train travel apps uk

Trainline: Book train tickets 4+

Rail & bus travel and tracker, thetrainline.

• #5 in Travel
• 4.9 • 306.6K Ratings

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Welcome aboard Trainline. Travel confidently with Europe’s leading train and coach app. We’ve made it quick and easy for you to travel across the UK and the rest of Europe by rail and road. Book tickets for Avanti West Coast, GWR, LNER, National Express and more. You can even plan your international trips by train or bus across 45 countries in Europe and the rest of the world, including the UK, France, Italy, Spain and Germany. And if you’re looking for some travel inspiration, why not check our pick of popular journeys? Plus, you’ll always be in control of your trip thanks to our live train timetable (for UK rail, Trenitalia, Renfe, and SNCF routes), price alerts, mobile tickets / etickets and seat selection (where available). Get live train times, railcards, mobile tickets / etickets and seat selection. Safe travel is our top priority - use contactless travel and crowd alerts to find out how busy your train is. Why Trainline? • Book all your train and coach journeys in one place. • Compare travel options from 220 rail and coach companies. • Quickly find the cheapest UK Advance tickets. • Ask Siri how your journey’s doing. • Pay in your preferred currency. Available in GBP, USD, EUR, AUD, CAD, CHF, and SEK. • Get great discounts like GroupSave 34%. (GroupSave is a discount of up to 34% for adults travelling on a single or return journey at Off-Peak or Super Off-Peak times in groups of three to nine people.) • Skip station queues using tickets on your phone (selected routes). • Find carriages with available seats. • Book in advance or on the day of travel. • Buy your tickets with Apple Pay, PayPal, and all major credit cards and debit cards. Save money with cheap UK Advance tickets. Once you’ve booked your tickets, save them to your phone and use live train times, platform numbers or delay info to keep your trip on track. Have you considered coach? Book coach tickets with Trainline and you’ll get air conditioning, free WiFi and VUER – National Express’ onboard entertainment system. Start your search and if there’s a coach available, we’ll show you the options. No need to print tickets either because with etickets, your phone is all you need. Trust Trainline to get you where you need to be. In the UK we partner with Avanti West Coast, London North Eastern Railway, London North , Western Railway, Great Western Railway (GWR), South Western Railway, London Overground, TfL Rail, Gatwick Express, Heathrow Connect, Heathrow Express, Stansted Express, ScotRail, Greater Anglia, East Midlands Trains, West Midlands Railway, Thameslink, Southeastern, Southern Rail, c2c, Caledonian Sleeper, Chiltern Railways, CrossCountry, Hull Trains, Island Line, Grand Central Railway, Mersey Rail and TransPennine Express. Eurostar (France and Belgium) SNCF (France) TGV Lyria (France) Thalys (France) Renfe (Spain) Trenitalia (Italy) Italo (Italy) Deutsche Bahn (Germany) ÖBB (Austria) SBB (Switzerland) SNCB (Belgium) NS (the Netherlands) Alsa (Spain) and Flixbus You’ll always get the best fare for every journey and with every carrier. So, download your FREE Trainline app and get access to live train times and cheap train and coach tickets across the UK & Europe. To find out more, see our FAQs: https://www.thetrainline.com/en/help/ Follow Trainline on social: • Our blog: www.thetrainline.com/blog • Facebook: facebook.com/thetrainlinecom • Twitter: twitter.com/thetrainline • Instagram: @trainline

Version 321

The little things matter Our weekly update brings you a freight train’s worth of small changes. We’ve fixed a few bugs and made some changes to speed up our app.

Ratings and Reviews

306.6K Ratings

Editors’ Notes

Anyone who’s booked train tickets in the UK knows it can be a labyrinthine task. Am I buying off-peak tickets? What is off-peak? What is “super” off-peak? Am I getting the best deal? We were thrilled to have all this—and more—finally made clear as day by a souped-up Trainline app. It’s become as essential to our train travel as a fully charged phone battery.

Trainline is a life saver!!

The individual train companies in the UK are so mean about refunds. Ive been delayed over half an hour multiple times and refused any kind of repayment by Northern Rail. They even cancelled my train WHILST I WAS SAT ON IT and kicked me off at a random station and STILL refused to refund me! Recently I spent over £50 on a train ticket and then my train was completely cancelled. The next 3 trains were also cancelled. So I cancelled my event and went home. By the time I got home, they had un-cancelled the trains! And they refused to refund me because they told me I should have just got the next train!! Thankfully trainline came to my rescue!! I filled in a very very short application on the trainline website that explained my situation and they said they would talk to the train company and “do all the leg work for me” and they did! I got a full refund very quickly! Thank you so much trainline! The application online for Avanti refunds didn’t even have the option of “abandoned journey because of cancelled trains”. So there was no way for me to appeal. The train companies are so stingy, even after they ruin your whole journey or kick you off in the middle of the country somewhere! I recommend trainline to everyone travelling so that you don’t get scammed out of your money by avanti or northern rail etc. Thank you trainline!!!

they are THIEVES- do not buy from this app

There is absolutely nothing good about train line. I accidentally booked my ticket on the wrong date so I refunded a minute late after I bought the tickets, they have a £10 refund policy and I was meant to get my money back within 5 days however I never got my money back in the end. I payed for a £100 ticket and they never refunded me and stole all of my money. I was already mad about the £10 charge for refunds so I accepted it since I’d get at least £90 back but after 5 days I never got my refund back. So I called them and they said random excuses and told me that due to policies they can only refund me £20 of what I bought 😀. But they couldn’t even refund me my £20 in the end. And after looking at different apps I found that there are much better and cheaper and more trustworthy apps which DO NOT STEAL YOUR MONEY and they do not have a refund charge either which is very helpful. I believe anyone who is using trains apps for the first time should do their research first and be careful with which app they buy their tickets from and they should DEFINITELY NOT BUY FROM TRAINLINE!! Otherwise they’ll scam you.

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The developer, thetrainline , indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .

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The best train ticket apps on the App Store

In addition to Railboard , many other train ticket apps are available to download on the App Store. For this list, we’ve rounded up the best and most prominent iPhone train ticket apps and summed up what makes them noteworthy.

Of course, we had to start with Railboard! Railboard can save you money with Split Tickets, doesn’t charge a booking fee, and has a strong focus on being easy to use.

Trainline is by far the biggest and oldest of all the ticketing apps, having launched its iPhone app back in 2009. In addition to UK trains, it also sells tickets for European trains and coaches.

In 2018 the Chinese travel company Ctrip launched TrainPal onto the UK market. Its customers like the ability to buy split tickets through the app.

TrainSplit is a subsidiary of Raileasy, which has been selling train tickets since 2007. TrainSplit is an industry leader in split ticketing, having first introduced it in 2014, and has some of the best algorithms for finding the cheapest splits.

Split My Fare

As the name suggests, Split My Fare is another split ticketing specialist retailer. In 2022 they launched their iOS app.

RedSpottedHanky

RedSpottedHanky is a brand that launched back in 2010, now owned by the European multinational company, Worldline.

Omio, formerly GoEuro, is a German travel company. In addition to selling train tickets in the UK and mainland Europe, Omio also sells coach, ferry, and plane tickets.

SeatFrog’s primary focus is on bidding to upgrade tickets, but they also sell regular train tickets.

Train Operating Companies

Every train operating company also has their own app; we’ve featured two below. Other notably popular iPhone apps from train companies include those for: South Western Railway (SWR), ScotRail, Southeastern, Avanti West Coast, Northern Trains, c2c, and Greater Anglia.

The LNER app has an impressive average rating of 4.9 stars on the App Store. Customers love how easy the app is to use.

Great Western Railway (GWR)

Based on the number of ratings on the App Store, the GWR app currently holds the crown as the most used train operating company app available.

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National Rail Enquiries iPad App

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We work with over 1,000 trusted transport partners across Europe, including Trenitalia, NTV Italo, LNER, GWR, DB, Renfe, etc.

TrainPal launched coach booking services in early November 2019, and it now covers 47 countries. We have partnered with over 200 popular coach operators, including National Express and Mega Bus.

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Ratings & Reviews

Tons of members already use TrainPal to easily book and plan their travel. With discounts on trains/coach tickets, and more, we've got you covered whether you're planning your next trip or already on the road. What are you waiting for? Join us now!

I've been enjoying the affordable TrainPal fares and have saved a lot in the past three weeks since I joined. As the wise saying goes, "There is no journey to happiness - happiness is the journey." Wishing you joy and laughter on your journey as well. Cheers, a fellow traveler.

Sing loudly to your favourite song, it’s very empowering, maybe not for those on the train with you, but it will certainly make them smile, they might even join in! Let' s create a TrainPal choir.

TrainPal is a wonderful app to use and save money. You always get rewarded bonus once you book and discounts on tickets which is amazing. I haven't found such a wonderful app which is fast and customer friendly.

The app is easy to use and has low prices for bookings in Asia. Customer support is helpful and always try their best to fulfill special requests. If any money needs to be refunded, it usually...

About  TrainPal

TrainPal is a money-saving, rail & bus ticketing platform helping travellers travel across Europe by train and bus. TrainPal enables you to compare and book tickets at the best possible prices.

Whether you are planning to travel within the U.K., a summer trip to Spain or Germany, or even planning your holiday to Italy. TrainPal will meet your needs.

Since its launch, TrainPal has been featured in Apple’s AppStore and Google Play. It was also featured on the popular ‘Gadget Show’ on Channel 5.

Commuting by train and breaking out of the work from home cycle can benefit your wellbeing, and improve your productivity, even if it's just a couple of days a week.

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Over 1 million customers have saved £62 million with the app that's made for the world you live in. Buy tickets, upgrade to first class, change train times and much more in one app.

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Really easy sign up, enjoyed bidding and was lucky to nab first class seats all weekend. Really simple and I was happy with the price. Great app!

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Great customer service where trains are cancelled simple and easy process to get a refund via email! Auction process is also simple and easy to use!

If like me you travel regularly for work this app is brilliant! I’ve upgraded for a fraction of the usual price several times on my way between jobs

A great little app and a great service. Glad I found it!

It’s easy to use and previously I had a train cancellation and I was reimbursed within days!!

Super easy to use and got my upgrade first time using the app. Slumming it in style for a tenner!

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Which train app should you be using?

There’s an app for everything nowadays, and when you’re zipping up and down the country by train, having a handy app to book tickets, check times and plan your journey is ideal. But with so many train apps out there, which one’s the best? Let’s take a look at 7 of the most popular train apps for Android to help you decide.

National Rail Enquiries

At 1 million downloads, National Rail Enquiries is one of the most downloaded train apps, but that doesn’t mean it’s the best. Aside from crashing a few times, the interface is a little ‘retro’ compared to the others.

Looks aside, the National Rail app functions as you would expect. Your favourite stations are saved and a ‘get me home’ button is a nice inclusion. When you get to purchasing a ticket, you’re redirected to the website of a local rail company. So there shouldn’t be any booking fees. However, it was a little disappointing to see adverts within the app.

Southeastern On Track

Unlike most of the other train apps, Southeastern On Track has a dashboard containing live information about your usual journeys, favourite stations and the London Underground. So as soon as you open the app, the most useful information is right there for you.

In terms of design, the Southeastern On Track app is super easy to navigate, with various sections accessible from the slide-in menu. Buying tickets is a smooth experience overall, but I found that other train apps often found better prices. Thankfully, the app is made by a rail company, so there are no booking charges.

Virgin Trains and CrossCountry

I’m bundling these two apps together simply because they’re very similar in design. The GWR app (formerly First Great Western) also used the same app layout for many years and it worked well. It may not have been pretty, but it did the trick.

Both apps have an easy purchase process and the pricing tiers are very clearly laid out. When buying tickets, it’s useful to see the various prices available for the different times.

