31.03.2025 | Reading time - 5 min(s)

Can you take electric bikes on trains?

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Posted in: Electric Bikes, Folding Bikes

Yes, you can take your electric bicycle on trains in the UK and it can be a great way to see and explore parts of the country that would be too far to cycle to. Most trains that operate in the UK will have space set aside for bicycles and electric bicycles but there are some restrictions to be aware of, both generally and specific to individual operators.

In this article, we will take a look at this question in depth and let you know how best to travel on trains with your electric bike, what electric bicycles are allowed and what rules and restrictions to be aware of. But let's start with why you should take your bike on the train.

Contents and Quick Links

Why Take Your Electric Bike on the Train?
Types of Electric Bike Allowed on the Train
Reserving Your Bike On The Train
Permitted Times For Taking Bikes On The Train
Rules and Advice For On The Train
What Happens for Rail Replacement Services
Taking Ebikes on London Trains
Packing and Protecting Your Bike On The Train

Why Should You Take Your Electric Bicycle on The Train?

There are a number of benefits to taking your e bikes or bicycle on the train whether you are training, commuting or leisure riding.

Training Rides

If you are training, it can get boring cycling the same old routes, which reduces motivation. Jumping on a train with your bike to a brand new area to train will make it feel new again. It can also be fun to get the train out and cycle all the way back or vice versa.

Commuting

If your commute is just a little far then it can be a great idea to replace part of this journey with the train. It can be really useful when travelling into busy cities like Edinburgh and London to take the train closer and then cycle the rest of the way. This avoids having to be on really busy, rush hour trains. This also gets around the time restrictions that some train companies enforce. Top Tip: a folding bike makes for an excellent partner for train journeys.

Leisure

Taking your ebike on the train can be a lovely way to explore a country whether up north in Scotland, the lakes, or Snowdonia, to name but a few. It's a great feeling to get up early, jump on the train, explore a part of the country you've never seen before, grab some lunch and head home. Exploring new areas can be a great way to keep motivated to do exercise.

Now that we know why it's such a good idea to take your ebike on a train, what are the rules you need to be aware of in order to travel with your ebike.

Brompton_Electric_P_Line_NYC-11 09.54.42.jpg

Guide for Travelling with Electric Bikes on Trains

Not only are you allowed to take electric bicycles with you on your train journey, it is actively encouraged as a great way to see parts of the country you wouldn't normaly cycle to. There are, however, some rules and restrictions to be aware of when travelling by train with your electric bike. These include the types of electric bicycles allowed, making a bike reservation, and the new London restrictions.

Type Of Electric Bicycle Allowed on Trains

As we have mentioned, you are permitted to take your electric bike on the train but there are some restrictions regarding the size. Most train operators only allow e bikes that are similar in size to a standard non-electric bikes. This means that cargo bikes, tandems and tricycles are not permitted on most trains. There are a few exceptions to this so it is always advisable to check with your operator what electric bikes they allow. For example; Scotrail allow cargo bikes on certain trains on certain routes.

Electric folding bikes are slightly different in that you don't always have to make a reservation and can store these in luggage spaces which means you are not always restricted by rush-hour restrictions (but please always check with the operator)

It is worth mentioning the other forms of transport that are not allowed also. You cannot take motorcycles, electric mopeds, tricycles, folding tricycles, e-scooters, and non-folding bike trailers. The exception to the 'scooters' section are mobility scooters, which are fine to take on most trains.

Permitted

Standard-sized electric bikes
Cargo bikes and tandem bikes (certain routes and trains only)
Folding Electric Bikes

Not Permitted

Motorcycles
Electric mopeds
Electric tricycles
Non-folding bike trailers
E-Scooters

*always check with your train operator

Reservations

For a lot of the major train companies, reservations are required for travelling with your permitted ebike on the train - your train ticket might not be enough. You can easily book a bike ticket through either the operator's website or through a third party train booking app. To avoid disappointment it is always advisable to check with the operator if a reservation is required for your journey.

If you are taking a folding bike on a train, these do not always require a booking as these can be stored in the luggage racks rather than the bike racks, but we would advise checking the permitted sizes. Brands like Brompton should present no problem at all due to the extremely compact size they fold down to but some other folding ebikes will still be quite a size even when folded. A good example of this is on Scotrail who allow folded cycles on all trains provided the wheel size is no larger than 20". This would include all Bromptons, including the brand new G Line and G Line Electric.

Giant Electric Bikes.jpg

Permitted Times to Take Your Ebike on the Train

The permitted times for taking your ebike on trains changes from operator to operator and is something to check before you travel. Many train services that have unreserved bike spaces operate a first come, first served policy so it pays to be early if you are travelling at busy times. Below are some examples of the larger operators policies on times and peak hours. These times usually only apply to working days, Monday to Friday - bank holidays are not usually included in the time restrictions and for those on a folding bike, these restrictions do not necessarily apply.

