You’re probably missing out on cheaper train fares. Here’s why

Millions of people search for train tickets every day and don’t book. Why? Because the cheapest options are hidden.

Add your name to fix this. Let’s make train travel fairer, cheaper and easier to plan.

Demand change, sign the petition here

An open letter to the rail industry from our CEO Giorgio Sikking

Click image above to view the Jacobs presentation following our research carried out jointly with them around the benefits of a real-time availability feed.

Dear colleagues, partners, and leaders across UK rail,

I’m writing this not just as a CEO or ticketing operator, but as a long-time believer in what the UK rail system could be.

As such, I’m calling for the rail industry to make a real-time availability feed available to all retailers. Whether for the student stretching their budget, the tourist planning a day out, the commuter trying to make smarter choices, doing so will give all consumers access to cheaper fares.

- I’ve been championing cheaper train travel since 2007.

- We are a family owned and run company.

- In 2024 Raileasy sold 3 million tickets.

- Yet millions of people still avoid the trains.

The truth is simple. Rail has a £500 million opportunity within its grasp — and 65% of potential rail travellers check train fares but opt to explore alternatives. They are either choosing a different mode of transport or spending additional time and effort searching for more affordable fares or journey options. And they shouldn’t have to.

They have no easy way of discovering cheaper, quieter alternatives. It’s not a pricing problem. It’s an information problem. The industry refers to this as ADS - Advanced Distribution Service. It simply means all available seats on all available trains and comes from the GB Rail reservation system - yet still, retailers like us can’t fully access it.

I believe the answer lies in a smarter, more open, and consumer-first approach to data access. That’s why I’m urging the rail industry to make this available to all retailers.

This isn’t about asking for subsidies or discounts. It’s about unlocking existing value that’s currently hidden in a fragmented, outdated system. A system where travellers can’t easily view the full range of fare options across a week or month, the way they can with flights.

With airline-style calendar views, passengers could instantly see the cheapest and quietest times to travel.

Research we commissioned with industry leading experts Jacobs shows that this change alone could unlock £500 million in incremental revenue for UK rail. Not to mention the societal wins: increased domestic tourism, lower carbon emissions, and a shift away from car travel toward sustainable rail.

This is a low-cost, high-impact fix that would make rail work better for the people it serves. Yet we’re struggling to be heard by the industry.

Our call is backed by the Independent Rail Retailers (IRR), and it’s already starting to take shape through our work on features like the Daytripper platform on Realtime Trains. But to truly scale this change we need full industry collaboration.

Let me be clear: restricting access to fare and availability data benefits nobody. Not passengers. Not operators. Not the future of UK rail. We’re a proven partner to the rail industry. We’re here to help, and to start the conversation. So I’m asking you - industry leaders, policy makers, colleagues - to support this call.

I welcome your comments and thoughts - and hopefully your support.

Sincerely,

George Sikking

CEO, Raileasy.

Please do read about the small family firm who were the first UK independent train ticketing retailer and are now taking on the weight of the UK rail industry.

This can save consumers a huge amount of money. Gaining publicity for how simple this solution is, is a crucial step in making this change a reality so we appreciate you reading and considering this story for your news agenda.  

The UK rail industry is losing out on hundreds of millions in potential revenue all because train fares are not presented in a clear, consumer-friendly way — unlike flights. 

The CEO of Raileasy (owners of TrainSplit), George Sikking shares the solution to fix this, calling for the Availability Distribution Service (ADS) to be opened up to all retailers, with real-time Skyscanner-style calendar views that show cheaper, quieter trains.

"The industry must open up fare and availability data (ADS) to all independent retailers, because 65% of travellers are currently put off by the prices they see first when searching for fares".

This change is low-cost, high-impact, and could unlock £500m in incremental revenue while making train travel more appealing and accessible — especially for leisure travellers, students, and flexible passengers.

So 65% of people looking to book train tickets don't book what they're offered. Why? 

Because the price is too high, and they can't easily see cheaper alternatives.

New research with 6000 travellers by Raileasy revealed a fix that could unlock £500m in rail revenue, boost domestic travel, and save people money — all without costing the government a penny.

Now, CEO George Sikking is calling for Availability Distribution Service (ADS) to be rolled out to all rail retailers like them, and airline style month to view calendars to show travellers the full range of price options.

TL;DR facts:

• DATA: 6000 travellers surveyed by Jacobs on behalf of Raileasy
• SIMPLE SOLUTION: Rail boss George Sikking calls on the industry to make Availability Distribution Service available to all
• QUOTE: “Restricting access benefits nobody” says Sikking
• CONSUMER CHALLENGE: 65% of rail travellers look for a different solution when they see the price
• REVENUE IMPACT: Research reveals that £500m of incremental revenue could be unlocked with accurate airline style booking calendars
• PROFILE: Raileasy sold 3 million tickets in 2024.

MORE INFORMATION AND INSIGHTS:

What do you do when 65% of potential rail travellers look elsewhere when they see the price?

This is why Raileasy are leading the charge to help unlock £500m of untapped revenue for rail.  