GWR (Great Western Rail)

The GWR app has a lot of potential. The interface is clean and planning a journey is a breeze with the dedicated ‘plan’ tab. However, one feature which I couldn’t find was a way of saving journeys. The live times feature is good for looking a couple of hours ahead, but to find later times, you need to run a search.

In addition, purchasing tickets can be a bit overwhelming because lots of information is shown with very little structure. I personally preferred it when the GWR app followed the same layout as Virgin Train and CrossCountry because purchasing tickets was a lot easier.

Opening the Trainline app brings you immediately into your ‘recents and favourites’ page, which displays a plethora of useful information. This includes the next 3 trains from your favourite stations, along with live information about the platform number and possible delays.

When it comes to buying tickets, Trainline does a very good job at finding the cheapest ticket for your chosen journey. Unfortunately, this comes at a small price of 25p per transaction, but I think this is worth it for the potential price savings on tickets. Trainline also has a superb interface and is really easy to use.

TrainPro is very similar to Trainline in that it isn’t from any particular rail company. However, TrainPro doesn’t have any booking fees. This could save you a significant amount of money if you find yourself hopping on the train often.

Opening the app will bring you to the tickets page, but a swipe to the left will bring you to the ‘live info’ page where you can choose an origin and a destination to see live information. This isn’t particularly useful because it won’t remember multiple journeys like Trainline does. On the other hand, the TrainPro app looks nice and is well laid out.

Which one should you use?

If you’re looking for the best overall experience and you don’t mind the 25p booking charge, I would highly recommend trying the Trainline app. For me, Trainline is my favourite because I tend to buy tickets at the station, which means I only need the app for timings. If you would rather avoid the booking charge, I would suggest trying Southeastern On Track or TrainPro because of their intuitive layouts and useful features.

Here are my subjective scores for each app, so you can decide for yourself:

• Design: 2/5
• Features: 3/5
• Booking fee: Varies (usually none)
• Number of downloads: 1 million
• Design: 4/5
• Features: 4/5
• Booking fee: None
• Number of downloads: 50 thousand

Virgin Trains

• Design: 3/5
• Number of downloads: 100 thousand

CrossCountry

• Design: 5/5
• Features: 5/5
• Booking fee: 25p*
• Number of downloads: 1 million *if the transaction is more than £25, the booking fee will be higher.
• Number of downloads: 10 thousand

There are lots of train apps available, but you only need one on your phone. Do you have a favourite train app? Will you be trying out a new one? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below.

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Best app for train tickets UK

Travelling by train is an incredibly popular mode of transport for millions of people across the United Kingdom.

We have an extensive rail network which operates nationally and locally, and is of huge importance to the day to day life of many people.

The most popular of which is Trainline, which we consider to be amongst the best apps for regular travellers.

Whether its the daily to commute to and from work or the quickest way to get across the country, trains are used almost 24/7 and that isn’t going to change any time soon.

What has changed though is how people purchase train tickets and keep up to date on times, delays and cancellation. If you can book specific dates in advance, it may be worth doing.

In years gone by, all of this was done at train stations and/or on websites.

However, as technology has evolved apps are now really handy for train users.

In this article, we are going to look at some of the best train apps out there.

We will consider what their uses are and how they help users with their travel plans. Let’s get into it.

Best Train App UK – Ranked

The Trainline app is many people’s go-to app when it comes to purchasing train tickets in the United Kingdom.

And rightly so, as it’s a very slick app and incredible straightforward to use.

It also has the benefit of a pre-existing reputation of being a popular website before they moved into the world of mobile phone apps.

When you first open up the app, you land instantly on the ‘live times and tickets’ page.

This means that you instantly get to the part of the app where 90% of users want to be – booking those cheap train tickets.

To search for tickets and times, input your departure and arrival station and the dates in which you wish to travel on.

The sooner the date, the higher prices will be, so try to book well in advance.

You can also enter in any railcards that you have so the app can bring up the correct price.

This is how you get the cheapest tickets, as railcards can give you discounts on ticket prices.

Once you’ve searched, the app will bring up all results after the time you selected on the date of your choice.

It will flag the cheapest train, allowing you the best opportunity possible to snag a deal – this includes split tickets too.

After you’ve settled on a train of your choice you are free to purchase your tickets directly on the app, meaning that you won’t be sent off to another website to complete the purchase.

Your purchased tickets will then be stored on ‘my tickets’ and there is no need to get them printed off – these electronic tickets come with a barcode and act as a physical ticket for all journeys purchased through the Trainline app.

You may find that Trainline stops working from time to time, but for the most part, it’s very reliable for booking rail travel.

If you are looking for live updates on train times then you will need to add a journey to your favourites list and then hit ‘now’.

This will then bring up a list of the upcoming UK trains completing that journey with a message saying whether it’s on time or delayed.

To be honest, this tab is an area which Trainline could improve – there should be a designated tab with live updates in my opinion.

If you only download one app that combines all available tickets from train companies, Trainline is the right choice.

You can book your train ticket, see departure times and if you’re lucky, save money too (it’s great for split ticketing from different rail operators).

UK Live Train Times

The ‘UK Live Train Times’ app does exactly what it says on the tin – keeps user informed on the latest times on all trains across the United Kingdom.

Given that we’ve just criticised the Trainline app for failing in this department, it’s only fair that we give credit to an app that does do this exceptionally well.

When you open the app up you are greeted by a screen which asks you to input a train station.

You should enter the station which you are getting the train from if you are looking to find out whether your train is on time or running late.

Once you’ve selected your desired station, you will be greeted by a live board which displays all upcoming departures from that station, alongside which platform each train is departing from and whether the train is on time or not.

If you want, you can also look at all upcoming arrivals to that station by selecting the arrivals tab next to departures.

One really cool feature of the UK Live Train Times is the alerts tab.

Although this is part of the premium version of the app, which comes at 80p a month, it’s definitely worth getting if you’re a regular train user.

This tab allows you to setup alerts for certain journeys, which send a push notification to your phone if there is any change to your train times and/or departure platforms.

The final app that’s worth talking about is TrainPal . This is an all singing, all dancing app that looks to provide users with a bit of everything when it comes to train travel in the United Kingdom.

The app is more ‘gimmicky’ than the the other two apps that we’ve discussed but it definitely has its merits.

Just like Trainline, you are able to purchase tickets on the app, much in the same way – even if the search and purchase functionality isn’t quite as well presented or as slick.

It also gets a little bit lost in the crammed look of the home page but once you’ve found it, it’s a straightforward task to search for train tickets and buy them.

The best thing about the TrainPal app is its box scheme. These are gifts that the app presents to users every now and then which include voucher codes and discounts off train tickets.

This gimmick can potentially save you hundreds of pounds over the course of a year if you get lucky.

You can also purchase vouchers via the ‘PalStore’ on the app, which can save you even more money.

At the minute they are offering a £5 off £75+ purchases voucher for 79p meaning that you can save £4.21 on expensive train journeys just by using TrainPal.

To conclude, there are plenty of apps out there for train users. The three we’ve discussed here all have their own merits – Trainline is superb for purchasing train tickets, for it’s the first train app you should download on mobile devices.

UK Live Train Times is superb for keeping up to date on train times and delays, as it is linked to national Rail data.

And, TrainPal is superb for snagging a deals for cheap train tickets. In short, all three are absolutely worth downloading!

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Andy is a Professional Content Editor with expertise in a whole host of areas (or so he tells us anyway). His main interests are sports, tv/film and social media. He has reviewed over 100 apps so far for Apps UK.

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Top 10 transport apps for smarter travel

Whether you’re planning journeys, buying tickets or claiming compensation, there are apps to help. Guardian Technology’s Stuart Dredge has the lowdown

Citymapper Android / iOS – Free

People who use Citymapper will happily rave about its qualities, and they are justified. It’s the best app for navigating urban public transport, whether you’re using the train, tube, bus, Uber cabs or even getting on your bike. You tell the app where you want to go, and it suggests a route and transport method(s), factoring in real-time data on disruptions en route. In the UK, it works in London, Birmingham and Manchester, as well as other major cities around the world. Also try: Moovit, another slick urban navigation app.

Live Train Times UK iOS – £1.49

If you spend a lot of time getting trains, being able to quickly pull up live times in an app before haring off to the station is very useful. Live Train Times UK works beautifully on that score, especially if you let it know what your regular routes are. Meanwhile, its information on platform numbers and even how many carriages there are – which might swing your decision about which one to catch – are extremely handy too. Also try: National Rail Enquiries with its times and journey planning.

UK Bus Checker Android / iOS – Free + IAP

From the developer that launched London Bus Checker comes this app covering the whole of the UK – all 300,000 bus stops worth, in fact. You can check the timetable or get live departures from your nearest stop, or use its journey-planning feature to prepare for upcoming trips. And for anyone prone to dozing while rattling along, the Stop Alert feature will wake you up in good time for your stop. Also try: London Bus Live Countdown, a capital-focused checker app.

Trainline UK Android / iOS – Free

More than 9.4 million people have downloaded this app, making it one of the most popular British transport apps. It matches its parent website in its ability to help you research upcoming train journeys and buy tickets – even up to 10 minutes before departure. It’s also useful for checking live times and platform data. Also try: Trainline Europe, for tickets across the continent.

TrainTrick Android / iOS – Free

As Southern Rail passengers have been venting regularly in recent months, train delays can be a frustrating waste of time. At least TrainTrick takes the hassle out of claiming compensation for those delays. You upload a photo of your ticket and the reason for the delay, and TrainTrick takes care of filing the complaint – taking a small cut of your compensation. Also try: The aptly-named Trains From Hell, for similar features.

Uber Android / iOS – Free

One of the most controversial transport apps in 2016, especially for established taxi drivers. But Uber is still proving very popular for its ability to digitally hail cars to take you from A to B, getting an estimated fare before you set off. Uber now runs in 16 British cities, with more added regularly. Also try: Hailo and Gett, which bring the Uber approach to traditional taxis.

Gopili – Cheap Tickets Android / iOS – Free

The name of this app makes its pitch to travellers clear: it doesn’t just want to book you tickets, it wants to get you the cheapest price. What’s handy here is that Gopili isn’t just for one mode of transport: it compares trains, coaches and flights across Europe, then sorts its results by price, duration or departure time for ease of choosing. Also try: Busbud for cheap coach tickets, and Skyscanner for flights.

Changers – CO2 Fit Android / iOS – Free

Changers has a different angle to the other apps in this roundup: it wants to get you travelling in a more environmentally-friendly way. That means measuring the distance you travel by public transport, bike or walking and calculating the amount of CO2 you’ve saved in the process, with a points system to keep you motivated. Also try: Journeys: A Greener Way from A to B, created by the Scottish government.

Tube Map London Underground Android / iOS – Free + IAP

The iconic London tube map lends itself to an app treatment, but this is about more than just telling your Bakerloo and Jubilee lines apart. You’ll also get live arrival and departure times, route planning across the capital, and handy walking directions to get between tube stations when strolling is quicker than tubing. Also try: Tube Exits, to pinpoint which carriage to stand in for a quick exit at your destination.

Santander Cycles Android / iOS – Free

Finally, another app for London travellers – commuters and tourists alike – who want to take advantage of the vehicles popularly known as Boris bikes. You can quickly see where bikes are free to hire; get a code to unlock one before you get there; and then plan your cycling journey across London. Also try: CycleMaps, to plan your biking journeys wherever you are in the UK (or, indeed, the world).

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21 best free travel apps for travelling around the UK in 2023

Even for a non-techie, the world of mobile apps can be a genuinely exciting one..

Constantly developing, expanding and responding to a demanding, connected public, apps are good for so much more than just Tinder. So which are the best free travel apps for travelling around the UK? BudgetTraveller reveals the top 20 travel apps.

