PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Trainline: Coronavirus (28 September 2020)

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reasons the Government pays a commission to Trainline for tickets booked through that service during the covid-19 outbreak; and what the cost to the taxpayers purse of that commission since emergency measures were implemented during the outbreak is.

Asked by:
Navendu Mishra (Labour)

Trainline, like all Third Party Retailers, operates under a long term license issued by the Rail Delivery Group on behalf of the rail industry. This is part of the industry’s Ticketing and Settlement Agreement. The Department has no role in determining commission rates. During the Covid crisis we have directed operators to encourage passengers to purchase online ahead of travel and online retailers, like Trainline, are one way passengers can buy their tickets online.

Answered by:
Chris Heaton-Harris (Conservative)
6 October 2020