History Trainline

former logo thetrainline.com

it created in 1997 , online ticket sales began in 1999. trainline ltd formerly part of virgin group , owned private equity investors , management. business expanded in 2000s, acquiring main online competitor qjump national express in february 2004.

in addition online service provided direct customers operated under own brands trainline , qjump, provides website services 8 of 20 uk train operating companies sell tickets online under own brands, providing rail business travel service direct number of large blue chip corporations, travel management companies , travel agents. trainline provides call centre service number of customers referred above.

in july 2006, exponent private equity acquired trainline £168 million. trainline bought consortium of shareholders included virgin, stagecoach , national express transport groups.

in july 2007, trainline acquired advanced smartcard technologies , ecebs ltd, signalling new strategy enter smartcard market. ecebs subsequently sold bell id in november 2012.

in 2008, trainline started supplying newbury data nd4020 rail ticket printers , self-service kiosks corporate , travel management clients. customers able collect ticket on 1000 railway stations.

the company bought exponent private equity firm kkr in january 2015.

in august 2015, company announced had changed name thetrainline.com trainline.

in 2016, trainline extended offer captain train include european rail routes. since september 2016, captain train website accessible @ www.trainline.eu. captain train logo , colour schemes have been changed trainline colours, though interface , product remains same.