TheTrainLine: train times, book tickets, reserve seats for mainland UK trains

Press Releases

Please click below for the specific press release you wish to view.

Date	Title	Product
06/03/08	Smartcard	First Ondemand to provide security solutions for Trainline Smart
05/02/08	Smartcard	TheTrainline brings national Smartcard rail travel one step closer
05/02/08	TTL agency services	Growth of TMC and Third Party Partnerships in 2007
01/01/08	Media review	TheTrainline appoint Vizeum for media review
01/01/08	Fare savings	TheTrainline responds to train fare increase
01/12/07	Christmas travel	TheTrainline warns rail passengers not to miss out on cheap fares this Christmas
01/10/07	Season ticket solution	HR paperwork nightmare predicted by leading rail retailer
29/06/07	Traveldoo partnership	TheTrainline Partners Traveldoo

24/06/07	Cash offer for AST	Terms of cash offer for AST by Trainline

18/06/07	Mobile ticketing	Mobile ticketing trial on railways

21/03/07	Hillgate partnership	TheTrainline Consolidates TMC partnership

01/03/07	TMC's get onboard	GDS Galileo partnership

First Ondemand signs up to provide security solutions for Trainline Smart

6 March 2008

TheTrainline, the UK’s leading online rail retailer, is pleased to announce that First Ondemand will provide a mobile-phone security solution for Trainline Smart, the ITSO* smartcard system which will be piloted in 2008.

As smartcard ticketing is extended across each UK rail franchise over the next few years, customers will be able to buy their tickets using Trainline Smart. Tickets can be bought online or by mobile phone and then downloaded onto a smartcard either at home with a plug-in reader, or at stations as each train operating company introduces smartcard ticketing. The ticket on the smartcard is validated by touching it against a reader at railway stations fitted with gates, or with a handheld version onboard the train.

First Ondemand’s innovative, robust and highly secure system called ‘Authentisic Mobile™’ enables Trainline Smart customers to log on to their online account securely from most mobile phone handsets and see what tickets are on their smartcard. Customers can also manage their account, buy and pay for tickets and renew season tickets using their mobile.

Jeremy Acklam, Business Development Director at TheTrainline, says, “Our customers want to manage their ticket purchase with minimum fuss but with maximum reassurance that the transaction is secure and complete. First Ondemand’s ‘Authentisec Mobile™’ secure identity and authentication solution is an enabling technology which provides an essential security layer for TheTrainline’s new market leading Smart service.”

Stephen Moore, CEO at First Ondemand says, “Smart technology is changing the way the world does business and how companies and people communicate. The popularity of the London Oyster smartcard shows this innovative method of rail ticketing is clearly becoming the delivery channel of choice for many customers. The ability to incorporate an identity and authentication layer brings a greater level of client and customer assurance for transactions through the mobile phone. Trainline Smart has mass market appeal and we are very excited to be part of the project with TheTrainline.”

ENDS

Notes to editors:
*Trainline Smart uses ITSO technology, the Government mandated standard for smart card transport ticketing in the UK.

About TheTrainline
TheTrainline is the leading UK online rail ticket retailer and rail ticket information provider, offering fast and easy access to timetables, fares, reservations and tickets through its Internet site and contact centre operations in the UK train travel sector. In addition to its own website, www.thetrainline.com, it operates retail websites for 15 Train Operating Companies who sell rail tickets online, as well as providing a rail business travel service direct to a number of blue chip corporations and travel agents.

About First Ondemand
First Ondemand is one of a new breed of innovative security and compliance software technology companies. With broad uncertainty in the market on how to address increasingly complex issues based around securing identities and authentication, First Ondemand have developed, in collaboration with Oracle, a solution that answers many of those problems.

The Authentisec™ solution platform is designed to integrate into new or existing processes and applications. It is highly scalable making it ideal for building new future-facing strategies. This is particularly the case where there is convergence between the physical and digital world. First Ondemand is a member of Oracle’s Enterprise Security & GRC Initiative. .

