Should I Use Trainline?

[TFT YouTube]

So I'm planning to head to London Paddington for 7029 there for the first time in 60 years, and while planning to book tickets, I saw that tickets are nearly £100, and I saw trainline are doing the same thing for £15, however I've heard in the past from some people that trainline is a scam, so I do I use it, or find a cheaper alternative?

 

[yorkie]

So I'm planning to head to London Paddington for 7029 there for the first time in 60 years, and while planning to book tickets, I saw that tickets are nearly £100, and I saw trainline are doing the same thing for £15, however I've heard in the past from some people that trainline is a scam, so I do I use it, or find a cheaper alternative?

What's the journey?

Trainline is a legitimate retailer; it's not a "scam", however it does charge a booking fee (unless you use the app to purchase on the day of travel), which can put the price higher than elsewhere.

Our ticket booking site doesn't charge a booking fee, so will never be more expensive than booking from a train company directly (assuming no special offer, or similar, fare that they refuse to allow third parties to retail).

We also can find cheaper combinations of tickets than Trainline, as well as offering a free seat selector (where available/applicable) and up to 3 via/avoid points.

 

[Hadders]

What is 7029?

Trainline isn't a scam but despite their snazzy marketing suggesting otherwise they don't have access to cheaper fares. The same fares are available from all ticket retailers.

This forum runs its own ticket selling website which will almost always offer proces that won't be beaten elsewhere.

 

[hexagon789]

What is 7029?

Steam loco Clun Castle presumably

 

[Pacef8]

Regarding trainline i just booked a return from Hebden on the 8th Aug by error wanting the first Aug . They charged me £16 for the alteration .

 

[TFT YouTube]

What's the journey?

Trainline is a legitimate retailer; it's not a "scam", however it does charge a booking fee (unless you use the app to purchase on the day of travel), which can put the price higher than elsewhere.

Our ticket booking site doesn't charge a booking fee, so will never be more expensive than booking from a train company directly (assuming no special offer, or similar, fare that they refuse to allow third parties to retail).

We also can find cheaper combinations of tickets than Trainline, as well as offering a free seat selector (where available/applicable) and up to 3 via/avoid points.

Salisbury - Paddington - Salisbury on November 1st.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 15 Jul 2025 ==

Steam loco Clun Castle presumably

Correct

 

[yorkie]

Regarding trainline i just booked a return from Hebden on the 8th Aug by error wanting the first Aug . They charged me £16 for the alteration .

The forum's site would not charge anything if you spotted it within the first hour; after that the charge would be more reasonable than that (and fees are charged based on the entire booking, not per ticket).

 

[Pacef8]

Usefull to know if i muck a booking up . The first mistake in a 168 previous !!!!

 

[yorkie]

Salisbury - Paddington - Salisbury on November 1st.

It's too early for that date.

As you are heading to London for the first time in 60 years I've done a search with a Senior Railcard, with an example date of 1st October:

Results | RailUK Tickets

TrainSplit is a free service that makes it easy to find the cheapest train tickets for your journey.

tickets-beta.railforums.co.uk

As you've not specified the time of travel, I had to guess, but looking at 0846-1056 out and 1909-2120 return, the price is £22.05 from us, and £22.94 from Trainline:



In both cases, this involves the use of London Underground to get from Waterloo to Paddington; if you want to avoid that, we have advanced options, such as you could avoid travelling via Clapham Junction, or you could force travel via Reading, or untick "Tube":

 

[Hadders]

Salisbury - Paddington - Salisbury on November 1st.

So you want a day return fron Salisbury to Paddington on Saturday 1st November.

An Off Peak Return from Salisbury to London Terminals (valid via Reading) is £63.50 or £42.25 with an appropriate railcard. This is valid on any train on Saturdays and can be purchased at the same price on the day of travel. Cheaper Advance tickets will become available closer to the time which will probably be cheaper as alluded to by @yorkie but these are tied to a specific train.

Where were you seeing tickets at £100?

 

[Haywain]

Steam loco Clun Castle presumably

And there I was trying to remember which Hymeks had been preserved.

 

[Wallsendmag]

The forum's site would not charge anything if you spotted it within the first hour; after that the charge would be more reasonable than that (and fees are charged based on the entire booking, not per ticket).

Thats half as good as LNER where you get 2 hours