Trainline says Middle East tensions hitting European rail bookings | Rail industry
Trainline said the US dispute with Iran had affected its revenues and that rail ticket sales to foreign visitors to Europe had been affected.
The UK-based international ticketing company said it expects revenues to remain flat or fall next year, citing “the effects of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East on inbound air traffic to Europe.”
Airlines reported later bookings due to significant consumer uncertainty regarding summer travel plans. The US-Israeli war against Iran, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, and subsequent blockades have raised doubts about global jet fuel supplies; carriers have already begun canceling thousands of flights.
The company’s shares fell in line with earnings expectations as tensions over Middle East tensions added to Trainline’s previous warnings of headwinds, including from its UK ticket policy.
The British government has frozen rail fares and stated it will launch its own ticketing website as part of the planned Great British Railways; It is stated that the widespread use of contactless payments in London and other cities will further negatively affect Trainline’s business.
The group, whose main revenues are based in the UK, said full-year operating profit for 2025-26 rose 43% to £122 million, with revenue up 2% to £453 million.
But the company said it only expects sales of between £440 million and £455 million in 2026-27.
Trainline said it remains Europe’s most downloaded rail app and aims for further growth in Italy and France, where competition between operators on long-distance routes is expanding the ticket market.
Jody Ford, Trainline’s outgoing CEO, said it was “a year of strong deliveries with record net ticket sales and revenue and continued double-digit growth in profitability.”
He added: “We are working closely with the government to deliver on its commitment to deliver a fair and open regulatory framework ahead of the establishment of GBR online retail in the UK. We strongly welcome the recent decision to make open late charge refunds to independent retailers, which is our customers’ No. 1 question.”
Rail line shares fell about 8% in early trading but recovered to close down about 1%.