TheTrainline brings national Smartcard rail travel one step closer

5 February 2008

TheTrainline, the UK’s leading independent rail retailer, today demonstrates Trainline Smart, a smartcard system which it expects to account for up to 50% of rail ticket sales by 2012, reducing the need for paper tickets.

Trainline Smart uses ITSO technology, the Government defined standard for nationally accepted smart card ticketing in the UK which is being rolled-out in stages across all UK rail and bus journeys and will eventually be used as an upgrade to the London Underground Oyster smart ticketing system. The Trainline Smart functionality can even be added to a corporate charge card or security pass, removing the need to carry separate pieces of plastic.

Expected to be piloted later this year, rail passengers using Trainline Smart will be able to travel to and from all UK stations that accept smart ticketing. And, as all new rail franchises are now required by Government to adopt ITSO smartcard technology, UK rail travel will be achievable via smart card starting from 2009.

Booking and ticketing via Trainline Smart is simple. The ticket can be purchased via the website or via a mobile phone and then downloaded onto the smart card either at a smart target at stations or via an inexpensive smartcard reader / writer in the office or at home. The ticket is then validated in the normal way by smart-enabled ticket gates or by onboard train managers using a handheld reader.

Trainline Smart is ideal for business as for the first time corporates will be able to access information which combines tickets that were booked and journeys that were actually taken. Smart ticketing also has the potential to introduce more flexible pricing, with passengers being encouraged to use off-peak trains. Finally, it will increase business travel policy adherence as Trainline Smart’s ease of booking and fulfilment will reduce purchases from stations, particularly repeat purchases, which can be automated.

Adrian Watts, Director of Sales and Distribution, at TheTrainline says, “This is a massive step towards integrated national smart ticketing and we are very excited to be demonstrating the potential at the Travel Technology Show 2008. Not only will Trainline Smart remove the need for paper tickets, but as train operating companies begin to install smart enabled readers, only one card will be needed when travelling UK wide by rail, bus and London Underground.

“We expect more than 50% of all TheTrainline ticketing to be via ‘Smart’ by the 2012 London Olympics.”

TheTrainline also plans to adapt its own kiosks so rail passengers can top-up their smart cards by uploading tickets via a smart reader.

ENDS

Growth of TMC and Third Party Partnerships in 2007

5 February 2008

TheTrainline, the UK’s leading impartial rail retailer, has more than doubled its business with travel management companies (TMCs) and third party partnerships in the past year and plans to expand this growth in 2008.

TheTrainline offers tailored retail solutions for TMCs - TraCS Over the Internet (TOTI), customer Self Book (SBT) and Trainline Connect API.

Via Travelport and other direct partnerships, TheTrainline now supplies a significant number of the UK’s TMCs and this is predicted to increase as rail travel grows further and additional investment is made to develop these relationships.

These partners and their customers enjoy an unrivalled choice of fulfilment options including access to the national ticket on departure network at over 400 stations throughout the UK, MobiTix – mobile phone ticketing – and, once trialled and launched later this year, Trainline Smart.

Adrian Watts, Director of Sales and Distribution at TheTrainline, says, “It is clear that rail is increasingly the preferred mode of transport for business travel. It offers convenience, as well as significant environmental savings for today’s eco-savvy customer.

“To be able to meet this demand, and following the withdrawal of Elgar, TMCs must register with a ticket issuing service to book their UK rail. Due in part to this, TheTrainline’s booking solution is experiencing rapid growth and is proving phenomenally successful. It is Internet based, user friendly and offers our partners exclusive fulfillment options, over 293 million journeys, great value UK fare combinations and significant reductions in average ticket prices.”

TheTrainline continues to expand all distribution channels including corporate clients, TMCs, travel agencies and GDSs.

ENDS

TheTrainline appoint Vizeum for media review

January 2008

TheTrainline, the UK’s leading independent rail retailer, has appointed Vizeum as its media agency to help reposition the brand.

The agency won the account after a strategic pitch against both the incumbent agency Manning Gottlieb OMD and PHD. The review follows the appointment of DLKW as TheTrainline’s creative agency earlier this month.