1. Skyscanner 

The Skyscanner app helps to compare flight, hotel and car hire prices across all your favourite travel booking sites. With the calendar view you can check on the best dates to save on travel and filter search results to find the right flight. Track flights with price alerts options to book at the right time. Alternatively search for travel deals, anywhere, at any time. With the help of the interactive map, compare hotel prices across the grid and find the best value car hire in the city of your choice . Rest assured that you will be booking with travel partners trusted by Skyscanner.  

Not a UK focussed app per se but Airbnb is a nice way to find great value accommodation and also very quirky local experiences across the UK. I’ve use them a few times  recently  and had a great experience every time. If you are new to Airbnb , signup using  this link  to get £25 off your first booking.

Why do you need it?

With over 600,000 listings across 30,000 cities, AirBnB not only offers a great alternative to hotels but also caters to a potentially unique experience at your favorite destinations.

Stand-out feature:

Thanks to the map search, even if you have a vague idea about the area, you could easily search the neighborhood of your choice and check out the rooms that fit your budget.

3.  Kabbee

Visiting London? Need an economic cab? Avoid the expensive Black Cabs and book a minicab. The only problem is that these cabs cannot be hailed from the street. Enter  Kabbee  , a cracking app that gives you an instant quote from 60 competing minicab firms in London, along with user reviews and ratings. You can then pick your choice ( save as a favourite for later) and choose to pay by cash, credit card or via their prepaid account facility.

Why you need it?

It offers surprisingly cheap rides no matter if you need an airport transfer or you’re just travelling around the town. It selects the right cab for you from over 70 London fleets.

Stand out feature:

For airport rides, Kabbee is nearly 25% cheaper than Uber and 35% economical than Addison Lee.

4. Around Me

Want to find the nearest ATM machine or petrol station?  AroundMe   identifies your GPS position and will help you discover the nearest bank, bar, petrol station station, hospital, hotel, movie theatre, restaurant, supermarket, theatre and taxi.

Why need this app?

Fast, easy and accurate, Around me is your day to day companion to quickly find out information about your surroundings.

For every desired information or listing, you could view its location on a Map, route from where you are, and even email the information to a friend in need.

5.UK Bus Checker

With the UK Bus Checker you can travel from A to B in UK with ease. The app brings you smart journey planning, live transit times, and detailed route maps for all of Great Britain.

With the advanced support for train, bus, tram, ferry, underground, and much more, this has got your journey covered. It only requires you to pinpoint your location and unveil the magic: You can locate the nearest bus stop, routes or the scheduled time of the bus.

With the real-time information available for more than 40 towns and cities across the UK, It helps to track a bus near you within a flash of a second.

Live and scheduled departure times for all 300,000+ stops and stations in Britain.

6. Met Office

Need the weather forecast? The Met Office’s forecasts can be a hit and miss affair but nevertheless their  official weather app   is still a handy app for those visiting the UK.

The app gives you updated forecasts, 5 day forecasts plus weather maps and satellite images.  It uses 10 million weather observations to verify its forecast. So, now you can easily decide whether you’ll be visiting the museum or having that picnic in the park.

The Met Office is an indispensible tool that helps you plan your vacation with its world-leading weather forecasts from 1 hour to 7 days ahead.

Check out the real time Weather Warnings with the interactive warnings map for all the locations across the UK.

7. Tripadvisor Offline City Guides

For comprehensive information and practical guides, Tripadvisor’s  city apps  are hard to beat. Each free app contains a wealth of information, including detailed, interactive maps, which you can select to show different things, such as restaurants or tourist attractions. There are also self-guided city tours, which provide practical and cultural information, meaning you can see the sights without forking out for a guided tour. You can search for places or activities within a particular budget, and best of all, you can use the app offline, avoiding hefty roaming charges.

With millions of traveller reviews, photos, and maps, this app helps you know better and get better of the airfare, hotels, restaurants, and fun activities wherever you go. What’s more? Hotels, flights and restaurant bookings are just a tap away.

Optimized to be used offline this app also conserves battery power and only uses GPS where necessary.

8. ViaMichelin GPS navigation and traffic

No matter if you are planning for a weekend trip or a long vacation in the UK, ViaMichelin and its user-friendly app offers you the luxury of optimizing your route based on traffic conditions.

This app is a great option if you want to wander around the streets, free spirited. It helps you keep track of the real time traffic and assists you in reaching your destination at the right time. All you’ve got to do is: Establish your position with the help of Geo-location on the interactive, fluid and clear maps and unveil the all new 3D navigation that guides you home. Even if you are behind the wheel, the app helps you calculate your car and bike routers quickly and accurately from your current position.

Loaded with the goodness of a GPS navigation system, this app guides you through traffic with a voice guidance integrated with 3D Michelin mapping.

Alerts that warn you of the Hazardous zones (over 30,000 in Europe) and real-time information about the traffic jams, slow-downs and much more.

Imagine a ride-sharing app that provides you with the luxury of fast and reliable cabs in the major cities of UK. One of the easiest ways to hail a licensed cab in London, Uber gives you the flexibility to pay with both credit as well as cash, with receipts mailed to your inbox.

With Uber on your phone, there’s no need to park or wait for a taxi or a bus anymore. Just request a ride and your driver will be at your doorsteps in just a few minutes. What’s more? You could track the progress of your cab on a live map.

Because cabs are expensive, walking all day long is tiring and figuring out an unfamiliar public transport network could be really difficult.

You can track your ride on the map, watching your driver roll towards you. Moreover, the in-app fare-splitting makes it a value for money.

Exclusive Offer:

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Redemption instruction: Simply download the app, enter the promo code BUDGETGB while availing your first ride .

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1 0. Heathrow airport guide app

Even though you hardly ever fly from Heathrow in your life, the Heathrow Airport Guide app makes an ideal travel-buddy by bringing you everything you need just when you need it.

From live flight updates to reserving a parking slot to keeping you updated on the latest offers in nearby shops and restaurants, this app makes your journey easier with travel notifications and prompts, no matter where in the world you happen to be.

Fast, easy and accurate, the app keeps you updated with every bit of your flight information no matter if you’re on the way to, from or through the airport.

Simply scan your boarding pass and check your flight status even quicker.

11. HitList

The traveling world is so enormous and the options so many that it could be a daunting task to organize your “must visit” list .  Don’t worry! Here’s an app that offers the much needed help.   Hitlist not only helps you manage your ever-expanding to-do-list and destinations but also allows you to share your favourite picks with your family and friends. It constantly scans airfares to give you an idea when ticket prices to your dream destination drops and have you saying in ecstasy, “I can definitely  go at this price.”

A must-have app for the frequent travelers, adventurous people and digital nomads, Hitlist automatically notifies you of cheap flight deals and helps you plan an itinerary to your dream destination.

Stand out features:

The Travel discovery tool helps you unveil new destinations based on your interests.

12. Wiffinity

Today, roaming fee is so expensive that you could expect the CEO’s of telecom companies to buy a new cruiser every time you travel abroad.  How about a freebie Wi-Fi locator? That’s where Wiffinity comes in. An app that enables you to access Wi Fi while traveling worldwide, it helps you forget about the lavish roaming charges. Enriched with the goodness of a WIFI map, this app helps you stay connected to the internet thanks to the 600,000 hotspots across the world.

Easy to use and free of roaming charges, Wiffinity helps you navigate the WIFI hotspots offline using the WIFI map.

The app could be used offline and lets you download maps without an internet connectivity.

13. PackPoint

All you need to do is feed the destination you’re heading towards, and it will build and organize your packing list on its own. What’s more? It also lets you share your packing list with your friends and family in case they also need help with packing.

In the excitement to visit a much-awaited destination, one might forget to pick up a few things. PackPoint will organize a packing list and luggage checklist for your luggage that depending upon the destination you are visiting.

Customized checklist prepared exclusively according to your destination.

14. Prey Anti-Theft

Apparently, the world is not a perfect place, and thefts and burglary could take place even in some of the most picturesque destinations. A crook could just as easily sweep away your goods in Piccadilly Square as in a jam-packed restaurant. So, the question is how do you protect your precious belongings while traveling?

Prey Anti Theft is an app that keeps a close vigil on your digital accessories, helping you find your phone, tablet and laptop even after they’re gone. Your personal watchdog, Prey anti-theft works wonders to retrieve lost data completely and prevents any future loss by instantly locking the devices.

Prey Anti-Theft is a tried and tested phone tracker that helps finding, locating and protecting your lost phone, tablet and laptop.

Enriched with the goodness of GPS Coordinates, this app gives an active pointer to the police to track your phone or other device.

15. Tablepouncer

Tablepouncer  is a relatively new app (pictured above ) which is going live city by city across the UK. Available for both iPhone and Android, it’s perfect for last-minute dining, offering big discounts at restaurants on the same day or following day, allowing you to dine on haute cuisine at budget prices if you are spontaneous enough with your restaurant choices. Having started in Bournemouth, it now also covers London, Bristol, Bath and Southampton. Manchester and Liverpool are next on the cards.

It lets you book last-minute tables at the top-rated restaurants in UK with huge savings of up to 65%.

Easy booking across 500 top restaurants, Refine your search with GPS filters.

16. Vouchercloud

Another personal favourite app I use a lot when I am in the UK is  Vouchercloud.  

You can get some great deals on restaurants, takeaways, pubs and bars cinema, retail, days out, leisure and entertainment venues across the UK . All you have to do is download, register and then the app based on your location, will give you a bunch of local offers. The offers often consist of 2-4-1 lunch deals in popular but decent chain restaurants like La Tasca ( Spanish tapas restaurant) or Slug and Lettuce. Once you’ve clicked on the offer you like, you get a Voucher Cloud offer code which you the show to the waiter and boom, sorted.

 Why you need it?

Avail a number of deals, offers and coupons with the app’s huge selection across hundreds of restaurants, retailers etc.

GPS-optimized search to explore the best offers near you.

17. Hungryhouse | Order takeaway online

UK is THE takeaway nation with the average Brit spending £1320 a year on takeaways. It is an essential UK dining experience plus a great way to save money on eating out.

HungryHouse app  is brilliant for ordering a takeaway. They have a strong presence in all the key UK cities. You can choose from 7000 interactive menus. Menus are saved as you browse, available in offline mode in the event you need to have a look when not connected to the internet.

Hunger could strike anytime and anywhere. With over 7,000 menus to choose from, this app is a one-stop solution to satisfy your taste-buds.

Choose your favorite delivery time as per you convenience with a One-tap order.

18. Foursquare

Often neglected, the much improved Foursquare app which started out as a check-in game where users compete against friends to earn points for their check-ins has now turned into a far more useful, practical moneysaving app. Using the ‘explore nearby’ function and then checking ‘best nearby’ tab, you can find the best restaurants, shops within your current location based on your GPS location.

The ‘Specials’ tab allows you to find discounts and freebies within your vicinity.

So if you check-in at a location you can often get 10% discount on your meal or purchase while if you become the Mayor of that location, in certain locations the Mayor gets some cool freebies like a free drink or coffee.

With the app’s wholesome city guides and positive tips, you could lead to your perfect spot anywhere in the world. What’s more? Keep track of where you you’ve been and where you want to go, all in one place

Stand out feature?

The ‘Join a community’ feature lets you find people who love to explore just like you and seek out hidden gems with them.

19. Travelzoo

Another cool moneysaving app to check is  Travelzoo’s app  where you can find excellent local deals across the UK on restaurants, hotels across the UK. Catering to nearly 5 million global users, Travelzoo has been featured as “app of the week”  in The Guardian, The Sun, Sunday Mirror and The Sunday Times.

Find the best travel, entertainment, restaurant and spa deals.

Frequent alerts on the best deals and Offers in your area.

20.  Expensify + Trail Wallet ( £1.99 )

It’s all too easy to overspend while travelling: estimating exchange rates as you shop, eating out several nights in a row, picking up the tab for friends. There are a range of apps to deal with exactly this problem and which allow you to record your expenses.

