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Terna

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FY2019 Annual Report · Terna
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The world’s leading 
independent rail and 
coach travel platform

Annual Report 2019/20 

 
 
 
 
trainline.com

1

Trainline is the world’s leading independent 
rail and coach travel platform. We bring 
together all rail, coach and other travel 
services into one simple experience, 
so that customers can get the best 
prices and smart, real time travel data.

In this report

Strategic Report
Chair’s Statement and FY’20 Highlights 
CEO’s Statement 
Our Business Model  
Our Strategy 
Key Performance Indicators 
CFO’s Financial Highlights 
Principal Risks and Uncertainties 
Our People and Culture 
Stakeholder Engagement  
Non-Financial Information Statement 

2
6
8
16
18
20
24
31
36
39

Governance
42
Chair’s Governance Statement 
46
Our Board of Directors 
51
Report of the Nomination Committee 
Report of the Audit and Risk Committee 
54
Directors’ Remuneration Report and Policy  58
76
Directors’ Report 
79
Statement of Directors’ Responsibilities 

Financial Statements
Independent Auditors’ Report 
Consolidated Income Statement 
Consolidated Statement of Other 
Comprehensive Income 
Consolidated Statement of  
Financial Position 
Consolidated Statement of Changes  
in Equity 
Consolidated Cash Flow Statement 
Notes to the Consolidated  
Financial Statements 
Parent Company Statement of 
Financial Position 
Parent Company Statement of  
Changes in Equity 
Notes to the Parent Company  
Financial Statements 
Alternative Performance Measures 

82
90

91

92

93
94

95

128

129

130
132

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20 2

Chair’s Statement

Brian McBride
Independent Non-executive Chair

“I believe Trainline has 
a huge opportunity 
ahead and I look 
forward to working 
with the Board and 
wider team to deliver 
on its strategy in the 
coming years.”

Following our IPO in June 2019 and my 
appointment as Chair in November, I am 
pleased to introduce my first annual 
report as Chair of Trainline.

I believe Trainline has a huge opportunity 
ahead and I look forward to working with 
the Board and wider team to deliver on 
its strategy in the coming years.

Financial and Strategic Results

Trainline has performed strongly over the 
year, both financially and strategically. 
As the leading independent booking and 
journey platform for rail and coach travel 
we have encouraged people all over the 
world to make more environmentally 
sustainable travel choices. 

The Board is keenly focused on the Group’s 
financial and strategic performance. 

In brief, the Group outperformed the 
financial expectations set out at the IPO, 
despite headwinds such as long-lasting 
rail strikes in France over the last quarter 
of the financial year.

Good progress was made on our 
strategic priorities: enhancing the 
customer experience; building demand; 
and optimising revenue. While Trainline 
for Business (T4B, our business-to-
business and white label solutions 
business) has seen some challenges, 
we have made progress positioning the 
business for growth.

The Board will continue to closely monitor 
the Group’s performance against financial 
and strategic priorities. 

Response to COVID-19

I am pleased with Trainline’s response to 
COVID-19, particularly the way the Group 
prioritised the wellbeing of our people 
while supporting customers during these 
unprecedented times. The Group quickly 
adapted to manage extraordinary levels of 
inbound customer requests and worked 
with the rail industry to relax refund terms 
and conditions for the benefit of 
our customers.

In addition, the Group took prudent steps 
to mitigate the impact on the business, 
reducing its operating costs and cash 
outflows. Together with the Group’s 
liquidity headroom, this gives me great 
confidence that the Group can continue 
to operate through even an extended 
downturn period, whilst maintaining 
our investment in the Group’s 
strategic priorities.

Outlook

While it is a challenging time for the 
industry, longer-term the structural 
tailwinds for the business endure.

With increased awareness of the 
environmental benefits of rail travel, 
growing investment in the industry,  
a migration to online ticket and even 
more digitisation and liberalisation trends 
in European rail, we have never been 
more confident in the huge 
opportunity ahead.

By maintaining our investment in the 
Group’s strategic priorities at this time we 
will be well-positioned to drive long-term 
growth and create value for our customers 
and shareholders.

Finally, I would like to convey my thanks 
to all those who have been involved with 
Trainline in the past year, particularly our 
people’s efforts to drive our growth and to 
all those involved in the IPO for their hard 
work in making it such a success.

Brian McBride
Independent Non-executive Chair
7 May 2020

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20Financial Highlights

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20 

3

Net ticket sales

+17%

Net ticket sales up 17% year on year 
to £3.7 billion in line with guidance. 