Vizeum demonstrated its ability to provide media strategies using integrated insights based on digital and customer data. Stuart Newman one of the Managing Partners at Vizeum commented, “We are delighted to be working on a brand that has a fantastic opportunity ahead, who will benefit from all of our strategic, digital and data planning expertise.”

TheTrainline’s Ben Pearson said, “We’re delighted to be working with Vizeum. They demonstrated the tools and the depth of insight needed to exploit the huge opportunity we have with our brand.”

TheTrainline is the leading UK rail ticket retailer and rail ticket information provider, offering fast and easy access to timetables, fares, reservations and tickets through its Internet site and contact centre operations in the UK train travel sector. In addition to its own website, www.thetrainline.com, it operates retail websites for 14 of the 21 Train Operating Companies as well as providing a rail business travel service direct many blue chip corporations and travel agents.

-ENDS-

For more information please contact Stuart Newman at Vizeum on 0207 570 7326 or Leila Bateman at Lexis PR (TheTrainline) on 020 7908 6550

Notes on Vizeum:
Media agency Vizeum UK is part of Aegis plc, one of the biggest marketing services networks in the world. Uniquely, we are a media-centric, digitally-focused, full service UK based organisation.

TheTrainline responds to train fare increase

January 2008

The UK’s leading rail retailer of the UK’s train tickets, TheTrainline, today comments on January’s proposed rail fare increase:

Comment attributable to Richard Rowson, Business Development Director at TheTrainline: “On the back of January’s rail fare announcement, we will be informing and advising our customers how to beat the planned fare increases by buying in advance online.

“Research proves that in some cases travellers can save as much as 91% by buying online in advance, compared to buying at the station on the day of travel.

“And these are not just isolated savings, on almost all the major intercity routes online customers are, on average, paying less than half of the best price available at the station on the day of travel. For example, if you were to travel between Leeds and London a walk up single fare would be around £73.60 while the average price paid by booking online in advance through TheTrainline is £26.27, which is a big saving of 64%.

Other indicative fare savings available by booking through TheTrainline:

Leeds to London
Best price paid on TheTrainline: £7.00 saving 91%
Average price paid on TheTrainline: £26.27 saving 64%
Walk-up fare: £73.80

Edinburgh to London Kings Cross
Best price paid on TheTrainline: £15.70 saving 84%
Average price paid on TheTrainline: £33.92 saving 65%
Walk-up fare: £97.20

Newcastle to London
Best price paid on TheTrainline: £12.90 saving 86%
Average price paid on TheTrainline: £33.92 saving 64%
Walk-up fare: £94.30

York to London
Best price paid on TheTrainline: £11.25 saving 84%
Average price paid on TheTrainline: £29.05 saving 61%
Walk-up fare: £73.80

Birmingham to London
Best price paid on TheTrainline: £10.00 saving 73%
Average price paid on TheTrainline: £20.15 saving 45%
Walk-up fare: £36.70

Manchester to London
Best price paid on TheTrainline: £12.00 saving 79%
Average price paid on TheTrainline: £30.12 saving 49%
Walk-up fare: £58.50

Bristol to London
Best price paid on TheTrainline: £10.00 saving 79%
Average price paid on TheTrainline: £18.35 saving 62%
Walk-up fare: £48.00

Cardiff to London
Best price paid on TheTrainline: £11.00 saving 79%
Average price paid on TheTrainline: £20.73 saving 61%
Walk-up fare: £53.00

ENDS

For TheTrainline customer enquiries, please call customer services on 0870 010 1296 and quote your reference number.

