From 27 December 2022, all e-scooters, hoverboards, and e-skateboards will be banned from being used within stations operated by TransPennine Express (TPE) or carried on any of its trains.
The ban is because of the potential fire risk posed by the gadgets’ lithium-ion batteries and is in line with a ban introduced by most other UK train operators. The danger around lithium-ion batteries is that if they become damaged or overheated they can produce a vapour of toxic gases which could lead to a fire or a risk of explosion.
The ban comes into place tomorrow, Tuesday, 27th December, and covers e-scooters, hoverboards, and e-skateboards. However, mobility scooters, electric wheelchairs, and e-bikes will be exempt from the ban.
Further information about TransPennine Express’s policy can be found at tpexpress.co.uk/travelling-with-us/escooters
Iain Peacock, Head of Safety and Security at TPE, said: “At TransPennine Express the safety of our customers and colleagues comes first.
“The risks associated with e-scooters and similar devices are of significant concern. Most of these devices are not approved for use in the UK and the batteries are often unregulated.
“We ask our customers to adhere to these new rules and be kind to our staff helping to enforce them, so we can keep everyone safe.”
Responses
It won’t matter soon, as there will not be any trains to travel on.
Such superficial nonsense. Will the TOCs apply this ban systematically and banish all Li-Ion batteries, including laptops, phones and of course the traction batteries in BEMUs?
They are right to ban them, as they could cause alsorts of problems on station concourses, people putting them on seats and in disabled and (paying ) cycle spaces.Using the battery fire problem is a neat way to do it.
THEY should ban these useless things anyway as using LEGS is better than this battery nonsense.As for hoverboards they havent been invented yet even if they were in BTTF Part 3 supposedly in 2015 Also not using legs make people Bulbasaurs too like too much car use
Is this because the scooters are likely to get to the destination before the train and they consider it unfair competition?