I’ve used the Expensify app previously and this handy, especially for business travellers, or for someone that likes to keep close tabs on what they are spending while they travel. With Expensify you can scan receipts, add hours you have worked, add expenses manually, add mileage and create invoices and expense reports. Drawback- If you have a lot of expenses to record, it can be time consuming to use this app and it takes a few seconds to record each item.

One of the best apps for tracking your daily expenditure and sticking to your budget while travelling is Trail Wallet . (Pictured above)

It’s simple and has an intuitive user-friendly interface. The app allows you to set a daily budget and then tracks your spending toward that. Trail Wallet has all has all the practicalities covered: supplies the current exchange rate ( 218 local currencies listed. Dependent on internet connection) , organises your spending by category, expenses tracking plus you can export your expenses via .csv file. The app also creates colorful pie charts to help visualise your spending.

Trail Wallet is one of the best expense tracking apps for the budget, rather than the business traveller. It is the only app here which isn’t free, but at £1.99, it’s well worth it.

To manage your travel budget effectively.

It features report management, receipt tracking in addition to mileage and time tracking. Moreover, you can snap a photo through SmartScan and it would be redirected to Expensify itself.

21. The National Trust

Last but not least, I definitely recommend downloading the  National Trust App . It allows you to discover the beauty of Britain’s countryside from the comfort of your phone highlighting 585 of the must-see places in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, fom coastlines to countryside and everything in-between. You can search by postcode or location and browse the interactive “favourites” list with hi-res images.

Why do we need it?

Your guide to the amazing day outs at historic houses and buildings protected by the National Trust throughout England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Regular alerts about the range of events hosted by the National trust throughout the year.

Agree or disagree with my top 20 travel apps for visiting the UK? Please leave your feedback and tips below for your favourite apps when travelling across Britain. Thank you.

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13 comments.

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Thanks ever so much for this great post! The apps listed seem very helpful. I cannot wait to check out the last two. I am traveling to the UK for the first time in March, so the National Trust app will be super helpful for planning! Great job!

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I would also add a decent navigational app Spyglass. It works great when offline, assuming that you pre-download the maps that you need in advance. It shows your accurate coordinates and your current position on a map, allows to mark locations and waypoints, share your locations with friends and much more. https://itunes.apple.com/app/spyglass/id332639548?mt=8&at=11lLc7&ct=c

• Pingback: 20 best, free travel apps for travelling around the UK budgettraveller.o...... #travel #lifehack - Urban Angels

Nice presentation, looks great! You should also check out the app Digitourist.You can find all tourist activities and spots in the UK on it and it’s for free. I use it a lot when traveling, i love it, it’s so easy!

I Was interested in JourneyPro until I read the poor reviews? Seems it has fallen from grace & is now outdated…… back to searching ?

Why is Digitourist not in this list? They have all tourist activities in Europe in one simple to use concept and you can save them for later use, also you can plan and save your routes in case you go by car.

Loved the post. There really are so many apps you did a great job. Just curious why there was National Trust but not English Heritage Days Out here? They both do the same thing but with different sites. I have both and use them depending on which area of the country I’m in. I don’t use AirBnB because I’ve planned prior to my trips and just don’t normally need it.

Another app I use is the Heathrow Airport Guide. Of course, GateGuru and other apps help with that as well. Some other apps I use are currency converter, tip calculator, and TripIt.

You opened my eyes to some new apps. Thank you very much!

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Lovely Post Highly Informative Thanks a lot

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17 Best apps for London and UK Travel

By: Author Tracy Collins

Posted on Last updated: May 4, 2024

If you want to find the best London apps and great apps for UK travel, this guide lists 17 of the finest. Whether you need the best app for London transport or want to find a great vegan restaurant nearby, these apps will make life on the go so much simpler.

From the cheapest train or theatre tickets to the closest public toilet facilities or a great deal on a hotel room , accessing the best London travel app can help you pin them all down – and many even work while you’re off-grid too.

If easy access to live transport updates and route planners for walking, hiking, cycling and mountain biking appeal to you, then don’t miss this quick reference guide to all the top apps for UK travel.

The following apps for London and the UK can also help you check the weather forecast at your destination, find an accessible route, choose an attraction to visit or tour to take and even transfer cash as quickly, easily and cheaply as possible. 

Read on to discover all the best London apps and top UK travel tips.

Not sure about how to use your mobile phone in the UK? Read our complete guide to the options available for accessing Wifi during your trip.

Best Transport Apps

Best apps for london and uk tickets and tours, practical apps for london and uk travel, best uk and london app for accommodation, best uk apps for outdoor adventure, best london and uk apps for foodies, which are the best london apps and uk travel apps for you, london travel guide & itinerary planner (+ 4 bonus ebooks).

17 of the best apps for London and UK travel apps

Citymapper app.

The Citymapper App describes itself as meeting all your transport needs on one app. Indeed the app will give you step-by-step directions for getting around by bike, public transport, car share, scooter and on foot. The perfect app to help you navigate London.

The CityMapper London app can also compare prices via partners such as Uber and Santander Cycles (for-hire bikes) and let you see live waiting times for trains, buses and trams. 

You can even select the ‘main roads’ option to ensure your way is well-lit at night, as well as sharing your journey details and your ETA with friends. 

The Citymapper app is a must-have if you are planning a London trip!

Google Maps

We all use Google Maps, and their coverage of the UK is pretty much unrivalled. You also use this app for satellite navigation, making sure you can find your way anywhere in the land. The app will also pinpoint the most efficient route to take.

Real time live updates mean you can keep ahead when it comes to road conditions and closures, as well as public transport times. With Live View, you can always see exactly where you are too, while Street View lets you look around at any area.

There are even offline maps for when you’re without a WiFi connection . Definitely one of the best apps out there!

TfL Go: Live Tube, Bus & Rail

Navigating the London Transport system isn’t always easy for beginners, but the official Transport for London app will give you a good head start. It will also help you find the nearest toilets. 

The best app for London buses, trams and trains can keep you updated regarding overground and DLR (Docklands Light Railway) trains, and the route planner can also be used to plan cycling and walking routes.

A great feature of the best London tube app is the step-free tube map, which is ideal for anyone using a wheelchair, buggy or mobility scooter. You can switch to the step-free option at any time while using it.

Trainline 

Popular across the whole of Europe, the Trainline app works just as well for coach travel as it does for rail.

Once you’ve downloaded the app, it’s simple to compare fares, find discounts and book your travel all in one place. 

The Trainline app also shows live information, and can also help you skip the queues and locate a carriage with vacant seats.  

Planning to travel the UK by train? Our Essential Guide to UK Train Travel contains everything you need to know to plan your rail adventure including 12 done-for-you itineraries plus practical tips, information and resources to remove the stress from planning your trip.

• National Rail Enquiries

Savvy Brits have trusted National Rail Enquiries for decades to get them from A to B, and this useful public transport app also gives you the latest train info for the London Underground. 

The free app will allow you to plan rail journeys, see timetables, track trains and even save frequent journey or station details. 

A clever feature is the pin that you can add to a map, from then on tracking its progress. You can also set up alerts so you’ll be the first to know about any disruption to services.

Parkopedia is an excellent app for those of you planning to drive in the UK. It gives a list of car parking by city, place or postcode.

It is possible to search by price, distance, rating and availability.

Get Your Guide

Using Get Your Guide is the easy way to find out about all the top sights to see and things to do while you’re in the UK. 

You can even book tickets via Get Your Guide to avoid queuing at popular attractions, which is potentially a huge time saver. 

The app will also pinpoint the highest rated activities, tours and attractions so you can make the most of every moment – and offers flexible cancellations too should your plans change.

London Theatre Direct

Seeing a West End show is a must for many when in London, and London Theatre Direct can ensure you do this as cheaply as possible. You can also book last-minute tickets and purchase tickets in app.

In fact tickets can be purchased up to an hour before showtime, and can be collected there at the theatre. The app is also user-friendly and fully secure. 

National Trust  

The National Trust (NT) is a British institution, and their app gives you easy access to the abundance of historic, cultural and natural sights the country is famous for.

From city to coast to countryside, the NT app will allow you to discover some very special places across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. 

You can even search when off grid, and browse current or future events. Audio files, maps and  trails can also be downloaded to help make the most of your visits. 

Formerly known as Transferwise , the Wise app is adored by those who regularly receive or send international payments, as its fees are far lower than those charged by competitors.

It’s not only the lower fees that will save you cash – the exchange rates are far more favourable too. You can even order a Wise debit card to pay directly from your account.

We use our Wise debit card when we travel as we have found it one of the cheapest ways to pay around the world – it lets you send and spend money at the real exchange rate avoiding fees or exchange rates charged by ATM machines.

The card is accepted wherever Mastercard is accepted and can hold multiple currencies (on our last trip we had Australian $, Hong Kong $, UK £ and Euros € on our card. On our return, we simply converted all our currencies into $ and deposited the total back into our bank account.

Brought to you by the UK’s official weather department, the Met Office app gives users the latest and most up-to-date weather forecasts around. 

You can check the forecast from an hour to a week in advance, and the app will also alert you to any Severe Weather Warnings that could affect your travel plans. We recommend checking the weather the week before you arrive so you can adjust your packing accordingly!

There is also an interactive rain map so you can see the likelihood of rainfall – something that’s frequently important in the often wet British Isles!

Why Flush? Because it’s the quickest and easiest way to find the nearest public toilet! Which isn’t always simple when you’re in a strange city, especially as they’re not that often signposted.

The app can also let you know if there is any charge to use the bathroom or whether it has disabled access. If this is the case, it can also tell you whether a key is required.

Users can also help improve the app by rating the facilities and adding new ones they come across to Flush’s list.

Booking.com 

Even when you make last-minute plans, the Booking.com app can come to the rescue by helping you book a great value and highly rated place to stay.

The interface allows you to search in the way that suits you – whether that’s by name, location or a nearby attraction. 

Free cancellation is often included, and the app also gives you access to a range of daily deals across all price levels. 

With its mild climate and varied landscape, the UK is a great destination for lovers of outdoor life, and the All Trails app will help you make the most of this.

This travel and fitness app is ideal for activities such as walking, hiking, climbing, biking and even winter sports.

The trail maps are great and even include images and reviews from other real life app users.  

Active UK residents love Kamoot, because it makes route planning so much simpler. Whether you want to walk, cycle or hike the city streets or off-road terrain, Kamoot will help you find the right roads, paths or trails to follow. 

The voice navigation feature is ideal for when you’re not in a position to keep checking the screen, such as in busy places or when cycling. 

Happy Cow 

Whether you’re vegan, gluten-free or vegetarian – or simply a committed carnivore with a craving for a healthy meal – the Happy Cow app will help you track down a great place to chow down on nutritious, delicious food.

As well as cafes and restaurants, the app will also help you find local food markets, grocery stores and health food shops.

The Happy Cow community is also a great place to share images, reviews and advice with fellow app users. 

Opentable 

Not sure where’s good to eat during your UK stay? Opentable will help you find all the hidden foodie gems, wherever you are.

With this free app you can take advantage of special deals and discounts, check out the menus and see other people’s reviews and recommendations before booking a table.

An RSVP invite can even be sent to your friends, directly from the Opentable app. 

Whether you’re more interested in where to stay and eat, what to do in London or how to plan your travel via the likes of a London bus app or London tube map app, I hope this guide has helped you decide which apps to download for your trip to this fabulous destination.

Our top 3 choices of London apps are

• The Citymapper App

Plan your visit to London

• London Travel Guide – links to everything you need to know to plan your trip and explore London with confidence
• Looking for accommodation? Read our guide to where to stay in London
• First time visitors? Read our top tips for visiting London for the first time
• How to get around London? Read our guide to using public transport in London and our guide to London’s main train stations
• What to see and do – Complete London bucket list with guide to all the top sights and attractions
• How to puchase tickets for London attractions – Guide to purchasing tickets for the lost popular London attractions
• Visiting on a budget? Read our budget guide to London with tips to save money when visiting
• Free things to do in London – Discover 32 free things to see and do in London
• Best day trips? Read our guide to the best day trips by train and ou r guide to the best tours from London
• Love castles? Our guide to the most popular castles to visit from London

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15 Best Train Apps in the UK (2024)

Travelling on a train is indeed blissful. 

