‘You won’t find cheaper tickets anywhere else’: Why Trainline’s promise doesn’t stack up

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy “You won’t find cheaper tickets anywhere else”: that is the bizarre pledge from rail retailer Trainline, which charges fees on top of fares on about one-third of transactions. A Trainline The poster adds the text: “Or we’ll refund the difference.” It also specifies: “Valid 6 Jan-28 Feb 2025 for in-app purchases of LNER, Grand Central, Lumo and Hull Trains only, if a lower price than the price on train line is found for the same train.” The Independent made a test purchase for a London to Leeds LNER train at 8.03am on Monday 24 February. Sakshi Anand, UK general manager for Trainline, said: “We are proud to be the UK’s most popular and trusted travel app for buying rail tickets for our 12 million monthly users. “We remain committed to modernising ticketing and ensuring all passengers – regardless of where they buy tickets from, can access the best value fares.” Regulated rail fares in England and Wales will rise by 4.6 per cent on 2 March.