What are digital tickets?
An eticket and Mobile Ticket are two different types of digital ticket. We’ll show you whichever option is available for your route when you book.
Choose these when booking your journey with us and scan them directly from your phone, no need to queue at the station or print.
Book on our app and it’s even easier, as all your tickets are kept in one place.
etickets
An eticket comes as a PDF attached to an email, which you can open directly or forward to another passenger, if you’re booking on their behalf. You can also view your etickets in our app.
How to use an eticket
- Open the email we send you with the PDF(s) attached – this is separate to your booking confirmation email
- If you like, you can add the eticket(s) to our app or Apple Wallet
- Scan the QR code from your phone at the ticket gate at the station, or show to staff
Group bookings
If you’re travelling as a group using etickets, the lead passenger can forward the PDF attachments, so you can each open your ticket on your own device. Groups with etickets that have a GroupSave discount applied must travel together.
Mobile Tickets
Mobile Tickets are just like etickets, except you open them directly in our app and you need to ‘activate’ the ticket before you use it. Mobile Tickets can’t be shared or used on more than one device.
How to use a Mobile Ticket
- Open our app and go to My Tickets
- Tap your Mobile Ticket to activate it just before you travel – once activated, you can’t request a refund
- Scan the QR code from your phone at the ticket gate at the station, or show to staff
Group bookings
Mobile Tickets will be available in the lead passenger’s Trainline app, you can’t share the tickets with the group. You must travel together, regardless of whether you’re using GroupSave discount
sTickets
sTickets are just like eTickets but provide you with a dynamic barcode for extra security and are used to enable us to sell digital season tickets. sTicket seasons can be bought on web and app but can only be used in app.
How to use an sTicket
- Open our app and go to My Tickets
- Download your season ticket to bind to your device
- Tap “View ticket” to create a QR code which can be scanned at the ticket gate at the station, or show to staff
Digital vs. Paper Tickets
Digital tickets are a convenient, electronic version of your train tickets that you can easily access on your phone or device. On the other hand, paper tickets are printed, and you'll need to bring them along for your trip.
Both types of tickets get you on board, but digital tickets are perfect if you prefer a paperless option that’s always at your fingertips.
Before completing your payment, you'll have the option to choose how you’d like to receive your ticket. You can either collect a paper ticket at the station or have it delivered to your address.
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