It’s quite interesting and you’ll continue to look for more opportunities to sit tight in your coaches as the train takes you to your destination.

As technology continues to advance, more innovations are introduced into different industries.

The transportation industry is not left out as travel apps have now been developed to make your journey smoother and more fun.

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If you’re looking for the best train apps in the UK, you are not alone. I’ve compiled the list of apps to consider using. 

Table of Contents

How to book/buy train tickets online (national rail), how to buy tickets online (transport for wales), 1. prepare early, 2. purchase tickets early, 3. opt for a rail card, 4. avoid busy days & times, 5. request for refunds for delayed trains, 6. set a ticket alert, 3. rail commute, 4. tube map, national rail, splitmyfare, my train ticket, cross country trains, live rail record, realtimestrains, train spotting, trainspotter, trailine app, rail europe app, trainline app, eurail and interrail, trainpal app, similarities between omio and trainline, differences between omio and trainline, which app is better between the two, similarities between trainline and trainpal, differences between trainpal and trainline, which of these two apps is better for train ticket booking, trainz driver, train conductor, best train ticket booking apps in the uk to buy train tickets (iphone & android).

In this article, I’ll reveal some of the innovative mobile applications that train travellers in the UK rely on any time they want to book a seat on the train.

1. Trainline

First on the list is Trainline. It is undoubtedly one of the most used train apps in the UK and Europe.

And rightly so because the app has most of the impressive features that you can count on anytime, any day for a smooth travelling experience.

First, it allows you to buy train tickets online, thereby saving you time and money that you could have spent travelling many miles to the train station.

Second, it is versatile, as the app is operable on different mobile device operating systems including Android and iOS for iPhone users.

Third, and most importantly, the app allows you to get real-time information on train schedules.

This way, you will know the exact time to expect the journey to commence and stop.

• iPhone : View App
• Android : View App
• Trainline has a dual feature that allows you to easily buy train tickets and book bus travel simultaneously
• It provides you with information on trains and buses for destinations like France, Turkey, Spain, Ukraine, Austria and within 36 European countries
• You can easily find cheap train tickets for National Express, LNER, Avanti West Coast, Eurostar, GWR, and National Express, among other European rail lines
• Ability to search various train fares for your regular commute
• Live train times features to keep you updated at all times
• It enables you to purchase tickets in your most preferred currency, which includes EUR, USD, CAD, GBP, and AUD
• Ability to compare train prices or bus tickets from 260 train and bus companies to enable you to book at the cheapest price
• Advance ticket booking
• Seat preference enabled
• E-tickets and mobile tickets enabled
• Discounts on GroupSave
• Free for all android and iPhone users
• Unable to carry search stations from Google to the app
• Contains ads

Related: How to Quickly Buy Train Tickets Online in the UK

Moovit is another train app that you will love.

It offers a lot of options ranging from the expected arrival of trains at the final destination to the routes you can take to locate the closest train station and subways.

You can conveniently book tickets for bus, subway, and ferry, among other options. It gives you updates about delays and service changes and access to over 3000 cities in 98 countries.

• It gives you a step-by-step direction of optimal route train, scooter, bus, metro, bike, and so on
• Ability to receive get-off alerts when you’re almost approaching your destination
• The real-time alert notifies you of different situations like traffic jams, new construction, or any other condition that can hinder your journey at a particular time. This helps you to plan ahead or make changes on the time for your journey
• Great real-time travel guide
• User-friendly
• It contains ads

3. JustRide – MBTA

The concept behind JustRide is to be a mobile ticketing application that allows you to pay for, download, and display your train ticket using your mobile device.

The beauty of it is that you don’t necessarily need to connect to the internet when you need to use your tickets because they are stored for offline use.

Also, the app provides you with a load of other train travel options like scheduled departures and maps of train stations.

• Ability to transfer tickets if you misplace your phone
• The travel planner has maps and helps to give you live details, especially schedule departures
• Easy access to commuter rail schedules, service alerts, and maps
• It accepts Apple Pay and credit or debit card for payment
• Easy purchase of Commuter Rail and Ferry Single Ride, 10 Ride, and Round-Trip
• Great user interface
• Handy ticket-storing system
• Absence of real-time train arrival tracking

Sometimes, you need to plan ahead for your next train trip; it is not all about booking your tickets online.

This time, you have to consider many other options. That is where the Omio train app comes in to help you.

Previously called GoEuro, Omio is one of the popular train apps passengers use in the UK. It is usable in a wide range of locations because it has wide acceptance in many European cities.

Among the many features it offers are online train ticketing, train schedules, and navigation.

• Its multifunctional features allow you to book trains, ferries, buses, and flights in a single search
• You can easily compare tickets to get the cheapest one to your destination
• Live platform info and trip updates
• It accepts payment via Google Pay, Alipay, PayPal, SOFORT, and credit cards
• It gives you the opportunity to explore different parts of Europe, the United States, and Canada
• 24/7 customer services
• Booking is fast and efficient
• Makes planning trips easier
• Safe and reliable
• Difficult to find cheap flight
• Doesn’t cover all European countries

Related: 10 Best Vehicle Transport Services in the UK

5. Eurail/InterRail

Eurail and InterRail are rail planning apps developed by the same company. Their goal is to simplify the process of planning your train trips.

In addition to allowing you to book train tickets online, the apps also allow you to get real-time updates on train schedules and the availability of rail passes and train bookings.

One other feature that makes the fusion of Eurail and InterRail unique is the availability of options to select from – when you get to your final destination.

This includes museum discounts (exclusive to pass holders), discounts on boat and ferry trips, and hotel discounts in select hotels.

• It has detailed city information with maps
• The journey planner enables you to do an offline search for train times and connections across Europe
• Ability to access station boards for arrivals and departures
• It has up-to-date pan-European timetable information that covers virtually all European countries
• Good mapping system
• Seamless travel planner
• Data-saving offline features
• Its charges are high, especially for seat reservations
• It has no search for some complicated routes
• Some trains need to be added manually if they can’t be found on the app

6. Train Pal

This is relatively one of the cheapest train ticket apps in the UK.

It gives you the opportunity to save rail fares by allowing you to split tickets effortlessly.

Train Pal covers almost all parts of Europe, including Spain, Italy and Germany.

• Its dual features enable you to explore European trains and buses
• It enables you to compare tickets to book at the best possible price
• You can easily buy tickets for train and bus for your journeys across 45 countries in Europe and other parts of the world
• It enables you to save 95.25% on ticket fees by allowing you to split tickets
• You can add discount and loyalty cards to enjoy massive discounts on tickets when it deals with UK rail services, Thalys, SNCF, and Renfe.
• Easy refund for unmade travels
• Advance ticket booking enabled
• E-ticket and mobile tickets are available on specific routes
• Live train times enabled
• The interface is not user-friendly
• Poor customer service
• Contains ads and pop-ups

7. Passenger Assistance

 Just like its name implies, this is a special app that assists people living with disabilities to book trains without hassles.

The app is so unique and has simplified the process of booking a train for a disabled person.

• Android : Not available
• Special characters that enable disabled people to access the app effortlessly
• Helps to give passengers adequate information about their journey
• The improvement of text alignment
• It’s not meant for everyone

Related: Best Classic Car Transport Companies in the UK

8. Train Tickets — Cross Country

When it comes to booking the cheapest train tickets in the UK, the Cross Country app has got you covered.

It’s a free app that allows you to easily book tickets from anywhere in the UK at affordable prices.

The train app network is quite extensive and cuts across all parts of the UK like Cambridge, Manchester, Leeds, and Birmingham.

• You can easily view your season tickets from the app
• Live train times that keep you updated on your journey
• Very straightforward to use
• Properly laid out pricing tiers
• The user interface can be challenging

9. Southeastern On Track

This app is very handy for ticket bookings and when you need tailored information about your most frequent journeys while on the go.

It also has a great planner that helps to plan your journey effectively.

• It has a good live departure and arrival board that helps to keep you updated
• The dashboard can be personalised to make your journey seamless
• Great interactive map to navigate your destination
• It gives updates on tubes
• User-friendly and straightforward
• It’s free to use
• Accurate information on UK train times
• No offline features

10. Railbuddy

You’ll love this app because it’s loaded with some outstanding features that will guarantee your convenience.

Its features are powered by National Rail Data. So, you’re certain to get the best train booking experience with the app.

• Notification for arrival times
• It allows you to easily claim compensation for delays by notifying you of the money owed and giving you a chance to submit a claim immediately
• Notification for upcoming trains
• Automatic notification for delayed and cancelled journeys
• Great user experience
• Nice display
• Might contain ads and pop-ups

Related: Best Public Transport Apps in the UK

11. Virgin Trains

You’re assured of getting the best price at zero booking fees when you use the Virgin Train app to book your tickets.

It also gives you live train times that allow you to have a hitch-free journey.

• Up-to-date information on travel and delays
• Offers you the best price at unbeatable rates
• Live train times
• Easy to use
• Free seat reservations
• Operating it can be quite complex
• Not available for android users

12. Rail Europe

Rail Europe (formerly called Loco2) ensures you a hassle-free train booking process to anywhere across Europe and the UK.

It also issues passes like Swiss Pass to over 25,000 travel destinations in the world.

It equally helps you to get the cheapest tickets through the use of travel discounts and railcards.

• Booking alerts that notify you of the cheapest travel tickets
• Enables you to buy tickets with some of the best rail operators in the UK
• Allows you to easily check train timetable as provided by different operators
• Detailed train maps
• It gives you the ability to cancel and refund your train tickets
• It helps you enjoy a contact-free ticket booking
• The app and website are user-friendly
• Gives real-time information
• Seamless payment procedure
• No full coverage of all trains in Europe

13. GWR (Great Western Rail)

This booking app gives you the opportunity to enjoy a fast and straightforward booking process with its amazing features.

You can easily save your journey as a favourite if you make such a journey regularly. This allows for a rapid booking whenever you choose to travel.

It has zero booking fee and helps you to get the cheapest tickets at the best price possible.

• Prevents you from queuing at the station with its e-ticket feature
• It gives you live updates of train and bus times
• Adequate information on route and platform details
• Ability to collect nectar points while on the road
• Cheap and affordable
• Fast ticket booking
• It can be unreliable sometimes

Related: Top 10 Transport Companies in London

14. National Rail Enquiries

This app is arguably one of the best train apps in the UK. Its unique features help to make ticket booking straightforward and convenient.

You can easily stay updated on all train travels with this distinct and simple app.

You can equally save your favourite journey, find cheap tickets, set up travel alerts, and track your train at any time.

• It can be personalised to fit your needs
• The journey planner allows you to plan your journey with ease
• Live train times updates
• Zero booking or credit card fees
• Real-time push notifications
• Syncs Apple Watch with your phone for easy updates
• Train divide and arrival alerts
• Direct link to train operators
• The Apple Watch sync is only compatible with iPhone 5 and above

15. Euro Train Pro

Here’s another unique and functional app that allows you to enjoy access to over 11,000 routes operated by different European train operators.

It also gives you access to a Swiss Pass to enable you to explore more while in Switzerland.

Euro Train Pro has a wide coverage from the UK to continental Europe, which helps to make your journey hitch-free.

• Real-time train information
• You get to enjoy affordable and cheap fares for your train and bus journeys
• It covers more than 25,000 destinations within 28 countries with the use of train or bus anywhere across Europe
• It partners with top rail companies, including Swiss Federal Railways and French National Railways to offer you the best services
• User-friendly app
• Zero service fee
• Only available for iPhone users

Related: Top 10 International Transport Companies in the UK

Best Ways to Book/Buy Train Tickets Online in the UK

Using trains as a means of transportation requires you to purchase tickets for the journey, which can be inconvenient for several reasons.