About TheTrainline
TheTrainline is the leading UK rail ticket retailer and rail ticket information provider, offering fast and easy access to timetables, fares, reservations and tickets through its Internet site and contact centre operations in the UK train travel sector. In addition to its own website , www.thetrainline.com , it operates retail websites for 14 of the 18 Train Operating Companies as well as providing a rail business travel service direct to a number of blue chip corporations and travel agents.
• Prices are based on standard class adult single fares for the journey stated, and exclude railcard discounts*
• Price comparison made over the period of 4 weeks ending 10th November 2007
• TheTrainline prices are based upon the average price paid for bookings made through www.thetrainline.com
• Walk-up fare based on the “Saver Single” fare – the cheapest available fare available for purchase at the station at the time of travel
• Savings are not exclusive to TheTrainline, comparable prices are available from other retailers
• Savings may vary based upon time of purchase and time of travel

(*Standard class adult single fares excluding railcards are the most popular products sold online for these routes)

Other key facts:
According to industry figures (from ATOC), around 18% of train tickets (by revenue) are purchased online (excluding season tickets)

In general the best savings are available between 6 and 12 weeks before travel – albeit the sophisticated pricing tools used by some train companies mean that prices can go down nearer to the time of travel if bookings are low.

TheTrainline warns rail passengers not to miss out on cheap fares this Christmas

December 2007

Rail passengers hoping to get a cheap deal home this Christmas are today being warned by TheTrainline to book their travel immediately. Passengers leaving it late risk missing out on advanced ticket prices and risk facing lengthy queues at train stations in the lead up to Christmas.

Ben Pearson, Commercial Director at TheTrainline, says, "We see a year on year increase in train travel at Christmas and, with many extenuating circumstances to consider this year, we believe we will see many more people travelling by rail. The inflated price of petrol has hit motorists' pockets hard and the annual Christmas traffic black spots are also making train travel more attractive for people trekking home for the holidays.

"Christmas can be an expensive time for everyone. By booking ahead of the day of travel, train passengers can secure themselves a cheaper ticket. Those wanting to avoid long station queues at this time of year should book tickets online using websites such as www.thetrainline.com and choose the ticket on departure option - this allows passengers to pick up their tickets from ticket on departure machines located at all major train stations."

For TheTrainline customer enquiries, please call customer services on 0870 010 1296 and quote your reference number.

HR paperwork nightmare predicted by leading rail retailer

October 2007

Research commissioned by TheTrainline has found that the future may hold a paperwork nightmare for HR managers as more commuters turn to rail as the “greener” way for business travel.

Almost three quarters (71%) of HR managers predict an increase in rail travel within their company over the next 12 months, the survey revealed.

The huge surge in employees commuting by rail could lead to an dramatic increase in corporate Season Ticket loan requests .

The new research, for which 100 HR managers at large corporates around the UK were questioned, also revealed that:
• Over half of HR managers (56%) find the processing and administration of season tickets for employees, resource intensive
• Almost two thirds (65%) would be interested in a web solution for Season Ticket retail and distribution

As employees become increasingly environmentally aware and city congestion charges become more common, rail travel is the choice of more and more commuters.

On average last year, passengers travelled 45.6bn kms on the railways – 6.5% more than in 2005. . And according to the Office of Rail Regulation, in the year 2006-2007, 543 million journeys were made by passengers with season tickets, compared to 490 million in the previous year.

To help tackle this trend, TheTrainline offers a pioneering business solution aimed at reducing the administration process for season ticket loans.

Employees can order the ticket themselves directly from a bespoke website. The cost of the ticket and an authorisation request is then forwarded to the appropriate person in the company. The company payroll department can then deduct the cost of the season ticket from the employee each month.

Adrian Watts at TheTrainline said: “I’m not surprised by the results of this research which confirms an increasing trend in commuter rail travel. Our corporate clients are increasingly promoting rail travel as a greener and more convenient commuting option.

“As companies seek to cut their carbon footprint they may also recommend that staff use rail rather than other means of transport such as road and air for business travel.

“However, this will place an extra burden on HR managers who will have to deal with an increase in Season Ticket loans requests. TheTrainline services ensure that they can concentrate on more critical workplace issues, such as recruitment and the wellbeing of the employee and not rail ticket administration.”

