UK ticket sales in the first quarter fell to £67 million, just 8% of prior year levels, as many customers sought refunds. That improved here in the second quarter, as lockdowns eased first overseas and then in the UK.
Trainline said demand for business travel still remained subdued during the period, but Gilmartin pointed to some encouraging signs.
Gilmartin said: “I’m pleased to now see the industry recovering, particularly in our international markets, as well as a faster shift to online reservation and digital ticketing, as anticipated, given the increased need for touchless travel.”
Numis analyst Gareth Davies said Trainline should be “a significant beneficiary of an accelerated move to digital tickets”.
Trainline added it outperformed cost saving targets for the first half and continues to have sufficient liquidity to operate for the foreseeable future.