Fortunately, the internet’s advent presents a hassle-free way, allowing you to purchase tickets online without leaving your home or office.

This guide will clearly explain the best procedures necessary to buy your train ticket online instead of dedicating time to visit the train station.

Fun fact: A popular analysis ranks the UK as the 19th best railway system worldwide, with 16,320 km of train tracks. This factor makes travelling by train an effective and worthwhile means of transportation.

Before applying the recommendations below, note that you have to purchase your ticket early or within the train’s schedule; otherwise, you may be forced to opt for the expensive option.

Purchase your ticket via https://www.nationalrail.co.uk and ensure you remember your travelling date, preferred travelling time, and the name or postcode of your departure/arriving station while buying your ticket.

Note: National Rail does not sell train tickets but directs you to purchase them from any ticket retailers shown after selecting your ticket in their Journey Planner.

If you desire a return ticket, ensure to click on the “Return” box and also add “Railcard” if you possess one. Keep in mind that you also have the liberty to customise your options by only searching for Standard class tickets, Direct train, and so on.

Regarding the “Return” box, keep in mind that these returns are not flexible, only allowing you to take any train under similar conditions.

So, for example, if your return ticket is during off-peak hours, you can only return during that schedule, nothing more or less.

Upon completing the form, the National Rail’s system will choose the most relevant & affordable train fare and time, if available.

Once completed, navigate to the lower side of the page for the total price. Afterwards, click on “Ticket Provider”, where you will see a list of train operators and third-party retailers.

The latter occasionally presents more affordable train fares alongside a booking fee.

Note: “Ticket Provider” also lets you change your train operator.

A new window will appear on your screen upon clicking “Buy Now”, and this pop-up leads you to your ticket provider’s page. The price shown here may sometimes differ from what National Rail presented. The difference isn’t, however, substantial.

Follow the instructions your ticket provider presents to you, as some companies may ask you to create an account before receiving your ticket.

I recommend checking for extra booking fees and whether the provider accepts non-UK credit cards if you live outside the UK or plan to pay with such a card.

Lastly, the provider will give you the option to choose your seat and facing, or whether you need a seat with a power plug, table, or a quiet coach.

The latter requires you to make little to no noise and switch your device to silent mode.

All the necessary details regarding your fare, seat number, train, etcetera, are written on your ticket, which makes it easier to find your way.

An alternate option for buying tickets for any train in Britain is via Transport for Wales , a not-for-profit company established by the Welsh Government and managed by appointed members.

Transport for Wales is amongst Britain’s 20+ train operators, and they provide commuters with tickets for all trains (except sleepers), routes, and operators.

Regarding price, they use the official standard with no additional booking fee for using their system. Their services are convenient as they offer you a mobile ticket for your journey upon buying via their website.

This mobile ticket is primarily a barcode on your smartphone, tablet, or laptop, which reduces the hassle of purchasing a ticket.

Alternatively, you can collect a physical ticket at a self-service machine at any train station. But you will need to present the original credit card or debit card for the purchase as your ID.

If this method appears problematic, you can visit their staffed office to get the ticket.

If leaving your house to collect a ticket appears to be a hassle, Transport for Wales has a service that delivers train tickets to any UK address for a reasonable fee.

They offer a next day delivery by 1 PM, further improving the convenience.

Tips for Buying Cheap Train Tickets Online in the UK

Early preparation is considered the ideal way to get great deals and save money on train tickets as multiple train companies exist (more than 20), each presenting different departure times and ticket prices.

To facilitate early preparation and decision-making, visit the National Rail’s website, which is the UK’s official portal for rail travails.

This website is the product of Rail Delivery Group (RDG) on behalf of all train operators.

National rails present you with all 20+ train companies, alongside their itinerary, departure and arrival time, fare enquiry, and additional information.

You also have access to details like train destinations, operators, and more.

Early purchase of train tickets online is an excellent option for getting the best deals on ticket prices. Preferably, buying 10 weeks in advance will save you a substantial amount of money.

In addition to this “train ticket hack”, it’s also worth noting that the least expensive train tickets often appear on weekdays after 9:30 AM, before 5:00 PM, and throughout the weekend.

The preceding fare after the expiration of this time frame, also known as off-peak hours, is more expensive to acquire, with zero reservations.

If you desire the best deal while buying your UK train ticket online, consider purchasing during the off-peak hours or get a ticket with a specific schedule. You also get entitlement to a seat upon opting for the fixed plan.

Railcards are exceptionally useful, especially if you plan to take several train journeys within the UK.

This card costs roughly £30 per year and shaves off one-third of your train fare.

Visit the Railcard website to check if you qualify to purchase one. If eligible, proceed to purchase the card from their website or any railway station.

Registering for a Railcard online requires little to no mental effort due to the user-friendly interface. Expect your purchase in your mailbox in a few weeks if buying from outside the UK.

Remember that purchasing this card at a railway station requires you to bring your ID (passport) for registration alongside a passport size photo.

After purchase, ensure to take your Railcard on every journey to show you’re eligible for one-third off.

Note: A Railcard is strongly recommended if you plan to take many train journeys within a year as it saves you money on each ticket purchase.

Related: 5 Best Car Manufacturers in the UK

While purchasing in advance helps reduce the cost of train fares significantly, you can further reduce the price by buying on less busy days.

For example, Wednesday lunchtime presents the cheapest train tickets during the weekdays compared to other weekdays. Friday and Sunday afternoons also have far higher prices. So, consider capitalising on this factor.

A PDF by Virgin Trains (page 6) covers the rules train companies have to follow regarding compensation for delayed journeys.

While it takes time to sort out, your trip can be free if your train service is significantly delayed.

Upon a delay, ask the train conductor or personnel at the station regarding the process for compensation relating to your delayed journey.

They will gladly provide you with the guide and ensure you are compensated for the disappointment.

Keep in mind that this option might not be available to you. Therefore, ensure to check thoroughly before paying for the ticket online.

I recommend setting a ticket alert on a reliable website like National Rail to keep you up to date with train schedules and the best ticket prices.

One benefit of this action is that you can structure your travels in advance with quick information as each alert informs you of the best-priced tickets and all train departure times. It’s a worthwhile option to include.

Related: Top 8 Transport Companies in Essex

4 Best Train Tracking/Timetable Apps in the UK

The UK has many train tracking or timetable apps that help you to keep track of your journey and other train tracking crucial information.

If you’re looking for the best UK train timetable apps, below are apps to look out for.

Moovit is an all-encompassing app.

With over 950 million users, Moovit has grown to become one of the best train apps in the UK due to its great features.

This is why Apple Store named it one of the best apps of the year in 2017.

Whether you are new to the UK train system or have been boarding trains for a long time, there comes a time when you need help for navigation purposes.

With the HopStop train direction mobile app, you will have all the confidence in the world when travelling by train.

What the app does is that it points out different directions so that you can know them by heart.

The fascinating thing is that it has detailed information about station-to-station schedules, train directions, and local station searches.

• iPhone : discontinued
• Android : discontinued

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It will do you a world of good if you download the Rail Commute train app before you book your next train ticket.

Downloading and using the app will save you a lot of headaches ranging from train delays to difficulty in locating the train station.

The Rail Commute train app provides live and updated information on different train-centric matters like train platforms, arrivals, and departures.

And if you are a social media freak, the app also presents some features to keep you connected to the online world.

With that in place, you can be certain of communicating with your friends, family, and colleagues via Twitter. 

There is also support for additional communication channels including SMS, Facebook, and Email.

• iPhone : Removed

Wondering about when your next tube is coming? You don’t have to wait for long because everything is simplified thanks to Tube Map.

This app allows you to check the location of your next tube as well as look for potential delays that may be keeping your tube from coming as fast as you expect.

Besides, it provides an accurate and live update on your location.

And this includes the availability of cross-capital travels, alternative routes you can take if your tube isn’t coming, and directions to the nearest tube location.

Related: Best UK Haulage Companies List

Best Websites to Book/Buy Train Tickets in the UK

If you’d rather book your train ticket online using the website instead of the app, here’s the list of websites to choose from.

This happens to be one of the UK’s most popular rail booking websites.

It offers users many benefits like split ticketing coupled with zero credit card or booking fee.

You can also choose between standard and first-class tickets, all at pocket-friendly prices.

It allows you to conveniently book the UK and European tickets and travel hassle-free across different parts of Europe.

The website also gives you the newest rail and travel information while offering you the best value for your money with its ticket-splitting information.

You can also book bus and ferry tickets from the website.

• Website : https://www.nationalrail.com

If you’re looking for a website that offers passengers the best cheap train tickets, then consider Trainline.

Just like the app, the Trainline website offers you competitive discounts for train journeys across Europe like Germany, Italy, and France.

The journey planner gives you information about live train times. It also has a price prediction feature that offers you information on the right time to book a ticket at the cheapest possible price.

The website also has various article guides that have been comprehensively written to provide information about how to get train deals and discounts, how to book the cheapest tickets and other pieces of valuable information.

• Website : https://www.thetrainline.com

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Unlike Trainline, Splitmyfare majorly focuses on helping you to find split tickets to enable you to travel at a cheap price.

With this website, you can enjoy more than 90% off your train ticket and travel almost for free.

Splitmyfare is a website that makes travelling enjoyable and affordable.

Another unique feature this website has to offer is the possibility of purchasing advance tickets 12 weeks before your journey.

You can also ask for a refund in case you experience at least 15 minutes delay before your journey.

• Website : https://www.splitmyfare.co.uk

Here is another website that offers cheap train tickets to passengers just like my Splitmyfare.

You get to enjoy more than a 45% discount when you buy your ticket in advance.

The “best fare finder” feature on the website also avails you of the opportunity of finding cheap tickets for your preferred destination.

• Website : https://mytrainticket.co.uk

This website enables you to effortlessly book train tickets by making 10 minutes reservations. You also have the chance to book last minutes tickets at affordable prices.

It has maps that can be used to track travel routes and also notify you of cheap tickets whenever they’re available.

And when your train is delayed by 30 minutes or more, you have the chance to become entitled to a refund or National Rail vouchers that can be used for your next journey.

• Website : https://www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk

Just like its name implies, Trip.com helps you have a seamless journey by saving you more time via e-ticket.

You can pay for your tickets without worrying about being charged for your credit card because it’s absolutely free.

You also have the chance to earn Trip Coins after completing your journey.

• Website : https://uk.trip.com

Related: Best Bus Companies in the UK

Best UK Freight Train Trackers

There are times when you might want to track a good that’s being transported via rail.

Having a good freight train tracker will help you to effectively know when the train carrying your freight finally reaches its destination.

If you’re looking for the best freight train tracker in the UK, I’ve compiled them below.

Raildar is arguably one of the best freight train tracking websites in the UK.

It has many distinct features that allow you to track a freight train in real-time, especially in Wales, England, and Scotland by showing you a map of trains moving around the network.

You can also view the history of train arrival and lateness from the website.

• Website : http://raildar.co.uk

This is a good website that helps you to track and get information about any particular freight train or passenger train.

You’re able to get live updates about the train once you input the required information in the search bar.

• Website : https://live.rail-record.co.uk

If you want detailed information about the correct location of your freight train, Traksy is the website to consider.

This simple but detailed website helps to give you adequate information about the current status and position of your freight train across all National Rail networks.

Some of its features include a signal-by-signal map and updating schedules and timetables, which help to give you live accurate details of your train.

It also provides bespoke tracking services tailored to meet the needs of a specific rail company when you require a special tracking service.

• Website : https://traksy.uk

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When it comes to having a top-notch train tracking feature, this app is the one you should look out for.

It has the capability of giving you a real-time report of your train’s current location.