Associated Newspapers, a client of TheTrainline, has been using the season ticket service for the last two years. Anika Smith, at Associated Newspapers said, “TheTrainline work very well on a personal level, and I was very pleased when a member of the team came to meet me in the office to go through the website in detail. Through this interaction I’ve now had confidence in calling TheTrainline with all my queries and have found the service and all the staff incredibly helpful.

“The website is very straightforward making it easy for all staff to go ahead and order season tickets independently. We are incredibly pleased and we definitely expect the number of people ordering season tickets to increase over the next year or so.”

TheTrainline will be attending the Employee Benefits show at The London Design Centre on 2nd and 3rd of October and can be found at stand number 257.

ENDS

For TheTrainline customer enquiries, please call customer services on 0870 010 1296 and quote your reference number.

Notes to editor:
The research was carried out by Vanson Bourne, specialist research-based technology marketing consultancy and questioned 100 HR managers in large corporates around the UK. The research was conducted in August 2007.

About the Season Ticket Offering
The service from thetrainline.com takes only five simple steps:
• employees can purchase the season ticket loan online from a bespoke website
• the cost of the ticket, along with an authorisation request is forwarded to the appropriate individual in the company
• on receipt of the company authorisation, Thetrainline.com sends the ticket to the employee
• The company payroll department then deducts the cost of the season ticket from the employee on a monthly basis
• Thetrainline.com then issues a single, consolidated invoice for all the tickets purchased

TheTrainline partners Traveldoo

29 June 2007

TheTrainline, the UK’s leading rail retailer, today announces a new partnership with Traveldoo, a European provider of online travel management solutions for businesses, TMCs and distributors.

The deal allows Traveldoo to integrate TheTrainline content into its online business travel booking platform via Trainline Connect, the rail retailer’s API. This then enables its corporate customers and agents to access a further enhanced and seamless online rail booking service.

The modern interface technology of Trainline Connect will allow Traveldoo to expand its capability to simplify travel programme management and significantly reduce its clients’ business travel expenditure. It does this by providing management information reporting, a portfolio of fulfilment methods, a choice of payment facilities and clear ticketing options, allowing the cheapest fare to be selected.

Traveldoo customers will now have access to over 293 million fare and journey combinations and will benefit from improved functionality as well as innovative ticketing options such as ‘Ticket on Departure’ or on-site printing capability. Customers seeking to monitor their carbon footprint will also be able to utilise TheTrainline’s carbon emissions reporting, based on Defra-approved guidelines.

Adrian Watts, Sales and Distribution Director for TheTrainline, comments: “The partnership with Traveldoo further consolidates our position in the online travel management market and proves once again that we are the supplier of choice to provide leading business travel management solutions. Traveldoo has a strong reputation for providing cost-effective solutions to its clients and Trainline Connect will enhance its offering by creating an efficient and streamlined rail booking tool.”

Olivier Mindren, Vice President, Marketing of Traveldoo Technologies comments: “By connecting TheTrainline to our corporate travel management platform we strengthen our commitment to provide richer content to our growing customer base in the UK, helping them further optimise their travel spend with best-in-class rail connectivity.”

Traveldoo will benefit from a dedicated Business Manager at TheTrainline who will focus on ensuring that the client receives a service that meets and exceeds their requirements.

The connection to TheTrainline will be available in September 2007 to large organisations through Traveldoo Enterprise™ and to small and mid-sized companies through online travel agencies using Traveldoo Portal™.

ENDS

For TheTrainline customer enquiries, please call customer services on 0870 010 1296 and quote your reference number.

Notes to the editors

About TheTrainline
TheTrainline is the leading UK rail ticket retailer and rail ticket information provider, offering fast and easy access to timetables, fares, reservations and tickets through its Internet site and contact centre operations in the UK train travel sector. In addition to its own website, www.thetrainline.com , it operates retail websites for 16 of the 21 Train Operating Companies as well as providing a rail business travel service direct many blue chip corporations and travel agents.

About Traveldoo
Traveldoo is the European provider of online travel management solutions, enabling businesses to improve the performance of their travel procurement processes and reduce travel expenditure, making business travellers' lives easier and helping travel agencies develop quickly and efficiently their Internet distribution channel.

