Trainline blames fare freeze, tube strikes and tighter refunds for flat sales

Trainline disclosed that its UK ticket sales remained unchanged at £2.1 bn over the six-month period ending in August, blaming the government’s rail-fare freeze, additional disruptions from hot weather and London tube strikes, as well as ongoing market headwinds. The company also criticized recent tightening of refund rules, saying the change slowed refund processing and lowered UK revenue by five per cent to £102 m, costing it potential refund fees.

International ticket revenue dropped to £579 m, a decline the firm linked to a January rail disaster in Spain, record heat, strikes across Europe and the war in Iran, which together softened demand for foreign travel. Chief executive Jody Ford, set to leave later this month, highlighted the platform’s resilience and strong customer loyalty, while announcing a £100 m share-buyback programme. Trainline confirmed it is cooperating with the Competition and Markets Authority’s investigation into alleged hidden-fee practices.