Trainline vs TrainPal:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Trainline had more branded searches than TrainPal among train ticket retailers in the United Kingdom. Trainline had about 4.1 million branded searches, while TrainPal had 201,000. Trainline made up 94.7% of all train ticket retailer searches we track, and TrainPal accounted for 4.7%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about train ticket retailers, Trainline appeared in three of the five answers and TrainPal in one.
Follow Trainline vs TrainPal and get free monthly updates on what changed
By continuing you'll get index updates and occasional product news from Brandwave. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy
Top train ticket retailers in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Trainline was mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. TrainPal was mentioned in one out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
Trainline3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
TrainPal1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Split My Fare1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Seatfrog0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Raileasy0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about train ticket retailers
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Where should I buy train tickets in the UK?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best apps for buying train tickets in the UK?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the cheapest way to buy train tickets in the UK?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“train tickets”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“cheap train tickets”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United Kingdom on October 22, 2026.
Is Trainline or TrainPal more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Trainline and TrainPal by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all five train ticket retailers we track, month by month, from searches in United Kingdom.
Share of searches by month for Trainline, TrainPal. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Trainline | TrainPal | Seatfrog | Split My Fare | Raileasy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 95.3% | 3.8% | 0.42% | 0.28% | 0.19% |
| Nov 2025 | 96% | 3.2% | 0.42% | 0.28% | 0.15% |
| Dec 2025 | 96.7% | 2.6% | 0.35% | 0.23% | 0.16% |
| Jan 2026 | 96% | 3.2% | 0.35% | 0.28% | 0.15% |
| Feb 2026 | 96.1% | 3.2% | 0.35% | 0.23% | 0.16% |
| Mar 2026 | 96% | 3.2% | 0.35% | 0.28% | 0.19% |
| Apr 2026 | 95.4% | 3.8% | 0.35% | 0.28% | 0.15% |
| May 2026 | 95.4% | 3.8% | 0.35% | 0.28% | 0.15% |
| Jun 2026 | 95.4% | 3.8% | 0.35% | 0.23% | 0.15% |
| Jul 2026 | 94.6% | 4.7% | 0.28% | 0.28% | 0.15% |
| Aug 2026 | 94.5% | 4.6% | 0.34% | 0.28% | 0.19% |
| Sep 2026 | 94.7% | 4.7% | 0.28% | 0.23% | 0.15% |
How has the Trainline and TrainPal comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Trainline was ahead of TrainPal in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Trainline’s share of searches among train ticket retailers in the United Kingdom moved from 95.3% to 94.7%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 4.1M.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, TrainPal’s share of searches among train ticket retailers in the United Kingdom moved from 3.8% to 4.7%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 165K to 201K.
How did search popularity change for United Kingdom train ticket retailers in September 2026?
1 change
Estimated monthly branded searches for TrainPal in the United Kingdom rose 21.8% over 12 measured months, from 165K to 201K in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Trainline’s and TrainPal’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Put your own brand in this comparison
Brandwave tracks your branded demand next to the rival you actually watch, with your campaigns, spend and outcomes on the same timeline.