One of its unique features is its ability to track trains up to 180 days in the future and 70 days in the past.

• Website : https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk

myTrains is a ticket booking app that also offers tracking services to enable you to track your freight train.

It allows you to get a live update of your train’s current progress and equally avails you the opportunity of tracking it until it gets to its final destination.

Best Train Spotting Apps in the UK

A good train spotting app allows you to track the location and status of your train from anywhere around the UK and Europe.

Below are reliable spotting apps you can choose from.

This is a valuable app that enables you to spot trains from different parts of London.

It’s easy to use and works both online and offline.

Here is another user-friendly app to consider. You can save your frequent spotting as a favourite and navigate various train networks while on the go.

Related: 10 Best Bus Companies in London

Just as its name implies, this is an app that enables Android users to log and keep track of sightings of British trains.

It’s completely free and ad-free. It also works offline to save you more data.

• iPhone : Not available

Apart from being one of the UK’s most popular train booking apps, Trainline also has train spotting features that enable you to spot trains while on the go.

Best European Train Apps to Buy/Book Train Tickets in Europe

Below are the top-rated apps to choose from.

This app is one of the most reliable apps to buy train tickets in Europe. It has more than 25,000 travel destinations and 11,000 routes across over 30 countries.

It’s easy to use and offers affordable tickets at discounted prices.

Trainline is another popular European train app that offers train tickets for journeys across Europe and continental Europe.

It also provides cheap tickets, especially during off-peak times.

Related: Most Reliable Public Transport Apps in the UK

With this app, you have the privilege of comparing different types of transportation modes to enable you to choose the one with the cheapest price.

Eurail is meant for non-European travellers while Interrail is meant for European travellers who are travelling across Europe.

These two features can be operated in one app as they both serve the same function.

If you’re looking for a good money-saving train ticket booking app, then consider Trainpal.

This app helps you to travel across Europe with ease while giving you great value for your money.

Omio Vs Trainline: Which Is Better for Train Ticket Booking?

Omio and Trainline are two of the most popular train ticket booking websites in the UK.

They both offer similar services but there are a few key differences.

If you’re contemplating the right one to choose for your next journey, below is a detailed comparison of both apps to help you make the appropriate choice.

• They’re both free for all Android and iPhone users
• They both offer online train schedules, ticketing, and navigation
• Their customer care services operate 24/7

Related: Best International Transport Companies in the UK

• Trainline is a British company that was founded in 1997. It has over 60 million customers. Omio, on the other hand, is a German company that was founded in 2016. It has millions of customers in the UK and across Europe
• Trainline offers more travel options than Omio. It sells tickets for trains, buses, and ferries
• In terms of ticket prices, Omio is quite cheaper than Trainline and offers more routes
• Trainline offers a loyalty program that gives you points for each booking, which can be redeemed for discounts on future bookings. Omio doesn’t currently have any loyalty program in place
• Trainline is based in the UK while Omio is based in Germany. This can, therefore, have an impact on the search results, as well as on the payment options. For example, Trainline accepts Apple Pay but Omio doesn’t.

The longevity Trainline has over the years makes it more experienced in delivering various quality services with the train booking app.

They offer remarkable discounts and refunds and cover most parts of Europe than Omio.

So, I recommend Trainline if you want to enjoy a seamless and hitch-free ticket booking across Europe.

Trainline Vs Trainpal: Which Is Better for Train Ticket Booking?

Trainline and Trainpal are two of the leading online train ticketing apps in Europe.

They both offer a comprehensive range of tickets for rail journeys throughout the European continent. Some of the services include timetable information and real-time updates on journeys.

The unique features these apps individually possess can make it quite tricky when deciding on the best one to download.

This is why I’ve made things easy for you by sharing their differences and similarities with you and the right one to comfortably choose between the two apps.

• They both allow you to book train tickets and check live train times
• The two apps allow you to find timetables and check and compare fares for UK trains
• They are both available for Android and iOS users
• The apps both run ads
• Trainline is larger than Trainpal and offers a wider range of tickets including international travel
• Trainline’s app and website are user-friendly with clear pricing and booking information when compared to Trainpal
• Trainpal offers a loyalty scheme that gives customers discounts on future bookings than Trainline
• Trainline offers a refund if your train is cancelled or delayed while Trainpal doesn’t offer a refund.
• Trainline charges a booking fee per ticket while Trainpal doesn’t charge any booking fee, making it more affordable
• Trainline offers a wider range of tickets including Advance, Off-peak, and season tickets while Trainpal only offers standard tickets

The process of selecting the better app between these two apps often depends on what you’re looking for.

If you’re looking for better convenience and wider train ticket booking features, consider Trainline.

Trainline has a wider range of train companies that you can easily choose from. You can equally use the app to book a train or bus.

However, if you want a cheaper and more affordable train ticketing app, go for Trainpal. Its services are almost free.

You don’t have to pay any fee for booking a ticket, unlike Trainline.

Best Train Game Apps to Download

Do you enjoy fun train games while on the rail or road?

Below are the best train games to consider.

These games are realistic, addictive, and can pretty much teach you a lot about the railway system.

Do you fancy additional fun while travelling on a train? Have you always wanted to drive a train but somehow feel you are not cut out for it?

You can bring your fantasies to life thanks to Trainz Driver. This train driving game and simulator allow you to travel to different parts of the world in 3D.

You can also do several other train-like activities such as driving faster and crashing your train.

Once more, your fantasies of conducting and driving a train are about to come to pass if you use the Train Conductor mobile app.

This dedicated train app is available to Android and iOS users. You get to play different simulating games that further increase your love for conducting a train.

Also, you can try your hands on different aspects of the game so that you can better master how to drive a train. The most significant move there is to try driving and conducting the game during the peak-hour rush.

Navigating the UK via train is a practical option. Trains can access almost every location, and take you to your desired destination in real-time.

Hopefully, the tips presented above are sufficient to ease the process of ordering tickets in the UK and make the process more hassle-free and convenient for you.

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Remz is a professional who has been writing content for almost 10 years. He's a shipping and logistics enthusiast and the head of the Trust Heritage Logistics content team. He bagged an MSc degree shortly after graduating from the university with flying colours. When it comes to creating content, Remz loves to do in-depth research and provide amazing pieces of information that every reader will find helpful.

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TransReport: interlinking geographies is next step for accessible travel app

Waleed Ahmed, Transreport COO, explains the accessible travel app startup's expansion from the UK into new regions

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Since first being selected by UK train operating company London Midland (now West Midlands Trains) in 2017, passenger assistance company TransReport and its accessible travel app have gone from strength to strength.

In 2021 it won a contract with the Rail Delivery Group to roll out its Passenger Assistance app across the rail network in Great Britain (rather than the UK, as Northern Irish trains are run under a different structure). But despite UK origins, the company was born with an international focus.

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Chinese founder Jay Shen had the idea to make an accessible travel app after a chance conversation with a disabled stranger and realised the need for a connected transport solution to assist passengers with additional needs. Shen soon recruited his university friend Waleed Ahmed to help build the firm, and the engineer remains the chief operating officer as TransReport grows internationally.

A $12m funding round , supported by private equity, was followed by the company’s first overseas contract for its accessible travel app in Japan, and further expansions into aviation are the focus for 2024.

Railway Technology caught up with Ahmed while he was in the UAE, the next target market for the growing company.

Patrick Atack: How did you get started in the rail industry and with the company?

Waleed Ahmed: My career started in transport, primarily with a rail operator in the UK. My first role was at a maintenance depot for trains. So I was literally under a train, once it came out of service, just doing the standard sort of maintenance procedures on that train, making sure it would be fit for service.

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That’s where I started and I slowly built my career up from there, ending up working for the owning group of that rail operator, going more into strategy, commercial engineering, project management, and innovation. So that’s how I sort of proceeded through the transport sector.

What brought me to this… Jay and I were actually at university together. And he had the eureka moment thanks to the conversation he had with this disabled gentleman. He was very insistent that I join him on this journey. So I did. And the rest is history, as one would say.

PA: Can you give us a brief history of TransReport?

WA: When we initially launched it was just with one rail operator, known as London Midland, at the time, now known as West Midlands Trains. We were very positively surprised that the entire industry as a whole saw the value-add of our proposition and the real difference it can make – because we have to bear in mind that they were using some very “legacy” systems and technologies at the time, which, with all due respect in the current world, would not fly.

Look at the technologies we’re all exposed to in our daily lives, such as Uber and Deliveroo . There’s so much convenience behind those technologies , that relying on legacy technology to enable the facilitation of assistance for disabled and older passengers had to be moved forward.

And credit goes to the rail companies in the UK and the Department for Transport as well. They very quickly recognised the value-add of our accessible travel app and made a very positive decision, specifically through the Rail Delivery Group, which represents rail operators.

Our technology is used by every railway operator in Great Britain.

They said: “Let’s do this for the entire industry because it’s going to have an impact on the entire industry within rail.” Yes, there are a lot of point-to-point journeys, for example, London up to Birmingham; but there are also multi-leg journeys that go via Birmingham, maybe up to Edinburgh, or Glasgow, or into Wales, and so forth.

They saw that and we recognised that early on and designed the technology accordingly. Credit where credit’s due, they decided to do the national rollout rather than just a focused rollout with one railway operator.

So our technology is used by every railway operator in Great Britain. And we’re very specific about ‘Great Britain’ because we don’t cover Northern Ireland just yet.

PA: You’ve found fast success in the UK, why was Japan the next region?

WA: I would say one of the major restrictions around the world is the infrastructure. Now, if you look at the UK, it’s the oldest railway in the world. If you look at Japan, it’s one of the best railways in the world.

But both countries need technology like this to almost provide a supplementary layer to all the great stuff that’s been doing that’s being done out there. You know, around the world the infrastructure is being improved. But with infrastructure… it takes time.

Financially, improving the infrastructure absolutely is the right thing to do. However, I think our technology allows a bridging of the gap until we get to this situation where the infrastructure is fully accessible. Unfortunately, in certain locations, it may not even be possible, just given the topography of that location.

So it’s always important to have a technology that can support [infrastructure], and so far it’s been working well, so much so that even the Japanese rail sector is keen on this technology.

PA: It must be quite a change from working with the UK train operating companies.

WA: Yeah. I mean, working in Japan is a different ballgame altogether. But I think, similar to the UK, the Japanese culture is very much about learning. I think that’s why they chose to partner with us. They recognised our expertise. They’re very open to listening. They’re very considered in their approach, as well. They like to take time and that’s just the ethos of quality is primary to everything.

You know, customer service in Japan is globally leading. But I think we know this is also going to be a challenge because sometimes they’re very set in their ways. Sometimes you have to work with them to introduce new ways of working. And they’ve been very open to that.

PA: You’ve said TransReport will be expanding again, and you’re joining us from Dubai… can we put the two together to work out your next plans?

WA: I can’t name specifics at the moment. But just to give you a flavour, and it’s pretty obvious with our recent expansion into aviation… that’s one of the key drivers to me being out here in the UAE. You know, the Middle East is a hub for airlines – and very good airlines to be quite honest.

It’s not just the UAE. You’ve got Qatar around the corner, and places like Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Oman. All these places have been very keen on ensuring the highest experience for all of their passengers and people coming in and out of the region. I think a big part that they’ve shared with us is accessible travel, and ensuring they provide the highest standards for disabled and older passengers .

PA: In ten years is the plan for TransReport to have multimodal solutions in each market?

WA: So this will be the third geography that we’re expanding into. Yes, we can operate in isolation within the UK rail or aviation, we can do something similar in Japanese rail and aviation.

The whole idea would be to make sure that in the geographies we operate in, we bring that accessible travel experience, and then ultimately interlink those geographies. So, my adage of “home to hot desk” or “sofa to sunbed”… our vision is it can be a sofa in Bristol, UK, and that sunbed could be on a beach in Dubai and we’d be able to interlink all key operators and modes within that journey experience.

