Market Analysis: Trainline

Trainline: Focus is on expanding in Europe; Rail nationalization in the UK could pose a threat but customer habits are hard to change

Albie Amankona, Analyst at Third Bridge comments on Trainline, informed by the insights from industry experts:

“Trainline is concentrating on expanding in Europe. Our experts believe that many European countries are conservative, and people still prefer buying tickets at ticket offices or directly from rail carriers, sticking to their old habits.”

“Italy and Spain are experiencing significant growth, largely due to market liberalization. However, in markets like France and Germany, more regulatory reforms are needed before Trainline can establish a foothold.”

“Rail nationalization in the UK could pose a threat to Trainline. However, our experts believe that customer habits are hard to change and do not anticipate it will prompt customers to switch to other platforms.”

“Our experts believe that concerns about the impact of Uber entering the Trainline market are exaggerated due to Trainline’s superior UX and brand loyalty. They see Uber's rail ticket sales as primarily an additional service to their taxi offerings. Since Uber depends on its partnership with Omio, profit margins are expected to be very narrow.”

“Every rail strike in the UK results in Trainline losing about £5 million to £6 million in revenue per day. Our experts emphasize that beyond the financial impact, the potential loss of trust from customers is even more costly.”