9th Oct 2026 09:05
(Alliance News) - Trainline PLC shares rose on Friday after the UK's rail watchdog set out draft measures for ticket selling, proposing that Great British Railways must not "abuse its position" in the retail market.
Trainline was up 4.1% at 210.00 pence each in London on Friday morning, but the stock has fallen 23% over the past year, amid worries about what GB Railways would mean for the rail ticket selling platform.
The UK Office of Rail & Road said: "GBR will operate most passenger rail services, set the customer offer for those services, and sell tickets across digital channels, at stations and on board its trains. In the online ticket retail market, GBR will also manage the retail functions that other ticket retailers rely on to participate in the market, such as central industry IT systems, data processing and the issuing of third-party retailer licences. ORR's proposed retail code of practice would require GBR to give all non-GBR online retailers fair, transparent, and non-discriminatory access to fares, products, systems and related services."
The ORR said GBR must not give "its own online ticket retail business an undue advantage".
"GBR will also be subject to competition law and need to act in a way which does not exclude competitors, distort the online retail market or abuse its position," the regulator added.
A consultation on the ORR's proposals closes on December 11, with the final retail code set to be published in the spring.
ORR Director of Strategy, Policy & Reform Stephanie Tobyn said: "Passengers should have confidence that the rail ticket market works fairly, whichever retailer they choose to buy tickets from.
"We've already engaged with representative organisations and key stakeholders, and now we want to hear from everyone with an interest in the future online rail retail market. Their views will help us ensure the retail code of practice is effective in supporting a fair and open market."
By Eric Cunha, Alliance News news editor
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