Recommender cash offer for Advanced Smartcard Technologies Plc(AST plc) by Trainline Investment Holdings Limited (Trainline)

26 June 2007

The board of Trainline and the Independent Directors of AST plc are pleased to announce the terms of a recommended cash offer by Trainline to acquire the whole of the issued and to be issued share capital of AST plc.

Trainline is a leading UK rail ticket retailer and rail information provider and AST plc is an AIM-quoted software company which, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Ecebs Limited, specialises in software for smartcard systems and applications.

Commenting on the recommended cash offer, Alan Tomlin, Trainline CEO, said: "One of the ways that Trainline provides benefits to rail industry stakeholders is in developing and implementing new methods of rail retailing and information services, designed to reduce rail industry costs over time and enhance customer service and experience.

“The ability to be able to purchase a rail ticket or have a rail ticket fulfilled to a smartcard or smart enabled mobile device in a secure manner is one such important development. The acquisition of AST plc and its experienced management team meets Trainline’s strategic plans and objectives in this area in the shortest timeframe.”

Please find below the Summary of Offer from Trainline and AST plc.

For TheTrainline customer enquiries, please call customer services on 0870 010 1296 and quote your reference number.

Mobile ticketing trial on railways

18 June 2007

Rail passengers are another step towards ticketless travel as TheTrainline, in conjunction with Midland Mainline, launches the UK’s first mobile phone ticketing pilot for business travellers.

As well as making train journeys simpler and easier for business travellers, mobile phone ticketing will:
• reduce the need for paper tickets
• encourage more passengers to use train travel, which is one of the greenest forms of transport
• help reduce ticket office queues.

The pilot will be trialled by one of TheTrainline’s corporate clients using Midland Mainline tickets sent to their mobile phones.

Business travellers will be able to book train travel via TheTrainline’s business service and request that the ticket is sent via a secure message to their mobile phones. Once the message has been activated, up to one and a half hours prior to travel, it can then be used to travel on Midland Mainline and can be validated by station staff and on-board train managers.

Mark Furlong, Commercial Director for TheTrainline says: “We work very closely with our customers so we know that mobile ticketing is what they want. Environmental issues and CSR feature high on their agendas and many of our customers are swapping planes for trains. As they do, we should also see schemes such as these, which eliminate the need for paper tickets, prove more popular.

“As an independent rail retailer we are in an ideal position to develop products and services that will innovate and consolidate the rail industry. Mobile phone ticketing is part of our ongoing e-ticketing strategy.”

Rachel Dawson Sales and Marketing Director for Midland Mainline, part of the National Express Group, says: “Mobile ticketing will ultimately help make train travel easier, quicker and less hassle for passengers. National Express is committed to finding innovative ways of making life easier for today's public transport users, so we are delighted to be involved in these trials.”

The mobile phone ticketing trial will involve 15 business travellers and will take place on specified routes between London St. Pancras, Leicester, Derby, Nottingham and Sheffield with Midland Mainline.

ENDS

For TheTrainline customer enquiries, please call customer services on 0870 010 1296 and quote your reference number.

About TheTrainline
TheTrainline is the leading UK rail ticket retailer and rail ticket information provider, offering fast and easy access to timetables, fares, reservations and tickets through its Internet site and contact centre operations in the UK train travel sector. In addition to its own website , www.thetrainline.com , it operates retail websites for 16 of the 21 Train Operating Companies as well as providing a rail business travel service direct to a number of blue chip corporations and travel agents.

About Midland Mainline and National Express Group
Midland Mainline is part of the National Express Group and operates high speed train services along the M1 corridor between London St. Pancras, the East Midlands and South Yorkshire.

National Express Group has a full time bidding team, who have recently submitted bids for the new East Midlands and Cross Country franchises. These two new franchises, which have been remapped from the existing Cross Country, Midland Mainline and Central Trains franchises, will be awarded by the Department for Transport in the summer and are scheduled to commence in November 2007. The team is also bidding for the Intercity East Coast franchise . This bid was submitted on 6th June 2007.

