Are you planning a trip around Europe soon? If yes, you may be overwhelmed with various tasks, including booking train tickets. The booking process can be tedious, especially if the train operators refuse to speak English, making communication tough in and around Europe.
However, with the Trainline app, you can book your train ticket within minutes. Still, is the application overrated or ideal for your use case?
To find out, read The Trainline review below.
What is The Trainline?
Europe has an excellent national train system. There is more than one train company in the region, and they are all well-connected. However, buying ticket tickets at the station is not always easy due to language barriers and time limitations.
This is where Trainline comes in. This platform is designed to help you buy train tickets online without including a train operator in the process. You can also book bus tickets in Europe on this platform and show them to bus operators before hopping on one.
Trainline was founded in 1997 by the Virgin Group. However, quite soon, it was acquired for £450m by private equity giant KKR, which floated the business in 2019, helping it approach the £2bn valuation.
It is considered a one-stop shop for coach and train travel. The platform aggregates train and bus tickets from almost 270 ticket providers. This helps travelers like you to book tickets for trains and buses in the UK and Europe within a few clicks.
As of October 2024, Trainline has a market cap of £1.49 Billion. In fact, its market cap has elevated by 21.22% within a year.
How Does Trainline Work?
Trainline allows you to book your tickets online for a contactless experience. You can book tickets using this user-friendly application.
Here are the steps you can take to kickstart your train travel journey.
- Go to the app and put your city, time, and date of travel with the number of tickets required.
- Tap on ‘Get Cheap Tickets’ to find routes and seats available that match your budget.
- Select an option and then share your email address.
- Once done, pick a payment method and, finally, get a confirmation after booking a ticket.
The Trainline booking process is simple and quick. This platform charges service fees, but it is good enough for the convenience it offers.
You can also easily contact customer service in case of a change in your ticket or application glitches.
Since Trainline works with multiple train companies, the chances of you getting a good route and rates are very high.
Trainline tickets are booked within minutes, provided you are clear about the dates and the entire process. You can also book Trainline group tickets for more than one traveler.
Trainline Features
Trainline excels because it has multiple features that help you catch a regional train with the cheapest ticket available.
Here are some of the top features of this application.
Mobile App
Trainline app has a user-friendly interface that is easy for anyone to use on the go. This application is also designed to offer you real-time updates. So, whether there is a train delay or a similar issue, you get notified to avoid any hassle.
You can also use the application to select your seat number to travel on your own terms. Seat reservations are made with just a few clicks.
Price Prediction Tool
This application comes with a price prediction tool. This feature is designed to help you save money by predicting fare changes. It offers you cheaper tickets to make your travels on regional trains as affordable as possible.
Railcards and Discounts
You can buy a digital railcard online while booking your mobile tickets using this application. The card helps you get 1/3 off on most eligible journeys for a whole year. You can easily save an average of £167 a year with the Trainline railcard.
Journey Updates
This app helps you get real-time journey updates and notifications. It also gets you your desired travel insurance that you can use for your benefit. As a user, you can also contact multiple rail operators to learn more details about your journey.
Refund and Exchange Policies
You can easily get a refund for a flexible ticket bought from Trainline. You have around 28 days from the expiry of the ticket to request a refund and return your ticket.
If anything happens, you can also claim a longer refund on your journey in certain circumstances.
There are refund fees based on the value of the ticket you wish to cancel. For instance, there is no charge for tickets worth up to £1.99, but you will have to pay £5 for tickets bought for £7 or more.
Ticket changes are only allowed for a ticket available for a different time/date of travel. So make sure that you stick to the same departure and arrival stations.
For all e-ticket bookings, you will have to pay for the difference between your original ticket and your new ticket. In addition, there is usually a change fee as well.
Pros of Using Trainline
Here are some amazing plus points of using Trainline.
- The platform allows you to book your train or bus tickets from the convenience of your home.
- You can pick your desired routes using the multiple options provided.
- The mobile application is super easy and accessible.
- You can use the application to get the latest updates on your booked ticket and contact any operator if needed.
- Trainline is the best platform to get tickets at the cheapest rates.
- You can make exchanges or refund your ticket at a minimum cost.
Cons of Trainline
Trainline has some flaws. Here are a few of them.
- Booking fees may apply, which can make it more expensive than booking directly with the operator.
- There is limited coverage in some regions, as Trainline doesn’t have partnerships with every possible transport operator.
- There is a lack of customer support if things go wrong, with some users reporting issues with refunds and exchanges.
- Trainline’s booking fee is not transparent but often comes to about 3% or less of the total ticket price.
- There is also a refund fee, which you may not be eager to pay.
User Reviews
Trainline has received a few positive and some negative reviews since its launch.
For instance, a user, Ken Grant, mentioned how he loves the platform and uses it for his journeys from Glasgow to London.
Kaye Barett has also shared how he uses the platform every time he books mobile tickets.
Shawn Lew has appreciated Trainline’s remarkable customer service.
A few customers like Jack have had bad experiences with the application. According to him, he has only faced canceled and delayed journeys after booking with Trainline.
Sohel has shared how a ticket from the Trainline wasn’t accepted by the machine at a station.
While there are a few downsides to the platform, it is clear that the positives outweigh them any day.
So, before you try it, ensure to check these experiences online and then make a decision.
Tips for Using Trainline
Willing to give Trainline a try? Here are a few tips to follow.
- Make sure you book your tickets in advance to avoid having booking issues on your preferred dates.
- Use the Railcard as much as you can to get discounts.
- You can use the “Split Save” feature on Trainline. It can help you save a lot by splitting your journey into different tickets. The app will calculate the cheapest option automatically if it finds savings with split tickets.
- Don’t forget to use the Trainline’s Price Prediction tool. This feature is designed to show when fares are likely to increase. It can help you choose the right time to book your ticket.
- Don’t forget to reserve a seat as per your liking while booking a ticket.
- Save money by booking tickets for groups using the application.
- Make sure that you read the return and exchange policy to avoid any mishap later.
- Go through multiple routes. Don’t select an option in a hurry. Instead, take your time to choose a route that may suit you the most.
- Make sure that you visit Trainline’s website and application regularly for any available Trainline discount offers.
Alternatives to Trainline
While Trainline is a legitimate and excellent service for booking bus and train tickets online, it may not be a cup of tea for everyone. In that case, you can walk on alternative paths to make your travel hassle-free.
For instance, you can opt for direct booking with transport operators. This is often an easy option for getting the best price and customer service.
If you want to book an e-ticket only, you can pick Omio as an alternative app. This is a popular platform and allows users to compare flights, ferries, and trains in one place. However, it doesn’t offer cheap ticket rates like Trainline does.
RailEurope is another company you can trust. This is a European train travel institution that offers rail passes and carbon calculators.
However, its customer support isn’t quite great. In addition, many people have faced issues with the application.
Is Trainline Legit
So, what can we conclude for this thetrainline review? Is Trainline legit?
Yes, it is. There is no doubt about that. Trainline has been running successfully for many years, helping people make their journeys as easy as possible. Plus, the intuitive mobile app is designed brilliantly with all the features you may require to make sound choices.
However, Trainline has received some negative feedback on its customer service. This problem can easily be tackled by training the customer support team as required.
Other than this downside, Trainline is a great platform and can definitely be a deserving partner on all your travel plans.
