Skyscanner adds no-fee train booking feature to app

Travelers in the United Kingdom can now use Skyscanner’s iOS app to compare and book train tickets.

Tickets can be purchased in the app and without any booking fees; travelers can also use a railcard to complete the purchase.

The new train service is powered by Trip.com, the international travel booking service owned by Skyscanner’s parent company, Ctrip. Trip.com will also facilitate bookings and provide 24-hour customer service.

"Being part of the Ctrip group allows us to take advantage of elements of Ctrip’s technology and experience and bring that value to Skyscanner’s travelers,” says Bryan Dove, CTO at Skyscanner. 

“The launch of our train booking product is one such example. Our focus has always been on making travel as easy as possible and our new train feature will do just that, with the benefit of no booking fees."

Skyscanner says its app - which also offers flights, hotels and car rentals - has been downloaded more than 70 million times, and mobile users account for more than 60% of the platform’s traffic.

For now, the train feature is only available for iOS app users based in the UK. An Android version will launch soon.