TheTrainline consolidates TMC partnership

21 March 2007

TheTrainline, the UK’s leading rail retailer, today announces it has extended its partnership with the UK’s largest independent Travel Management Company (TMC), Hillgate Travel.

The deal allows Hillgate Travel to integrate TheTrainline content into its online self booking tool using Trainline Connect, the rail retailer’s API, enabling the TMC to provide its clients and agents with an enhanced rail booking service.

The new rail booking service, powered by Trainline Connect, replaces Elgar at Hillgate Travel’s head office in London and will enable the TMC to offer its agents and corporate clients 293 million different rail and fare combinations, improved functionality and a multitude of fulfilment options including access to the national Ticket On Departure network.

Hillgate Travel’s customers including many blue chip City institutions will also benefit from access to detailed management information, the ability to implement rail travel policy guidelines and a carbon emissions reporting service on employee train travel, based on DEFRA guidelines.

Adrian Watts, Director of Sales and Distribution for TheTrainline, comments: “I am delighted that Hillgate Travel has chosen to extend its partnership with TheTrainline to offer a world class online rail booking solution to its corporate clients and agents. Our API, Trainline Connect, will integrate our content into their system creating an efficient and streamlined rail booking tool. A seamless rail booking system is absolutely essential to a company like Hillgate Travel, which is renowned for its high quality of service, and I’m sure that this new system will help the TMC to maintain its excellent client retention rate.”

Mark Bull, IT Director of Hillgate Travel comments: "The Trainline API enables us to integrate full rail search and book facilities within our existing self-booking product. As a result we can offer a far more cost-effective model for our clients whilst providing the full range of fulfilment and distribution options which will become even more effective with the introduction of e-tickets across the network."

Hillgate Travel will begin using the new improved rail booking system powered by Trainline Connect from the beginning of April with a view to rolling it out across its offices nationwide by the end of the year.

ENDS

For TheTrainline customer enquiries, please call customer services on 0870 010 1296 and quote your reference number.

Notes to the editors

Travel management compaqnies get on board TheTrainline

1st March 2007

TheTrainline, the UK’s leading impartial rail retailer, today announced plans to increase its business with travel management companies (TMCs) and travel agents to 30% of its managed corporate sales figures in 2007. This would take its share of the external TMC and travel agent market to around 70%.

TheTrainline offers tailored retail solutions to TMCs and travel agencies via its professional retailing tool, TraCS Over the Internet (TOTI), and through global distribution systems (GDSs). Currently sales in this area make up 15% of TheTrainline’s internal managed business with businesses, but the aim is to double this over the next year by investing further in these relationships.

In November 2006 TheTrainline signed a contract with GDS Galileo to provide services for Galileo Rail, its new rail booking product for TMCs and agents. Consequently TheTrainline now has a major foothold in all distribution channels in the UK rail marketplace.

Adrian Watts, Sales and Distribution Director at TheTrainline says, “TheTrainline has already proved to be an attractive offering to TMCs, travel agents and GDSs, due to it’s fully impartial service and instant access to over 293 million journey and fare combinations in the UK.

“It is so simple, as long as an agent has access to the Internet and our site they will be able to book rail travel and take advantage of our innovative and exclusive fulfilment options. Those already partnering TheTrainline have passed on significant reductions in average ticket prices to their clients and have achieved phenomenal results in online adoption.”

TheTrainline continues to expand all distribution channels including corporate clients, TMCs and travel agencies and GDSs.

ENDS

For TheTrainline customer enquiries, please call customer services on 0870 010 1296 and quote your reference number.

Notes to the editors

About TheTrainline
TheTrainline is the leading UK rail ticket retailer and rail ticket information provider, offering fast and easy access to timetables, fares, reservations and tickets through it’s Internet site and contact centre operations in the UK train travel sector. In addition to it’s own website, www.thetrainline.com, it operates retail websites for 16 of the 21 Train Operating Companies as well as providing a rail business travel service direct to a number of blue chip corporations and travel agents.