The first alternative to Trainline. Before apps. Before split ticketing went mainstream.

Raileasy was already on the move, and helping travellers save money.

It all started with a pint in a Covent Garden pub. No product. No pitch deck.
Just two strangers sketching ideas on the back of a fag packet.

We got chatting and the rest is history, says Giorgio Sikking.
We set off on an adventure without knowing where it would end up — just aiming for the stars.

That scribbled idea turned into a company that would go on to save UK rail travellers over £68 million —
simply by showing them smarter, fairer ways to travel.

Over the years, Raileasy has quietly powered everything from independent travel startups to pan-European journey planners. Behind the scenes, its tech has supported millions of travellers and dozens of trusted partners, all working towards a simpler, fairer way to get from A to B.

We saw the potential for selling travel online, recalls Mike Richardson.
This was the early internet, there was no Google. Yahoo used to list a dozen new sites a day.

From day one, they weren’t trying to be loud.
They were trying to make things work — better, cheaper, faster.

This is the story of Raileasy Ltd. A quiet disruptor. A digital-first innovator. And a company that believed, from the very beginning, that travel could be better, and fairer, for everyone.

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The day it all began

25 June 1995. Ferries Trains Planes Ltd (FTPL) officially opened its doors.

Their first project? France Holiday Store — one of the UK’s earliest online travel directories, focused on French getaways.
It wasn’t about trains just yet. But even then, the mission was clear:

Use technology to make complex journeys simple.
Make pricing transparent. Give control back to the traveller.

Or, as Giorgio put it:

You can’t book what you can’t see.

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Defining Moments: 1995–2025

Raileasy’s story is one of pioneering moves, and a long list of quiet industry firsts:

Through recessions, rail franchising chaos, and a pandemic, they stayed on track, building tools others couldn’t, or wouldn’t.

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No suits. No slogans. Just Impact.

They never bought billboards.
They never led with slogans.

Instead, they solved real problems:

• Confusing fares → simplified

• Closed systems → opened

• High prices → challenged, with legal alternatives

While others upsold travellers into default tickets, Raileasy showed them how to pay less,
using the same trains, with smarter booking.

Their tools made it easy. Their API opened doors for others.
And their mission stayed constant: use technology to make rail travel fairer.

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What kept them going?

A vision far ahead of its time
Before “digital transformation” was a buzzword, they lived it.

Products built for people, not investors
Solutions designed to reduce stress, not maximise margins.

A steady, mission-led compass
They weren’t the loudest. But they showed up, again and again, with answers.

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From Pint to Platform

From a pub conversation to a national platform.
From ferry directories to split ticketing.
From scribbles on a fag packet to over £68 million in savings.

This is the story of two founders, Giorgio and Mike, who saw possibility before anyone else did, and kept showing up to build it.

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What’s Next?

On 16 April 2025, the company officially became Raileasy Ltd, reclaiming its original spirit and setting course for the next era.

It’s more than a name change. It’s a recommitment:

We looked ahead and realised our mission hasn’t changed, says Joe Sikking, Director at Raileasy.

We’re still all about making rail travel better for everyone. We’re proud of what we’ve built so far, but there’s plenty more to do. This next chapter is about growing bigger, reaching more people, and pushing for real, meaningful change.

• To fairness in fares

• To building tech that empowers people

• To simplifying the journey

Because Raileasy has never just been about selling train tickets.
It’s been about unlocking access. Challenging the norm. Creating choice.

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So, to Giorgio and Mike — thank you.

For your vision, your grit, and your belief in a better way.

And to our shareholders — past and present — thank you for believing in the mission and helping us build what’s next.

And to the team carrying that vision forward today, and to everyone who’s been part of this journey, thank you.

Because the best part of this story?
It’s still being written.

As we enter our fourth decade, our goals remain clear:
Better visibility. Better value. Fairer fares for all.

Whether it’s smarter algorithms, richer data integrations, or pushing for industry reform, Raileasy will keep putting passengers first.

Here’s to the next 30 years.

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Download the TrainSplit app

Looking for the easiest way to save on train travel?

Download the TrainSplit app for iOS or Android and find cheaper fares in seconds – powered by the same Raileasy technology that’s been saving UK travellers money for nearly 30 years.

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Whether you’ve been with us since the France Holiday Store days, or just found us through a quick fare search, we’re glad you’re here.

Try us next time you travel. You might just be surprised how much you save.