Northern is introducing a ban on all e-scooters, hoverboards and e-skateboards from its trains and railway stations.
The devices will be prohibited on its 345 trains and 500-plus stations across the north from tomorrow (Thursday December 1) due to the potential fire risk posed by the lithium batteries which can overheat and catch fire, said the company.
Electric wheelchairs and e-bikes are exempt from the ban, said Northern. Also exempt are mobility scooters for those with access needs as long as they are registered with the train operator’s mobility permit scheme, said Northern.
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The scheme checks devices by a range of criteria to make sure they are safe to use on-board, said their statement.
Lithium batteries have been linked to a number of fires. Yesterday the M.E.N. reported t he moment the front window of a house exploded in a blaze said by the fire service to have been caused by modified electric bike batteries.
The footage - recorded from a neighbour's doorbell camera - was released by Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service as bosses issued an urgent warning ahead of Christmas.
The fire service said two people were taken to hospital for what they described as 'precautionary checks' in the aftermath of the incident in Failsworth, Oldham.
In the summer, firefighters issued an urgent warning about fires involving e-bikes following a blaze at a high-rise block of flats in west London.
Residents were evacuated from Stebbing House in Shepherd’s Bush as firefighters battled a blaze in a 12th floor flat. LFB’s fire investigators said the blaze was accidental and caused by the failure of an e-bike’s lithium-ion battery.
Announcing the ban, Tricia Williams, 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."
Northern is the second largest train operator in the UK, running nearly 2,000 services a day to more than 500 stations across the north of England.
On December 11, Northern is introducing a new timetable and the company is urging customers to check that services they may have used regularly operates at the same times and calls at all the same stations.
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