E-scooters face train ban over blaze fears

E-SCOOTER riders have been urged to stop taking them onto trains amid fears that they could burst into flames.

ScotRail is reviewing its policy on the scooters following recent fires at two London railway stations.

An e-scooter caught fire at Parsons Green tube station last month and a scooter’s lithium battery caused a blaze in the lost property office at Stanmore station in October.

A ScotRail spokesman said: ‘Following recent cases of e-scooters causing fires on public transport in London, an industry-wide review on the carriage of e-scooters is required.

‘Until further guidance can be issued, we would ask customers to avoid carrying e-scooters on board our trains.

‘If a customer does need to travel with an e-scooter in the meantime, it must be folded for the entirety of their journey.’

Transport union TSSA has branded the scooters a ‘significant threat’ to the safety of passengers and staff.

General Secretary Manuel Cortes said: ‘There should be an immediate halt to transporting e-scooters on the railways until more research into their batteries can be carried out. In fact, Transe-scooters port Secretary Michael Matheson should go one step further and ban the carriage of e-scooters on all forms of public transport, including buses and ferries.

‘Safety on our transport network must come first. Our union will accept no compromises on that.’

Although e-scooters are available for purchase in Scotland, it is illegal to ride them on public roads or pavements.

Last week, Paul Nixon, 43, from East Lothian, was removed from a North Berwick to Edinburgh train because he had an e-scooter with him.

Mr Nixon said: ‘I am aware that some owners “tune” their e-scooters or modify them, and I would argue that these may pose a greater risk, but one which has been purchased by a reputable company and has been well maintained should be fine. Given that

are sold legally and are licensed to be sold in this country, I do not see them posing any greater risk than any other battery-operated mode of transport, for example electric bikes and electric wheelchairs.’

Scottish Tory transport spokesman Graham Simpson said: ‘With scooters catching fire at stations, then it is right ScotRail are urgently reviewing their policy around them.

‘They should also consider liaising closely with British Transport Police to ensure there is a crackdown on their use in stations.’

Transport Scotland said legislative changes ‘are primarily a matter for the UK Government’.

A spokesman added: ‘The UK Government has signalled its intention to publish proposals in 2022 for potential further legalisation of e-scooters.

‘The Scottish Government will consider any such proposals and continue to monitor trends as a matter of course in order to inform future policy on e-scooters.’

‘Safety must come first’