bikes
E-Bikes, however, are exempt from the ban even though they also carry lithium-ion batteries. This is because they are less likely to have been modified and considered to be more “robustly built.” Fire and rescue services across the UK have warned customers about the safe use and charging of e-bikes due to the potential fire risks they can cause.
The Northern rail franchise has been publicly owned since Arriva Rail North had its contract terminated in 2020, with the service currently run by DfT OLR Holdings, a company established by the Department for Transport. The DfT is currently working on regulations to legalise e-scooters and other personal light electric vehicles.