Trainline review

Trainline is the strongest pick if your trip stays in the UK and Europe. Its App Store listing names a long list of partners, from Eurostar, Avanti West Coast, GWR and Heathrow Express in the UK to SNCF, TGV Lyria, Trenitalia, Italo, Renfe, Deutsche Bahn, OBB, SBB, NS and SNCB on the continent, plus FlixBus for coaches. The app goes beyond booking: a price calendar shows cheaper dates, real-time notifications track your train, Crowd Alerts tell you how busy it is, and tickets are stored digitally so you never need paper. The listing also says customer support is available by phone. The trade-off is fees. The App Store terms for its US promo exclude booking fees, which confirms many tickets carry one, and Trainline's help center says the fee depends on the route, the ticket price and how you book. It also has no US or Asian trains, so travelers who need Amtrak or Shinkansen tickets will need a second app.

Who it is for

travelers in the UK and Europe

Price

Free app; booking fees apply to many tickets.

Trainline: Cheap Train Tickets Book Europe Rail & Bus Travel Free
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 12, 2026.

Key features

• Sells tickets for Eurostar, SNCF, Deutsche Bahn, Trenitalia, Italo, Renfe, OBB, SBB, NS and SNCB
• Covers UK operators such as Avanti West Coast, GWR, LNER and Heathrow Express
• Crowd Alerts show how busy your train is
• Price calendar to find cheaper travel dates
• Digital tickets and real-time timetable notifications

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: The deepest UK rail coverage of the European resellers
• Strength: Live tracking and Crowd Alerts help on busy routes
• Strength: Customer support by phone, as stated in its App Store listing
• Weakness: Booking fees are added on many tickets
• Weakness: No US or Asian rail coverage
• Weakness: Promo codes for US customers are time limited

Key facts

• Coverage: UK and Europe, rail and bus
• US App Store rating: 4.9 (11K ratings)
• Platforms: iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch
• App price: Free

Where it ranks

Trainline is No. 2 in our Best Train Booking Apps verdict.