Trainline is a international digital rail and coach technology platform [that] sells train tickets and railcards as well as providing free access to live train times and railway station information through its website and mobile app, according to the company. It’s essentially a one-stop shop for train travel. Within the United Kingdom, it is one of the most popular sites for comparing multiple different prices and times across all British rail operators. Here’s everything you need to know about booking your travel with Trainline and finding the best deals.
What exactly is Trainline?
Trainline bills itself as “Europe’s leading train and coach app,” providing a one-stop shop for travel by more than 270 rail and coach operators across 45 countries. The Virgin Group founded it nearly 25 years ago, and it is now listed on the London Stock Exchange.
Trainline works with which rail companies?
Trainline allows you to book a wide range of operators up to 15 minutes before departure, including:
LNER
Great Western Rail
Avanti West Coast
Lumo ScotRail
Stansted Express
Gatwick Express
When you want to use London Underground to complete your journey, you can add London Underground tickets to other U.K. train journeys, though they do not offer London Underground only tickets.
It should be noted that, while Trainline covers many major European rail operators, they do not sell tickets for all of them.
What else does Trainline have to offer?
In addition to train tickets across the United Kingdom, Europe, and beyond, you can book bus (coach) travel within the United Kingdom, from the United Kingdom to Continental Europe, and within Europe.
A coach trip will almost certainly be less expensive than a train trip on the same route, despite the fact that it will take much longer. On a short route like London to a London area airport, the time difference may not be significant. However, if you are travelling from London to, say, Vienna, Austria, instead of taking a two-hour nonstop flight or a 17-hour train, you could be looking at 26+ hours on a coach, and that’s without traffic delays. Most coach trips will also make several brief stops along the way for drop-offs and service stations.
Railcards can also be purchased directly from Trainline and used to purchase discounted tickets through Trainline.
Trainline accepts rail discount cards.
Yes. You can use your railcards to book train journeys through the platform after purchasing them from Trainline. It is well worth investigating whether you are eligible for a card, especially if you travel by train frequently, as you can save up to 33% off standard fares.
The platform includes a useful tool for determining which cards you may be eligible for based on your age, location, and regular travelling companions.
There are nine different types of UK Railcards. They are as follows:
Network Railcard
16-17 Saver
16-25 Railcard
26-30 Railcard
Family and Friends Railcard
2 Combined Railcard
Railcard for Seniors
Individuals with Disabilities Railcard
Railcard for Veterans
How do I make a reservation with Trainline?
Tickets can be purchased directly from Trainline.com
Trainline also has an app that is used by over 30 million people worldwide.
After you purchase your tickets, you will receive an email with a confirmation and an e-ticket. Most rail companies will let you use the QR code in your e-ticket to bypass ticket barriers at the station and for any onboard ticket checks. This is a convenient and paperless mode of transportation; no more digging through your pockets for a scrap of paper or a printed ticket. Some providers, as well as some older regional train stations in the United Kingdom, may still require you to print a physical ticket at your departure station before boarding using the confirmation number. This should be stated clearly on the e-ticket. If this is the case, plan to arrive at the station at least 15 minutes before departure to account for possible queues at ticket printing machines as well as the time it takes the machine to print it.Remember to bring the credit card you used to purchase the tickets, as you may need it to print physical tickets. For a small fee, you may be given the option of collecting e-tickets or printing physical tickets. When a physical ticket is available, it is far more convenient to use an e-ticket rather than go to the trouble of printing it. The Trainline app, which is available for both IOS and Android, will make this much easier, both for booking and ticket management.
What are the ticket types, as well as the refund and change fees?
Trainline sells three types of tickets for travel in the United Kingdom:
These are usually sold between 12 and 24 weeks in advance, are nonrefundable, and are usually only valid on the specific train and time chosen at the time of booking. Typically, only a limited number of Anytime tickets are sold. They are typically the cheapest ticket type and are ideal for those who book far in advance.
If you want more flexibility, you can pay more for an Anytime train, which is divided into Anytime Day Single, Anytime Day Return, Anytime Single, and Anytime Return. These tickets provide you with the flexibility of having multiple options for travel on the same day, and some even allow you to travel on multiple days. If you’re going away for the weekend and aren’t sure what time you’ll want to return, these are great for extra flexibility.
Peak hours are 6.30 a.m. to 9.30 a.m. and 4.30 p.m. to 7 p.m. If you know you don’t want to travel during peak hours, choosing an off-peak time is a cheaper option. Because there will be fewer daily commuters to contend with, the trains will most likely be quieter. They usually provide the flexibility of Anytime tickets, but you must ensure that the train you choose is not an express.
As an aggregator of tickets from numerous rail and coach operators, the refund and change options vary from one to the next.
First class tickets are also available where they are sold.
Is it possible to earn points and miles with Trainline?
Trainline has its own membership programme, Complete Savings, that allows members to earn discounts and cashback at major retailers and service providers. Signing up entitles you to a monthly bonus, up to 10% cashback at 1,250 retailers, and 20% off gift cards. You could also earn Virgin points through Trainline. However, that option is no longer available since Virgin launched its own ticketing system, Virgin Trains Ticketing, in 2021. You can also earn points and miles for purchases if you use the right credit card. All major credit and debit cards are accepted on the website.