11th Sep 2025 08:48
(Alliance News) - Shares in Trainline PLC steamed ahead on Thursday as it raised its earnings outlook and announced a new GBP150 million share buyback after a "robust" first half.
Shares in the London-based digital rail and coach ticketing platform were 12% higher at 290.79 pence each in London on Thursday morning.
In a trading statement, Trainline said revenue increased around 2.6% to GBP235 million in the six months to August 31 from GBP229 million the year prior. Trainline pointed out this is tracking towards the upper end of its full year guidance range for growth of between 0% to 3%.
Net ticket sales were 8.3% higher at GBP3.25 billion from GBP3.00 billion, tracking towards the upper end of Trainline's full year guidance range for growth of between 6% to 9%.
UK sales grew 8.1%, International sales increased 1.9% and Trainline Solutions rose 18%.
"Rail liberalisation in Europe continues to demonstrate the value Trainline brings as the preeminent domestic aggregator, most recently in Southeast France where increased carrier competition between Paris, Lyon and Marseille has driven Q2 sales growth of 34%," the firm stated.
In the UK, growth was partly offset by the first phase of Project Oval, Transport for London's expansion of its contactless payment network, Trainline explained.
UK Consumer revenue was broadly flat at GBP107 million year-on-year, primarily reflecting the reduction in the headline commission rate in the UK in April from 5.0% to 4.5%, as previously announced in 2022, plus the mix effect of growing faster in on-the-day travel, which generates relatively lower rates of revenue than longer-distance travel.
For the full year, Trainline reconfirmed its year-on-year growth expectations for net ticket sales of between 6% and 9% and revenue of between 0% and 3%.
However, the company now expects adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation to grow at the top end of its previous guidance range of between 6% and 9%.
In the 12 months to February 2025, adjusted Ebitda totalled GBP159 million, itself up 30% from GBP122 million the year prior.
In addition, Trainline announced that once its current share buyback ends, it will "launch an enhanced repurchase programme" worth GBP150.0 million.
As at September 5, Trainline had acquired GBP71 million shares from its existing GBP75 million share repurchase programme.
"It would imply GBP350 million of shares being bought back and cancelled over a three-year period," Trainline added.
Trainline reports half-year results on November 5.
By Jeremy Cutler, Alliance News reporter
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