Trainline

Train and coach tickets in the UK and Europe, from many rail operators in one app.

United Kingdom thetrainline.com Last updated
SeeMetric score 0 vs the category average (80)

In two sentences

Trainline sells tickets from UK and European rail operators in one app, with digital tickets and delay alerts. It charges a booking fee you would not pay buying direct from the operator.

Best in Accuracy and reliability

Founded
1997
Based in
London, United Kingdom
Business model
Rail and coach ticket retailer
Available in
10 countries: United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, Portugal

Score by criterion, against the category

The tick on each bar is the category average; the signed number is the distance from it.

Route and carrier coverage84-6
Price and fees78-6
Accuracy and reliability86+5
Automatic trip planning78+2
Changes, refunds and support74+3

Good fit for

  • Rail travel in the UK and between European countries
  • Anyone who wants several operators' tickets in one app
  • Split tickets to make UK journeys cheaper

Less suited when

  • Anyone who travels with one operator and wants to avoid fees
  • Travel outside Europe

Strengths

  • Tickets from dozens of rail and coach operators in one app
  • Digital tickets and live delay and platform info
  • SplitSave to find cheaper ticket combinations
  • Price alerts for advance fares

Opportunities for improvement

  • Room for improvement in: Reducing booking fees on standard tickets
  • Room for improvement in: Streamlining refund rules across individual rail operators
  • Room for improvement in: Expanding coverage beyond Europe
Verdict

The easiest rail app in the UK and Europe; for a fixed route, check the operator's direct price too.

What Trainline actually is

Trainline started in London in 1997 and now sells UK and European rail and coach tickets in one app, what Alibaba.ir does for trains in Iran.

What you pay and what you get

The ticket price is the operator's, with a booking fee on top.

Where it is strong

Live delay and platform info, digital tickets and split ticketing make rail travel simpler.

How it can improve, and what we could not verify

Refunds and changes follow each operator's rules. It covers Europe only.

Questions about Trainline

Is Trainline more expensive than buying direct?

The fare is the same, but a booking fee is added.

What is SplitSave?

A tool that splits a journey into several cheaper tickets on the same train.

Does Trainline work in Iran?

No; it sells European trains only.

Was this review useful?

Disclosure: Seemerce is developing products in some of these same areas (Seemerce Infinity). Scores are editorial assessments by Seemerce based on public information. Companies can send corrections or a reply to mahdiparto94@gmail.com. Names and logos belong to their owners and are used only to identify them; Seemerce is not affiliated with or endorsed by them.

Assessment last updated: | Official site | Report a correction

Where it stands (United Kingdom)

The option one place up, one place down, and the whole table.

Full standings of Trip

  1. 1

    Trip.com

    China

    An online travel agency for flights, trains, hotels and tours, with 24/7 support.

  2. 2

    Expedia

    United States

    An online travel agency for flights, hotels, cars and trip packages in one purchase.

  3. 3

    Trainline

    United Kingdom

    Train and coach tickets in the UK and Europe, from many rail operators in one app.

  4. 4

    Skyscanner

    United Kingdom

    A flight, hotel and car search engine that puts hundreds of sellers' prices side by side.

  5. 5

    FlixBus

    Germany

    A low-cost intercity bus network in Europe and the Americas, with online booking and digital tickets.

Criterion by criterion

See+Metric=SeeMetric This page's name in the Seemerce family What the name means
This page's name in the Seemerce family

Platforms side by side on one yardstick: every country and every need at a glance.

The rule is simple: See joins a word to make one new word, just as See and commerce became Seemerce.

Related names