Scotrail - Unreserved cycle facilities are operated on a first-come, first-served basis. Other services offer a booking system with a maximum of approximately 4 to 6 bikes allowed.

Great Western Railway - Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays) when bikes aren’t allowed on services: trains arriving at London Paddington between 07:45 and 09:45, leaving London Paddington between 16:30 and 19:00, and between Wokingham and Reading on services arriving at Reading between 07:45 and 09:45 and leaving Reading between 16:30 and 19:00

Cross Country - There are no specific time restrictions mentioned but most trains have two reservable cycle spaces and one further space for unreserved cycles. Cyclists without a reservation are accepted subject to space, on a first come, first served basis.

LNER - No specific mention of permitted times, with reservations available on most trains.

TransPennine Express - No exclusions with regards to times and there are up to 4 reservable spaces per train.

Avanti West Coast - Compulsory reservations on all trains with up to four racks per train.

South Western Railway - Restrictions apply Monday to Friday, cycles are not permitted on these trains:

arriving into central London Waterloo between 07:15 and 10:00 inclusive
departing London Waterloo between 16:45 and 19:00 i
departing Clapham Junction 07:45 to 09:00 to the area bounded by Clapham Junction, Feltham and Strawberry Hill.

On-train rules and suggestions

Now that you have booked your valid electric bike on the train of your choice, here are some of the rules and suggestions for the day of the ride.

It is advisable to get to the train station early in order to figure out which carriage contains the bike storage area and where you will be seated as this will not always be the same. Before getting on the train, many operators advise removing the battery from the bike to make the bike more manoeuvrable, especially for lifting it onto the train and if you have to hang the ebike up in the bike space.

With regards to the battery; you are not allowed to charge the battery on most trains but this is another restriction to check on the operators website before travel.

As we have mentioned above, folding bikes do not always require a reservation but most of the operators that we checked, require that the electric bike is fully folded before getting on the train and that the bike is covered during storage.

What Happens if the Train Breaks Down or is Cancelled?

This is one to keep in mind as there are occasions where rail replacement bus services are running where a train is cancelled, delayed or breaks down. Simple if you do not have an electric folding bike but can be tricky if you have a non-folding bike with you.

Non-folding bikes are not allowed on buses so this makes it really complicated if you are offered a train to complete or replace a journey. In this scenario, a rather long cycle is the only option. If you have an electric folding bike then these are allowed on most buses due to the compact size they fold down to. It is for this reason that we normally advise poeple who use trains a lot or for their commute to opt for a folding electric bike to avoid the stress of this situation.

Taking Ebikes on London Trains

For those visiting London or for those living there, Transport for London have recently changed policy regarding taking an ebike on TfL transport. From 31st March 2025, TfL transport in and around London will no longer allow non-folding ebikes on their transport, including the Tube, Overground, Elizabeth line, central and northern lines, and DLR.

Folding ebikes will still be allowed on most services however TfL advise that bus drivers can refuse to accept electric folding bikes if the bus is too busy.

We guess Bromptons are going to get even more popular in London now.

Packing and Protecting your Bike on the train

If you are taking your bike on the train with you, there is no guarantee that you will be within eyeline, or even in the same carriage as it so it is important to protect you and your bike with some bike security. If allowed, we would recommend a lock to secure your bike to the racking to prevent someone lifting your bike.

We mentioned earlier, many operators recommend that you remove your bike battery while stored in bike storage on the train. This, again, makes the bike easier to lift and handle but it also makes the bike less attractive to steal if it is incomplete. It is less likely that a bike will be stolen on a train but it is not impossible. Make sure you protect yourself.

It is also recommended to take any pannier bags off of your bike while this is in storage - not only does this make the bike easier to handle, it also reduces the chances of your belongings being taken.

With a folding bike on the train, some operators insist on the bike being put in a cover. We believe this is to keep the area where the bike is stored clean and not risk chain dirt or grease from the bike getting on other passengers' bags or the train interior.

Final Thoughts

We hope that this article has made you more confident in what is required for taking your electric bike on the train and be able to take advantage of exploring new areas or starting a part cycle commute to work. It is really easy to organise getting your bike onboard a train as long as you check with the relevant operator before you travel.

Electric bike rider.jpg

Author

Ross Howieson

Content Creator

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Can you take electric bikes on trains?

Why Should You Take Your Electric Bicycle on The Train?

Training Rides

Commuting

Leisure

Guide for Travelling with Electric Bikes on Trains

Type Of Electric Bicycle Allowed on Trains

Reservations

Permitted Times to Take Your Ebike on the Train

On-train rules and suggestions

What Happens if the Train Breaks Down or is Cancelled?

Taking Ebikes on London Trains

Packing and Protecting your Bike on the train

Final Thoughts