Trainline
- Company typePublic
- Founded1997
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
Trainline firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Trainline
- Legal name
- Trainline.com Limited
- Website
- https://thetrainline.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1997
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Trainline industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Online Rail and Bus Ticketing
- NAICS
- Support Activities for Rail Transportation (4882)
- SIC
- Transportation Services (4700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Ground Transport Booking Platforms (Rail/Bus/Shuttle) (THALAFAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Rail & Intercity Bus Booking Engines (THALADAD), Rail Content Aggregators & Connectivity APIs (THALAJAE)
Keywords
Where Trainline is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Trainline business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Ticket Sales Commissions: Trainline generates revenue primarily through commissions and fees on ticket sales. The company acts as an intermediary between rail/coach operators and consumers, earning a percentage of each transaction processed through its platform.
- Ancillary Revenue: Strong ancillary revenue growth of 17%, including seat reservations, rail pass sales, and other travel-related services that complement core ticket sales.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Dynamic pricing based on operator-set fares |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Trainline product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Trainline operates a digital rail and bus ticketing platform that aggregates schedules, fares, and booking capabilities from over 270 train and bus companies across 45 countries. Consumers use its website and mobile apps to search, compare, and purchase tickets with digital delivery, while Trainline Partner Solutions provides white-label and API-based B2B distribution to corporate travel managers and partners.
Product overview
Trainline operates as a digital rail and bus ticketing platform with a unified product portfolio. The core offering is the Trainline Consumer App and Website (thetrainline.com), which aggregates schedules and fares from over 270 train and bus companies across 45 countries, enabling consumers to search, compare, and purchase tickets with digital delivery. Complementing the consumer platform, Trainline Partner Solutions provides B2B white-label booking capabilities for corporate travel management. The company also serves as an official distributor of Eurail and Interrail Passes for flexible multi-country European travel. The platform emphasizes real-time travel information, no hidden costs, and mobile-first digital ticketing.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Trainline Consumer App and Website Trainline's primary digital platform enabling consumers to search, compare, and purchase train and bus tickets across 270+ carriers in 45 countries, with real-time travel information and in-app digital ticket delivery.
- Trainline Partner Solutions A B2B white-label and API solution enabling corporate partners and travel management companies to access Trainline's rail inventory and booking capabilities for business travel management across multiple European operators.
- Eurail and Interrail Passes Official retailer of Eurail and Interrail Passes enabling travelers to purchase unlimited train travel across 33 European countries for set travel day durations.
Quantifiable outcome
- 43% increase in operating profit to £122m in FY 2025-26
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Trainline
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Trainline technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Trainline partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- WPPminorTrainline announced a collaboration with WPP, the multinational communications services company. The partnership involves industry collaboration in the marketing and technology space, enabling Trainline to leverage WPP's marketing and technology capabilities.
- Swile TravelcoreTrainline Partner Solutions expanded its partnership with Swile Travel to include additional rail carriers in Italy and Spain (Renfe, Iryo, and Italo). The expanded partnership facilitates corporate rail travel across Europe, offering businesses comprehensive options for domestic and international routes integrated into a single booking system. The collaboration promotes sustainable travel alternatives and is expected to increase rail travel adoption among European businesses.
- Trenes.comcoreTrainline acquired Barcelona-based online train and bus booking platform Trenes.com (founded in 2014), which served more than 350,000 customers. The acquisition expands Trainline's presence in the Spanish rail market. Financial terms were not disclosed. The acquisition was subject to clearance from Spain's competition regulator and expected to close within weeks of announcement.
- Renfe (via Swile Travel Partnership)coreSpanish national rail operator Renfe's inventory included in Trainline Partner Solutions' expanded partnership with Swile Travel, enabling corporate booking of Renfe services across Spain through Trainline's B2B distribution platform.
- Iryo (via Swile Travel Partnership)coreSpanish high-speed rail operator Iryo's inventory included in Trainline Partner Solutions' expanded partnership with Swile Travel, enabling corporate booking of Iryo services across Spain through Trainline's B2B distribution platform.
