Furious e-scooter owner kicked off train
‘They could not confirm or deny it I was breaking any rules,’ said passenger of Scotrail
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A train passenger was kicked off a Scotrail train for travelling with an e-scooter – despite the company having no official policy banning the item.
Paul Nixon, a 43-year-old general manager, was on the 7.55am service from North Berwick to East Lothian on 26 November when he claims the train driver forced him to leave the train.
He added that he has travelled on the train with his e-scooter – which he folds up and puts under the seat so that it causes no obstruction – without issue for the last year.
“I was evicted off the North Berwick to Edinburgh train by the train driver,” he told the Scotsman.
“The justification for my removal was I was carrying a prohibited item, an e-scooter.”
Mr Nixon showed that neither the Scotrail conditions of carriage nor National Rail rules prohibit e-scooters, “but the driver said he was not driving the train with me on it and set about finding the ticket conductor.”
He complied with the request to leave the train “in the interest of the other passengers who I didn't want to make any later,” but has since lodged an official complaint with Scotrail.
When Mr Nixon contacted the rail company, its customer service representative “could not confirm or deny [he] was breaking any rules”, he said.
ScotRail told the Evening News that e-scooters are not yet banned on its trains, but that the company operator is considering updating its policy after a fire on a London train was caused by one.
Passengers had to evacuate a train at Parsons Green station in early November after an e-scooter set alight due to an exploding lithium battery.
In video captured of the incident, clouds of smoke could be seen billowing down the District Line tube while the scooter was wreathed in flames.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments