Rail Online, the international rail ticketing platform, launched in the U.K. today (4 May 2023).
Rail Online claims to be a consumer advocate, providing fair ticket prices for British passengers that match those of carriers. They also offer instant refunds for e-tickets and, notably, do not charge any booking fees.
Rail Online, established in 2019 by Australian tourism and transport specialist James Dunne, offers a convenient platform for British travellers to book rail travel across the U.K., Europe, and North America. Customers can currently book tickets on National Rail (U.K.), SCNF (France, Eurostar), Amtrak (U.S.), and VIA Rail (Canada), with more networks to be launched, including Trenitalia (Italy)—platform in the week following the launch.
For itineraries across Europe, Eurail passes are available to book through the Rail Online website. Interrail passes – for E.U. residents – will soon be added.
Rail Online says it is committed to maximum customer convenience by eliminating paper waste associated with rail travel. It delivers e-tickets for domestic and international travel directly to customers within minutes of booking.
Delivering a more intuitive customer journey
With several new and innovative features to roll out post-launch, Rail Online aims to become the most valuable and frequently used travel platform. The short-term goal is to provide customers with a more intuitive journey and help customers travel more intelligently, efficiently and hassle-free – whether as part of a daily commute, a family day out or a cross-country adventure.
Rail Online’s founder and CEO, James Donn, expressed that venturing into the vast and constantly evolving rail industry in the U.K. is a significant accomplishment for the company. Following a successful debut in Australia and New Zealand, Rail Online is now gaining traction among U.S., Canadian, Indian, and Europe customers.
The market for rail travel in the U.K. is very competitive and primarily focused on price. In recent years, the industry has transitioned to electronic ticketing. This presents an opportunity for a bright and ambitious company to challenge the status quo by creating a new app that offers savings on booking fees for British travellers.
“The launch of Rail Online is a larger, longer-term, and exciting travel technology offering that we will work on over the next two to three years. In the short term, we’ll introduce new rail network connections and features as we continue our U.K. roll-out, so watch this space!
New platforms benefit from a scalable, lean, efficient business model. A partnership with SilverRail streamlines coordination with multiple U.K. rail operators while efficient, automated processes dramatically reduce manual tasks and staff numbers.
Passionate about providing the best possible travel experience for the customer – from ticket purchase to the final destination – Rail Online is led by a core team of travel and rail industry experts with combined experience spanning over 65 years.
