Train passenger update: Converted e-bike ban
Converted e-bikes banned from NSW trains from 1 November 2025
From 1 November, converted e-bikes will be banned from all NSW rail services, including Sydney Trains, NSW TrainLink, and Metro services. This ban is aimed at keeping passengers and staff safe from the risks associated with some lithium-ion batteries.
Converted e-bikes are regular pedal bicycles that have been fitted with electric motors and batteries. They’re more likely to catch fire because of DIY setups, poor wiring, and low-quality or second-hand parts.
Other types of e-bikes, shared e-bikes, and mobility devices will continue to be allowed on Sydney Trains or Metro services. Existing weight limits on NSW TrainLink services will preclude any bike that exceeds the allowable limit.
The ban only applies on train carriages and platforms. You can still take converted e-bikes through station concourses, lifts, escalators, and bike storage areas outside the fare gates. Riders using community access gates won’t be affected.
Transport for NSW will keep monitoring safety issues.
If you bring a banned converted e-bike onto a train, you could be fined $400, with a maximum penalty of $1,110. This is similar to the fine for bringing petrol-powered devices onto trains.
Transport for NSW consulted widely before making this decision, including with fire services, unions, delivery riders, shared bike operators, and the public. Around 3,000 people responded to a public survey. The decision to ban converted e-bikes follows recent incidents, including fires at Liverpool and Blacktown stations, and a growing number of battery-related fires reported by Fire and Rescue NSW.
For more information about e-bike lithium-ion battery safety, visit the NSW Fire and Rescue website or the NSW Government electrical safety page.
Frequently asked questions
A 'converted e-bike' is considered to be a standard 'push/pedal bike' that has been converted into an e-bike with the addition of a battery and motor.
E-micromobility devices including original e-bikes, shared e-bikes and mobility devices are excluded from the ban.
No. Lithium-ion batteries, whether connected or disconnected to e-bikes pose a fire risk and are temporarily banned from Sydney Trains, NSW Trainlink and Metro networks.