Revenue

+24%

Revenue increased 24% to 
£261 million, at the top end 
of guidance.

Adjusted EBITDA

+62%

Adjusted EBITDA increased by 62%  
to £85 million driven by volume 
growth and the operating leverage 
achieved across our cost base.

Operating profit 

£2m

Operating profit down 78% to 
£2 million, primarily driven by 
exceptional costs relating to  
the IPO. 

Operating free cashflow

£59m

Operating free cash flow up 39% 
to £59 million, driven by growth in 
adjusted EBITDA and a reduction in 
capital expenditure partly offset by 
working capital timing.

Strategic highlights in 2020

Enhancing user experience: 
>20% conversion rate growth; 4.9/5 star app rating.

Building demand:  
90 million visits per month, up 19%; App share  
of transactions 76%, up 10%pts.

Optimising revenue:  
Driving up take-rate in UK Consumer +c40bps,  
International +c110bps.

Growing Trainline for Business (T4B):  
First clients on Global API; white label  
retention since IPO.

1  Highlights that are key performance indicators are detailed further on page 18.

2  Detail on performance against our strategic objectives can be found on page 16.

4

At a Glance
At a glance

Trainline is the world’s leading independent rail and coach 
travel platform. We partner with more than 270 rail and 
coach companies across 45 countries, in Europe and Asia. 
Our broad range of carrier partners mean we cover ~80% 
of EU rail and ~60% of coach routes in Europe.

We are a one-stop shop for rail and coach travel, bringing together 
major carriers onto one platform, providing our customers with 
a complete set of travel options and offering unique, AI-driven 
information to help our customers stay one step ahead. For our 
carrier partners, Trainline offers access to a huge pool of customers 
at relatively low cost.

90m visits

32.4m cumulative 
group app downloads

84% mobile

>160

Train companies

90m

visits hosted by our 
platforms, per month

4.9/5

app star rating

>110

Coach companies

We sell tickets on behalf 
of more than 270 rail 
and coach companies 
and are adding more all 
the time.

76%

of our transactions  
are through app

30m+

cumulative Group 
app downloads

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20Countries where Trainline 

has carrier partnerships

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20 

5

175+

countries

our customers come 
from 175+ countries.

€

10

currencies

and multiple 
payment methods 
including Apple Pay, 
PayPal, SOFORT 
and iDEAL.

45

countries

travelled in and 
across by Trainline  
customers.

>600

in Trainline team

and more than  
40 nationalities,  
including 300+  
travel tech specialists  
and engineers.

6

CEO’s Statement

Clare Gilmartin
Chief Executive Officer

“We are pleased  
to have delivered a 
strong performance 
over this past year,  
in particular, to  
have exceeded 
expectations set  
at IPO for FY’20 
Revenue growth 
and EBITDA.”

Our purpose 

We believe as a generation that we have 
to make more environmentally friendly 
travel choices, and rail in particular is 
a great alternative to air and car. 
Our purpose at Trainline is to make rail 
and coach travel easier, and we do that 
by combining all carriers into one app, 
and creating a simple, consistent friction 
free experience. We leverage our scale 
in data to create smart real time, often 
personalised and AI driven travel 
information. And for our carriers, we 
offer access to a much bigger customer 
pool, at a lower cost to serve than 
their alternatives.

Impact of COVID-19  
and mitigants

Given government lockdown restrictions 
across our markets, we have seen a 
significant reduction in passenger 
volumes since March. As a result, 
we have taken quick and decisive 
action to protect our people, our 
customers, and our business. 

We supported our customers in making 
an unprecedented level of travel 
changes, whilst maintaining the safety 
and wellbeing of our people. In addition, 
we have significantly reduced our cash 
burn to £8–9million per month by 
reducing costs. As a result, we are well 
positioned to weather this downturn, 
expecting to have £150 million of 
liquidity headroom at the end May. 

Whilst the short-term disruption to 
rail and coach travel is significant, 
we believe our long term growth 
opportunity remains unchanged. 
We have therefore continued our 
investment in our strategic priorities.

Operating and  
Strategic progress

We delivered net ticket sales growth 
over the year of 17%, and delivered 
revenue growth of 24%, ahead of 
expectations set at the IPO. In addition, 
we have continued to experience strong 
operating leverage resulting in adjusted 
EBITDA growth of 62% to £85 million, 
also ahead of expectations. 

We have four stated strategic priorities, 
enhancing customer experience, 
building demand, optimising revenues 
and growing Trainline for Business, 
and we have made significant progress 
this year on each.

