NATIONAL ENFORCEMENT & EXPANSION OF E-BIKE BAN ACROSS THE NETWORK

Our ref: HSR

Head Office Circular NP/191/25

6^th November 2025

 

To: ALL RAIL MEMBERS

 

 

Dear Colleague

 

NATIONAL ENFORCEMENT & EXPANSION OF E-BIKE BAN ACROSS THE NETWORK 

 

Your National Industrial Organising Conference of Train Crews & Shunting Grades 2025 submitted the following resolution:

 

This Conference notes with serious concern the growing safety risks posed by electric bikes (e-bikes), particularly in relation to the dangers presented by lithium-ion battery fires.

 

We welcome the existing ban on e-scooters across the National Rail network and the London Underground, and we further commend the recent decision by Transport for London (TfL) and London Underground to extend this policy to include non-folding e-bikes, following several serious incidents involving battery fires which posed a direct threat to the safety of staff, passengers, and infrastructure.

 

This Conference believes that a similar ban on non-folding e-bikes should now be urgently rolled out across the National Rail network to ensure a consistent and proactive approach to staff and public safety. The dangers presented by faulty, damaged or poorly regulated lithium-ion batteries are not confined to any one part of the network, and inconsistent policies only serve to create confusion and unnecessary risk.

 

Therefore, this Conference resolves to:

 

1.   Call on the RMT Executive to campaign for a National Rail-wide ban on the carriage of privately-owned non-folding e-bikes on trains and within stations, in line with the policy recently implemented on the London Underground.

 

2.   Lobby the Department for Transport, Rail Delivery Group, Network Rail, and all Train Operating Companies (TOCs) to implement this ban consistently across the network.

 

3.   Call on British Transport Police (BTP) and TOCs to actively enforce both the existing e-scooter ban and any future e-bike ban, and to ensure the public are clearly informed of the restrictions and the safety rationale behind them through prominent signage, public announcements, and awareness campaigns.

 

4.   Demand that TOCs provide all frontline staff with adequate training, resources, and support to implement and respond to these safety measures, including clear guidance on dealing with non-compliance and the risks associated with lithium-ion batteries.

 

The safety of rail workers and passengers must not be undermined by piecemeal policies or unenforced rules. A unified approach to this growing threat is essential to prevent injury, protect infrastructure, and uphold the health and safety standards our members deserve.

Safety must not be subject to postcode policy. What is dangerous in London is equally 

dangerous in Leeds, Liverpool, and Llandudno. Let us act now before more serious incidents occur.

 

At its meeting on 4^th November 2025, your National Executive Committee noted and adopted the following report from its health and safety subcommittee:

 

We note the resolution on file from the 2025 National Industrial Organising Conference of Train Crews & Shunting Grades.

 

We note the need for a unified approach across the industry in terms of safety and agree that the approach taken by London Underground Ltd on this matter should be implemented across the rail network.

 

The General Secretary is therefore instructed to act in line with the resolution and:

 

1.   Call on the RMT Executive to campaign for a National Rail-wide ban on the carriage of privately-owned non-folding e-bikes on trains and within stations, in line with the policy recently implemented on the London Underground

 

2.   Lobby the Department for Transport, Rail Delivery Group, Network Rail, and all Train Operating Companies (TOCs) to implement this ban consistently across the network

 

3.   Call on British Transport Police (BTP) and TOCs to actively enforce both the existing e-scooter ban and any future e-bike ban, and to ensure the public are clearly informed of the restrictions and the safety rationale behind them through prominent signage, public announcements, and awareness campaigns

 

4.   Demand that TOCs provide all frontline staff with adequate training, resources, and support to implement and respond to these safety measures, including clear guidance on dealing with non-compliance and the risks associated with lithium-ion batteries.

 

Branches and regional councils to be informed.

 

I am acting in line with these instructions. Please bring this circular to the attention of all relevant members.

 

 

Yours sincerely

 

Eddie Dempsey

General Secretary