Android app for rail tickets?

Pawnless Endgame · 22 Oct 2018 at 05:05

Stafford is a redneck town stuck in the 1950s, but as I get nearer to cities, I see people showing their phones to the train conductor. They're showing digital versions of their tickets. Searching Google comes up with National Rail Enquiries, Train Tickets, The Train Line, then some of the operators have their own app too.

Is there a universal app for this or do I need to install the separate ones? Preferably one where I can scan the paper ticket or if confirmed by email - scan in the QR code. I'm going from Stafford to London Euston this Saturday. What I've been given are QR codes that are scannable from A4 paper and I also got them in emails. The hard copies and emails don't say which operator but will probably be either London-Midlands or Virgin.

Cheers :-)

uvarvu · 22 Oct 2018 at 08:07

What matters to you the most? Convenience or money?
If it's convenience then the app for the TOC you're travelling with will probably offer digital tickets.
But if it's money then forget all that and buy your tickets here:

https://www.splitticketing.com/

Pawnless Endgame · 22 Oct 2018 at 16:18

Thanks! Both of your suggestions look handy, so I'll bookmark the site and will use a bit of both.

Stusteel · 22 Oct 2018 at 16:45

Or an app that is like split ticketting is "trainpal"
You still need to buy physical tickets but it is a start.

superleeds27 · 27 Oct 2018 at 09:29

I use Trainline for everything, rather than using the awful apps from independent operators

ljop · 27 Oct 2018 at 12:25

There is no universal app for virtual tickets, unfortunately (same if you buy them from the TOCs website). I would also rather use split ticketing, although (more and more frequently) the prices it states and the savings are not all that much (if anything compared to the TOC). I would also recommend checking the cheap fare finder portion of the national rail website which has saved me around £20 in the past week (from two one way tickets).

I'd avoid Trainline, as although it is easy to use, the 75p (or whatever else it decides based on the ticket value) booking fee is not worth it.