Enhancing customer experience

We have continued to improve our 
customer experience this year, 
evidenced by a continued high app 
rating (4.9*) and a >20% improvement 
in our conversion rate across the Group. 
In addition we launched our SplitSave 
feature in the UK, allowing customers 
to save money and resulting in a very 
significant increase in post-purchase 
NPS of +43%. We continued to drive 
adoption of etickets, now at 21% in the 
UK. We also continued to improve our 
International experience, optimising for 
speed and improving core flows, as well 
as adding post-sale functionality.

The last 12 months have seen us increase 
the number of rail and coach carrier 
partners (from 220 to more than 270), 
notably adding the Swiss carrier SBB. 
Through the breadth of our partnerships, 
depth of our individual connections and 
our unique cross carrier journey planner, 
we now offer customers the best route 
options for their journeys in and across 
45 countries. 

Trainline Annual Report 2019/207

Building demand

As well as focusing on our customer 
experience, we have accelerated 
demand growth in all markets whilst 
maintaining a low cost per new 
customer. We have focused significant 
effort in driving app growth, where 
customers benefit from many more 
features, resulting in downloads growing 
49% year-on-year YOY), over half of 
which came from International. 
Monthly visits to our platform grew 
by 19% to 90 million, with 76% of 
transactions through our app.

Optimising revenues

The launch and growth of new revenue 
streams over the past year have allowed 
us to both enhance the customer 
experience whilst also delivering strong 
growth in our take rate for both our 
UK and International business. 
Notable examples include multi-
currency payment options, International 
service fees, tiered refund fees and 
insurance across app and web. 

Growing Trainline for Business

We have made good progress 
positioning for future growth in our 
Trainline for Business segment, which 
constitutes our business to business 
(B2B) and white label sub-segments. 
In the UK, we launched etickets for 
corporates and travel management 
companies, and we built out and 
launched our Global API, with our first 
clients already transacting through the 
platform. Our Global API provides us 
with a platform to enter new markets 
and scale the B2B business 
internationally. Additionally, our white 
label service sustained its high retention 
rate, retaining both franchises up for 
tender this year – East Midlands Railway 
and West Coast Mainline.

The market 
Looking at the broader market, 
governments across our markets have 
been quick to support the rail industry 
through the COVID-19 pandemic. 
The UK Government has introduced 
emergency measures that have allowed 
rail franchises to temporarily shift to a 
management contract model in place 
of traditional franchising. Likewise, in 
Europe the EU and its member states 
have introduced sectoral support for 
travel companies and rail carriers.

We are very supportive of these 
measures given the reassurance they 
give to the industry and to customers. 

While it’s a challenging time for the 
industry, longer-term the structural 
tailwinds for our business endure. 
We operate in a large market, with 
continued expansion investment across 
Europe most notably in high-speed rail. 
We are also seeing a growing awareness 
of the environmental benefits of rail 
and coach, versus air and car travel. 
There still remains significant digital 
migration opportunity, both evidenced 
by low online penetration today, and the 
eticket growth opportunity in the UK. 
Finally, the liberalisation trend in the 
European rail industry continues on the 
back of the EU’s Fourth Railway Package, 
notably with additional carriers set to 
start operations in the French and 
Spanish markets this year.

These long-term structural tailwinds 
continue to represent a real growth 
opportunity for us. We are proud of the 
progress we are making, and that, by 
making rail and coach travel as simple, 
seamless and affordable as possible, we 
are encouraging more people to travel 
by two of the most sustainable modes 
of transport.

People and culture 
Culture is central to our success. 
Our first thought is always to our 
customers and our culture is no 
different. We start by asking what our 
customers need and want and then 
bring our curiosity to the challenge, 
to work out how we can do things better 
and solve the problems to make our 
customers lives easier. We always think 
big, but we try to keep things simple 
both in how we get things done and in 
developing our products. We truly 
believe our work has a genuine impact 
on customers’ lives and will change 
travel for the better. 

Our culture is one where trust is 
important. We build this trust through 
being honest and open, and taking 
ownership for doing the things we say 
we’re going to do. We are solving 
problems that have never been solved 
before and sometimes that’s hard, but 
we tackle everything with positivity and 
try to be the person we want to 
work with. 

Everyone has busy lives away from 
Trainline and so we work hard to 
empower our people to work flexibly 
if they need to, so they can take care of 
what matters most to them when they 
are not at work. 

