Metrolinx will soon ban unapproved e-bike batteries from trains across the GO Transit network, sources confirm to CP24.

The transit agency is reportedly banning all batteries that do not have "UL" or "CE" certification, and inspections will be conducted to ensure compliance.

The ban comes amid concerns about the safety of "small mobility devices" that use lithium-ion batteries.

On New Year's Eve last year, an e-bike caught fire in a subway car stopped at Sheppard-Yonge station in North York. Passengers were able to evacuate the car quickly, and Toronto fire crews managed to contain and eventually extinguish the fire. The e-bike owner suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

Toronto Fire Chief Matthew Pegg said at the time that the fire was the result of a lithium-ion battery malfunction.

Toronto Fire Service previously said there were 55 lithium-ion battery fires in 2023, nearly double the number recorded one year earlier, with Pegg describing the issue as causing "increasing concern."

Last month, GO Transit passengers expressed concerns about the size of e-bikes on GO trains, and traveler Janice Jame shared photos on social media of a crowded bike car full of e-bikes, describing the situation as a "disaster waiting to happen."

In a statement to CP24.com at the time, Metrolinx said employees were "in close contact" with TTC and Toronto Fire Services since the e-bike fire in the subway.

The transit agency said last month: "This includes conducting on-site investigations in cooperation with Toronto Fire Services to better understand the risks of a similar event occurring on GO Transit services, as well as potential mitigations."

"All GO trains are made with flame-retardant materials according to National Fire Protection Association standards."

While the regional transit agency has not confirmed it will ban unapproved batteries, a spokesperson told CP24 on Thursday that it is "actively reviewing" bike policies.

The statement said: "Our staff have been at stations and platforms over the past few months, working to educate passengers about our bike policies and overall e-bike safety."

"Customers will be informed of any changes to these policies in advance."