RAIL union RMT accused the Trainline ticketing app today of relentless profiteering by not prioritising the cheapest train fares available for a journey.

The outfit is on track to generate £200 million this year from British ticket sales after describing government plans for a mass closure of ticket offices as a “possible tailwind,” the union said.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “Private companies and contractors that are operating within the railways are making a killing while the government is pushing for the closure of all ticket offices.

“Trainline has a vested interest in seeing ticket offices close and has even suggested that such a move would be a ‘possible tailwind’ for the company.

“Half the revenue Trainline is expected to make this year could be used to help fund the railways properly instead of the cost-cutting agenda train operators have embarked upon with the ticket office closure programme.”

The website for the popular train app, which charges a 5 per cent commission on single and return tickets sold, insists that its search ranking criteria are based upon the departure time and the fastest available journeys with the smallest number of changes, and that the cheapest result is highlighted within these results.

In 2023, the company’s chief executive received total remuneration of £1.71m, up nearly 9 per cent from the previous year.

A Trainline spokesman said its technology identifies the best value journey for a customer’s search criteria balancing price with ease and convenience.  

“All retailers, including independent retailers like Trainline and train operating companies, are paid the same flat commission rate by the industry for online ticket sales, which is lower than the commission paid by the industry for sales through other channels including ticket vending machines,” he added.