We believe that through creating a high 
trust culture, where people can balance 
their lives and be themselves, everyone 
in the team can bring their best selves to 
work. This culture enables us to attract 
the most talented and diverse team we 
can, so we can continue to deliver great 
products, and so have the most positive 
impact possible on our customers’ lives. 

Clare Gilmartin
Chief Executive Officer
7 May 2020

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20 8

Our Business Model

Trainline is the leading independent rail and coach travel platform, 
benefiting significantly from scale throughout our operations. 

How we  
create value
We have built a simple and intuitive 
customer experience, which in turn 
attracts a large customer base across 
B2C and B2B/TOC white label. 

We have invested significantly in 
building out our inventory, which 
ensures our customers see all options 
and best prices. This scale has enabled 
us to amass significant data, which we 
use to make our operations more 
efficient, to inform the development of 
new bespoke features for our 
customers, and even to create bespoke 
and proprietary smart data features.

This is all underpinned by our 
proprietary, modern and agile tech 
platform, our people and our strong 
and diversified revenue model.

Superior customer
experience

Bespoke features/
personalisation

Large B2C
customer base

Proprietary, modern,
agile platform

Powerful 
data assets

Loyal B2B
customer base

Breadth of carriers
and ticket options

People

Revenue model

Leadership

At Trainline, we pride ourselves on 
having diverse and exceptional talent. 
We’ve a highly talented team of over  
600 people of 40 nationalities, spread 
between our offices in London, Paris and 
Edinburgh, 300+ of whom are travel 
technology specialists and engineers. 
For more information on our People,  
see page 31.

Trainline is paid commission by rail and 
coach operators on ticket sales and 
generates revenue from booking fees, 
ancillary services such as travel 
insurance, selective advertising 
partnerships, our multi-currency 
platform and through white label 
products developed for and provided 
to rail companies.

Our Board and Management Team 
are comprised of experienced, 
knowledgeable and highly qualified 
people from a variety of industries, 
including world-class global tech 
companies. As a team, we’ve in-depth 
experience in Technology, Product, 
Government Relations, the rail industry, 
Travel and Hospitality, Finance, Online 
Retail, Marketing, Growth and 
Entrepreneurship; a great combination 
geared to deliver the best possible 
customer experience. For more 
information about our Board, see page 
46 and 47.

Trainline Annual Report 2019/209

Superior customer experience

Search: all options,  
best prices

All options in one place 
instantaneously. Fastest and 
cheapest routes, simple and 
hassle free.

Simple self service

Smart Travel companion

Friction-free self-serve 
purchase and post-transaction. 
Mobile tickets, Price Prediction, 
in 14 languages, with ten 
currencies and payment  
methods.

Smart departure boards, 
platform and delay information. 
Unique, AI-driven travel 
information for travellers when 
they’re on the go.

Smart, ancillary & 
recommendations

Individually relevant, high 
quality recommendations 
and services, including 
multi-currency payment  
options and travel insurance.

Large B2C customer base

Loyal B2B customer base

We have worked hard to build our 
well-known, reputable and trusted 
brand, now serving customers in more 
than 175 countries and with our platforms 
hosting over 90 million visits per month. 

Trainline provides rail booking solutions 
for thousands of small and medium 
enterprises (‘SMEs’), large corporate 
entities, public sector partners, travel 
management companies and charities.

We provide business accounts for 
companies to manage their corporate 
train travel in a single place, season 
ticket employee benefit solution and, 
through our recently launched Global 
API, we aggregate rail content 
worldwide with all local features into 
one simple connection, giving our B2B 
clients the opportunity to offer European 
rail to their customers.

Breadth of carriers and 
ticket options

Trainline has deep inventory connections 
with >270 rail and coach operators, 
bringing major carriers onto one 
platform. We currently cover ~80% 
of the European rail network and are 
partnering with more operators all 
the time. 

For our carrier partners, we offer access 
to a huge pool of global customers at 
low cost. And for our white label train 
carrier partners, we offer access to our 
best-in-class retailing platform at a 
fraction of the cost to build stand-alone.

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20 10

Our Business Model continued

Proprietary, modern, agile platform 

1. Reliable, scalable, secure

3.  Customer-centric e-commerce 

5.  Security, payments, fulfilment, 

•  100% cloud

•  300+ engineers

•  300+ releases/week

•  >500 microservices, increasing  

speed of development, flexibility 
and scalability

•  Simple ‘1 click’ UX: hides 

industry complexity

•  Proprietary multi carrier/ 
modal journey planner

•  Multi-product basket

2. Deep inventory connections

4. Personalised AI data products 

•  >270 carriers

•  Rail + coach

•  Pre and post-sales

•  Real-time data

•  ~2–3 TB data processed a day

•  135 bn search results

•  1 bn train movements per year

•  Bespoke AI driven features

•  Add-on travel services: insurance, etc.