- Italo (via Swile Travel Partnership)coreItalian high-speed rail operator Italo's inventory included in Trainline Partner Solutions' expanded partnership with Swile Travel, enabling corporate booking of Italo services across Italy through Trainline's B2B distribution platform.
Scale indicators13 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Trainline competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Omio: Omio (formerly GoEuro) is a Berlin-headquartered multi-modal European travel booking platform comparing and selling train, bus and flight tickets across Europe. It is the closest direct competitor to Trainline in European rail and bus aggregation, serving the same consumer base with similar inventory and product features.
- Flix (FlixBus): Flix operates the largest European intercity bus network (FlixBus) and has expanded into rail via FlixTrain, with an integrated booking platform covering multiple operators. It competes with Trainline both as an inventory aggregator and as a transport provider in adjacent European corridors.
- eDreams ODIGEO: eDreams ODIGEO is one of Europe's largest online travel agencies, serving consumers across 45+ markets with flights, hotels, rail and other travel products. It overlaps with Trainline on European rail distribution and competes for the same digital-first leisure traveler customer segment.
- Busbud: Busbud is a Montreal-based online bus and coach booking platform operating across 80+ countries. It directly competes with Trainline's bus ticketing inventory and shares a similar B2C aggregator business model focused on ground transportation.
- Rome2Rio: Rome2Rio (owned by Booking Holdings) is a multimodal transport search and comparison platform covering trains, buses, flights and ferries globally. It competes with Trainline on the discovery and price-comparison layer for European rail and bus travel.
- Wanderio: Wanderio is an Italian-headquartered multimodal European travel platform (rail, bus, flights and ferries) with strong presence in Italy, Spain and France. It directly competes with Trainline in continental European ground transport aggregation.
- National Express: National Express is a major UK coach operator and integrated transport group with its own digital booking platform and consumer brand. It both supplies inventory to Trainline and competes with it for UK intercity ground transport bookings.
Broad incumbents
- Booking.com: Booking.com (part of Booking Holdings) is the world's largest online travel agency, offering accommodation, flights and increasingly ground transport including rail. It is a broader incumbent that overlaps with Trainline on rail discovery and booking for European travelers.
- Skyscanner: Skyscanner is a leading global travel meta-search engine owned by Trip.com Group, comparing flights, hotels and increasingly rail and bus options. It competes with Trainline on the price-comparison layer for European ground transportation.
- Trip.com Group: Trip.com Group operates a global portfolio of OTAs (Trip.com, Ctrip, Skyscanner) with growing European rail distribution. It is a broader incumbent that overlaps with Trainline on cross-border European rail discovery and booking.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Trainline social profiles
Digital presenceTrainline financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Trainline leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
Trainline subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Trainline funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Trainline M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Trainline
What does Trainline do?
Trainline operates a digital rail and bus ticketing platform that aggregates schedules, fares, and booking capabilities from over 270 train and bus companies across 45 countries. Consumers use its website and mobile apps to search, compare, and purchase tickets with digital delivery, while Trainline Partner Solutions provides white-label and API-based B2B distribution to corporate travel managers and partners.
Is Trainline a public or private company?
Trainline is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was Trainline founded?
Trainline was founded in 1997. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Trainline based?
Trainline is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Trainline make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Ticket Sales Commissions are the primary driver. The others are ancillary Revenue.
Who are Trainline's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Omio, Flix (FlixBus), eDreams ODIGEO, Busbud, Rome2Rio, Wanderio and National Express. Broad incumbents are Booking.com, Skyscanner and Trip.com Group.
Does Trainline have an API?
No public API is recorded for Trainline.
What industry is Trainline in?
Trainline's product category is Online Rail and Bus Ticketing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THALAFAD, Ground Transport Booking Platforms (Rail/Bus/Shuttle), with a secondary code of THALADAD, Rail & Intercity Bus Booking Engines. Its NAICS code is 4882 and its SIC code is 4700.