The Raileasy team are working with the industry to call for transformation in how up-to-the-minute train times and prices are displayed, saying that current accessibility is the reason more people don’t travel by train.

In a groundbreaking move to make train travel more accessible, sustainable, and appealing, ticketing site Raileasy and other industry leaders, in collaboration with the Independent Rail Retailers (IRR), are calling for a rail-wide transformation in the way train times and prices are presented to customers.

Showing accurate, current availability of fares, highlighting the cheapest dates and times to travel is the key to travellers reconsidering rail says Sikking.

Highlighting all fares could see a significant increase in travellers using trains for leisure trips, if they can easily find cheaper tickets, say Raileasy.

Leveraging research commissioned by Raileasy on behalf of the IRR from Jacobs, who conducted a study of over 6,000 respondents, the proposal seeks to enable an ADS (Availability Distribution Service) for all independent rail retailers and train operators.

And there are two ways that millions more in potential rail revenue could be generated.

One - by surfacing the cheaper and quieter services allowing people better visibility of a range of options - currently full availability across a period of time, whether a week or month, is often incorrect or incomplete without ADS.

“Opening up ADS to the industry is the right thing to do by the consumer.  Restricting access benefits nobody” said Sikking.

Two - by actively marketing train travel for leisure breaks, providing inspiration around destinations and promoting the availability of cheaper fares.  This can be seen in operation with the new Daytripper functionality on the Realtime Trains website, for which the ticketing has been supplied by Raileasy.

HOW?

This platform would provide advanced calendar views of live availability and pricing from the GB Rail Central Reservation System (RARS), enabling consumers to see cheaper and quieter trains over a week or month, rather than being limited to same-day options.

Key Benefits and Opportunities

• Driving Rail Revenue: By enhancing visibility of cheaper travel options, the rail industry could unlock an estimated £500m in incremental revenue, according to Jacob's research.

• Encouraging Modal Shift: Better transparency in pricing and availability will encourage travellers to choose rail over roads, retain the 23% of people who immediately discount rail as an option, as well as supporting a greener and more sustainable transport system.

• Empowering Growth Markets: The new system makes rail more accessible to price-sensitive and/or groups with flexibility over their travel plans like students and seniors, enabling them to plan and travel affordably.

• Supporting Domestic Tourism: Simplified access to quieter, cheaper trains would encourage leisure travel, benefiting local economies and boosting domestic tourism.

"Independent rail retailers like Raileasy hold the key to making train travel the go-to choice for millions more consumers. By empowering travellers with better information, we can grow rail’s popularity, all without costing the Treasury a penny," said George Sikking, CEO of Raileasy.

Fairer Fares and Greater Access

50% of travellers on long distance trains are not travelling on their preferred date or time, or even their first choice destination station because of the limited view of available options.

Yet, the current system sees the average long-distance train service running at just 36% capacity, highlighting the urgent need to maximise seat sales and make all fare choices visible. 

As Anthony Smith, Chairman of the IRR, (Independent Rail Retailers) explains:

"This initiative isn’t about asking the government for funding or asking for more heavily discounted fares. It’s about unlocking the full potential of the rail network by providing real-time availability for existing fares to all independent retailers. By making pricing and scheduling options transparent, we can drive industry growth, ensure fairer fares, and help fill unsold seats."

But how would customers really benefit?

Better visibility of available fares would allow passengers with flexibility in their dates and times to view all ticket prices at a glance.

London to Bath Price Trends – May 2025

Prices range from £25.50 (lowest) to £40.50 (peak) – a £15 difference.

A view of the entire month makes it easy to see the cheapest day of the month (23rd May), and that a bank holiday trip comes with a £10 premium.

By giving passengers with flexibility a better view of availability, these existing savings could revolutionise how people plan their journey, ensuring rail remains a competitive, attractive option for far more travellers.

A Vision for the Future

Raileasy, a family owned firm, are renowned for championing fairer fares, and believe this change is key to saving Great British Railways. 

Raileasy sold 3 million tickets in 2024.

Raileasy launched its online train ticket retailing services in 2007, becoming the first privately funded, independent train ticket retailer in the UK market.

"It’s simple: we must make it easier for passengers to find quieter, cheaper trains," added Sikking.  "Half of people have had to compromise on their journey either by date, time or station choice. With live availability data and advanced calendar views, I think we can encourage people to reconsider trains over taking the car.  And take the booking process from sometimes-confusing, or perceived as expensive, into a trusted, consumer-first choice”.

This vision, built on open collaboration and transparency, represents a vital step forward for the rail industry, creating growth opportunities without burdening public funds. It’s time to make train travel the clear, accessible, and affordable option it deserves to be.

We need your help...

If you believe, like we do, that train travel should be easier to understand, more affordable, and more accessible to everyone, we ask for your support. The technology exists. The solution is simple. The time for transparency is now. Add your name and support our call to open up ADS to all retailers – and help unlock a better, fairer future for UK rail.

👉 Sign the petition now

For media inquiries, please contact: press@raileasy.co.uk