We’re a small company so we better start learning, but we recognise that we’re growing rapidly. And our growth has to be done in a mature way as well. So we are setting up specialist teams for different geographies around the world. But at its core, our current focus is rail and aviation.

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May rail strikes: How is the latest train drivers’ walk-out affecting passengers?

In three days of ‘rolling’ walk-outs, most train operators involved have cancelled all services, article bookmarked.

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National rail strikes by train drivers have entered a third summer with a series of “rolling” walk-outs, one region at a time, during May .

Members of the Aslef union are halting thousands of trains on 7, 8 and 9 May 2024 – with commuters who normally go to the office on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday among the targets.

The aim is to disrupt services on the 14 rail firms in England that are controlled by the UK government and represented by the Rail Delivery Group (RDG). Rolling strikes cause maximum disruption for minimum loss of pay.

In addition, six days of overtime bans are causing further cancellations from 6 to 11 May.

The previous national industrial action by train drivers, comprising an overtime ban and rolling regional walk-outs, hit passengers in April .

Industrial action by Aslef train drivers in their dispute over pay and working arrangements began in July 2022. The union is demanding a no-strings pay award, but rail firms – directed by ministers – say any increase is contingent on radical reforms to working practices in order to reduce public subsidies.

During the dispute, hundreds of millions of journeys have been cancelled. Billions of pounds have been lost to the UK economy – particularly to hospitality businesses.

Taxpayers are pumping cash into an increasingly decrepit and unreliable railway to the tune of £90 per second on top of the normal subsidy. Over the course of a year, that amounts to £2.8bn in addtional public cash.

The quarrel has become increasingly bitter, with no sign of any progress towards a settlement. Negotiations were last held on 26 April 2023.

Caught in the middle of a seemingly intractable dispute: the passenger. In a snap social media poll for The Independent that garnered 2,142 responses, one in three rail travellers say they will permanently travel less after the industrial action finally ends.

For passengers, these are the key questions and answers.

Which rail firms are involved?

Aslef is in dispute with the train operating companies (TOCs) that are contracted by the UK government to provide rail services. They are:

Intercity operators:

Avanti West Coast

CrossCountry

East Midlands Railway

Great Western Railway (GWR)

TransPennine Express

Southeast England commuter operators:

Greater Anglia

GTR (Gatwick Express, Great Northern, Southern, Thameslink)

Southeastern

South Western Railway (including the Island Line on the Isle of Wight)

Operators focusing on the north of England, the Midlands and links from London

Chiltern Railways

Northern Trains

West Midlands Railway (including London Northwestern Railway)

When are the train drivers walking out?

Drivers belonging to the Aslef union are striking in the following pattern:

Tuesday 7 May

C2C, Greater Anglia, Great Northern, Thameslink, Southeastern, Southern, Gatwick Express, South Western Railway.

Commuters around London comprise the main target.

Wednesday 8 May

Avanti West Coast , Chiltern, East Midlands Railway, Great Western Railway, West Midlands Railway and CrossCountry.

The aim is to cause maximum disruption on key intercity lines as well as Midland commuter services.

Thursday 9 May

LNER , Northern and TransPennine Express. This is aimed at users of the East Coast main line and passengers in the North of England and southern Scotland.

What are the predicted effects at each operator?

GWR’s Night Riviera sleeper train from London to Penzance is cancelled until Sunday 12 May.

The Gatwick Express from London to the Sussex airport will be cancelled throughout the industrial action period.

For other operators, these are the probable service patterns – though travellers should check shortly before their planned journeys. Where trains are running, the normal hours of operation are likely to be curtailed.

Disruption is also likely on days before and after strike days. TransPennine Express says: “Plan carefully for any rail journeys as services may start later and finish earlier than usual.”

Greater Anglia is running to and from London Liverpool Street to Stansted airport, Southend, Colchester, Ipswich and Norwich.

Southern is running a shuttle service between London Victoria and Gatwick airport.

Thameslink is running a shuttle service between London St Pancras and Luton (town and airport stations).

Great Northern is running a shuttle service between London King’s Cross and Cambridge.

South Western Railway is running between London Waterloo, Woking and Guildford, with some other suburban services likely.

Southeastern urges passengers not to travel, but is running services between London St Pancras and Ashford on the high-speed line; Charing Cross and Orpington; and London Bridge and Dartford.

C2C has cancelled all services.

Five train operators – Avanti West Coast, Chiltern, East Midlands Railway, West Midlands Railway and CrossCountry – have cancelled all train services.

GWR will run no long-distance trains, but will connect Reading with Oxford and Basingstoke, as well as a link from Bristol to Cardiff and some branch routes in Devon and Cornwall. The company says: “Many parts of the GWR network will have no service at all and trains that are running will only be operating for a limited period during the day.”

Northern and TransPennine Express will cancel all services. LNER will run a skeleton service on core lines between around 7am and 7pm. Its main Edinburgh-Newcastle-York-London line will have at least one train an hour, with some additional trains on the southern part of the network.

What about the overtime ban?

Members are also refusing to work their rest days from Monday 6 to Saturday 11 May, inclusive. As many rail firms depend on drivers working overtime, hundreds – possibly thousands – of trains will be cancelled.

On the first day alone, LNER cancelled or curtailed at least a dozen trains “due to a shortage of train crew”.

Greater Anglia, Avanti West Coast and West Midlands Railway will run a reduced timetable on each day of the overtime ban.

Avanti West Coast says: “On Tuesday 7, Thursday 9, Friday 10 and Saturday 11 May, a number of services will be removed from our timetable due to the overtime ban and Wednesday’s strike action. These are mostly on our Manchester and Birmingham routes, but removals have been spread throughout the day to keep people moving.”

GWR says the overtime ban will cause “some short notice cancellations or alterations to services across the GWR network”.

But Southeastern says: “We expect to run our full service during this time, except for Tuesday 7 May, which is the strike day on our network.”

Which rail firms are not involved?

Some publicly funded train operators will run normally: ScotRail, Transport for Wales, Transport for London (including the Elizabeth line) and Merseyrail.

“Open-access” operators on the East Coast main line – Grand Central, Hull Trains and Lumo – are unaffected. But many of their services will be crowded on days of industrial action. They duplicate some routes of strike-hit companies, including LNER, TransPennine Express, CrossCountry and Northern.

What is at stake in the dispute?

The train drivers demand a pay rise to reflect high levels of inflation since they last won a pay award; Aslef says some members have not had an increase for five years.

But the government insists that even a modest pay increase is contingent on radical changes to long-standing working arrangements in order to reduce costs – and the huge subsidies the railway is currently receiving from the taxpayer.

Since the pandemic, travel patterns have changed. Ticket revenue is about one-fifth down on pre-Covid levels. As taxpayers will foot the eventual bill for the train drivers’ pay rise, the Treasury as well as the Department for Transport will sign off any deal.

Ministers believe train drivers’ terms and conditions are part of the problem. To keep costs down, they must accept changes to how they work, such as making Sunday part of the working week everywhere.

On 27 April 2023 the Rail Delivery Group offered a pay increase of 4 plus 4 per cent over two years covering the 2022 and 2023 pay awards. The deal required the union to accept a host of changes on terms and conditions, covering a wide range of issues including driver training, Sunday working, sick pay and new technology.

The union says this offer is unacceptable, calling it “a land-grab for terms and conditions”, and that the employers knew it when they tabled it.

Union leaders believe the money will be found to meet their demands, as it always has been in the past. Aslef has also always “sold” reforms to working arrangements for an extra few per cent on their pay and does not intend to change that process.

Meanwhile, the corrosion in confidence among travellers continues, with no rail passenger able to plan journeys more than two weeks ahead – that being the minimum notice the union must give for industrial action.

What do the employers and government say?

A spokesperson for Rail Delivery Group said: “This wholly unnecessary strike action called by the Aslef leadership will sadly disrupt customers and businesses once again, while further damaging the railway at a time when taxpayers are continuing to contribute an extra £54m a week just to keep services running.

“We continue to seek a fair agreement with the Aslef leadership which both rewards our people, gives our customers more reliable services and makes sure the railway isn’t taking more than its fair share from taxpayers.”

A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “The transport secretary [Mark Harper] and rail minister [Huw Merriman] have already facilitated a pay offer that would take train drivers’ average salaries up to £65,000 – almost twice the UK average salary.

“Aslef are the only union left striking after the government oversaw deals with all the other unions. Instead of causing passengers disruption, they should put this offer to their members and work with industry to end this dispute.”

What does the union say?

The general secretary of Aslef, Mick Whelan, said big majorities in ballots for industrial action show the strength of feeling among train drivers – and that it would be pointless to put last year’s offer to a vote.

“We’re 22 months into this – the longest rail strike in history,” he told The Independent . And we’re still getting mandates of 94 to 99 per cent. Drivers would not vote to strike if they thought an offer was acceptable. They don’t. And that offer – now a year old – is dead in the water.

““Our pay deals at these companies ran out in 2019. Train drivers at these TOCs have not had an increase in salary for five years.

“It is now a year since we sat in a room with the train companies – and a year since we rejected the risible offer they made and which they admitted, privately, was designed to be rejected.”

When will the strikes finally be over?

Mick Whelan says: “In the words of Tom Petty, we won’t back down.” The working assumption is now that it will take a change of government before the dispute is settled.

No prime minister since Margaret Thatcher has demonstrated such contempt for Britain’s railway as Rishi Sunak. On the eve of the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow , he announced the halving of Air Passenger Duty on domestic routes – encouraging travellers to switch from rail to air and triggering a surge of new flights within the UK .

Tearing up years of cross-party agreement, the prime minister then scrapped plans for HS2 north of Birmingham and demanded a swift sell-off of protected land to ensure the project could not be resurrected. And Mr Sunak has tolerated 18 months of intermittent strikes by train drivers with no apparent appetite for a settlement.

What does the Labour Party say?

Louise Haigh, the party’s shadow transport secretary, said: “Labour will take an unashamedly different approach to the Tories, and will work with both sides to reach a deal in the interests of passengers and workers.

“If the transport secretary took this sensible approach then perhaps we wouldn’t still be having strikes on our railways.”

The transport secretary, Mark Harper , posted earlier this month on X (formerly Twitter) : “Buried in Labour’s rail nationalisation plan: greater control for the unions, more ministerial meddling,leading to fewer services. Making things worse for passengers.”

How much has all the disruption cost?

According to the RDG, industrial action from June 2022 up until mid-January 2024 cost the rail sector around £775m in lost revenue. That does not include the impact of the most recent strikes and overtime bans, which probably takes the total to around £1bn.

UKHospitality estimates the lost business for places to eat, drink and stay amounts to around £5bn. Kate Nicholls, the organisation’s chief executive, says: “Ongoing strike action hurts businesses, prevents people from getting to work and significantly erodes confidence in the rail network.”

In addition, there is an unknowable loss of revenue from passengers who have adjusted their lifestyles or found alternative forms of transport; businesses that have stopped making trips and are using online communication instead; and people trimming back on travel because of the lack of certainty.

What about the new minimum service levels law?

Legislation now allows the transport secretary to stipulate minimum service levels (MSLs) on strike days amounting to 40 per cent of the normal service.

The government says the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023 aims “to ensure that the public can continue to access services that they rely on, during strike action”.

No train operator is seeking to impose the new law on the train drivers’ union. LNER said it might do so earlier this year, and opened consultations. Aslef immediately called a separate five-day strike on LNER alone. Then the train operator said it would not require drivers to work, and the strike was called off.

The Transport Select Committee has previously warned of potential unintended consequences of the legislation. The Conservative chair, Iain Stewart, said: “There is a risk of MSLs worsening worker-employer relations and that, as a result, MSLs could end up making services less reliable.”

The minimum service level rules do not apply to union bans on non-contractual rest-day working – so there would be no benefit in imposing the law when an overtime ban is in force.

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