•  Personalised UX & CRM

fraud safeguards 

•  PCI-DSS Level 1 (Merchant & Service 

Provider) since 2013

•  Cyber Essentials certification  

since 2017

•  Active member of the BSIMM 

community, an exclusive community 
of leading firms in the software 
development field

•  Internal standards aligned with 

ISO27001 certification

•  3DS version 2 ready

•  Payment Services Directive II Secure 

Customer Authentication ready 

•  Industry leading Fraud to Sales ratio

•  Industry leading Bank Accept Rates

300+

releases a week

135bn

search results

>500

microservices

Mark Holt
Chief Technology Officer

“Our ability to bring together teams 
comprising developers, designers, 
infrastructure and data scientists to  
create an amazing customer experience  
is what defines us.” 

Trainline Annual Report 2019/2011

Powerful data assets

Using unique, AI-driven information to provide an exceptional customer experience

User-generated data

Geo-data

Real-time travel information

Journey and price data

Platform data

Delay and disruption data

Transactional data

Machine-generated data 

Customer engagement data

Bespoke features/personalisation

Smart features and travel information, helping our customers stay one step ahead

Price Prediction

Best fare finder

Delay and disruption info 

Busybot

SplitSave 

At Trainline we are passionate about 
helping our customers save as much 
money on train travel as possible. 
We recently launched SplitSave, which 
gives customers access to ‘split tickets’ 
on eligible routes across the UK, offering 
them the chance to make savings on 
thousands of journeys nationwide.

•  Using machine-learning, we analyse 
~12 billion lines of fares and journey 
data for best prices

•  SplitSave covers 64% of routes 

in the UK

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20 12

Market Overview

Trainline operates in a large, global market with multiple structural tailwinds. 
These include continued industry investment in capacity expansion, growing 
environmental awareness, a shift towards greater supply complexity and 
fragmentation, and a significant runway for digital migration.

Large and expanding market

Reports estimate the global rail and coach market to be worth over €225bn per 
annum, of which Europe represents over €70bn1. This gives Trainline significant 
headroom in which to grow. 

In the UK, over the past 20 years rail 
journeys have increased by 97%, faster 
than any other mode of transport2. 
In 2018/19, there was a record 1.8 billion 
rail journeys and rail passenger revenue 
reached its highest ever level of 
£10 billion2. At the same time, UK 
government support for rail has increased 
in line with passenger journeys since 
the mid-1980s. In 2018/19, government 
investment was £7 billion, its second-
highest level on record (in real terms)2. 
Looking ahead, the UK Government 
is investing a record £48 billion in 
the railway between now and 2024 
to support continued growth3, ensure 
rail remains an attractive option for 
passengers, and to maximise the shift of 
users to rail from more polluting modes.

Across Europe, there is £176 billion of rail 
investment planned over the next ten 
years4. In particular, high-speed rail 
kilometres are forecast to grow three-
fold by 20305, with significant expansion 
planned in Spain, France, Germany and 
Italy over the next ten years.

UK trips per person per year for car2

11%

678

602

2002

2018

UK trips per person per year for rail2

64%

22

13

2002

2018

€225bn+

total Market1

3x

triple the length of existing high-speed 
rail network in EU by 20305

1  OC&C, based on 2017 market data 

2  Department for Transport Rail Factsheet, published December 2019

3  Decarbonising transport: Setting the Challenge, Department for Transport, March 2020

4  OC&C, based on 2017 market data. Does not include rail infrastructure projects listed as completed or cancelled

5  OC&C, based on 2017 market data

Trainline Annual Report 2019/2013

Growing environmental awareness

We need to make more environmentally sustainable transport choices.

For travellers, road travel is becoming 
less attractive over time, with increasing 
congestion, slowing road speeds in city 
centres, and growing taxation (e.g. 
congestion charge zones in London, 
Milan, Stockholm, and Gothenburg). 
In addition, travellers are becoming 
more aware of the pollutive effects 
of air travel, and are modifying their 
behaviours as a result – a recent UBS 
survey found that 21% of people had 
reduced the number of flights they 
took over the last year8.

At Trainline, we aim to make rail and 
coach travel easier, and to help 
customers make more environmentally 
sustainable travel choices. Over the past 
year governments across the world have 
pledged to reduce transport emissions, 
and in particular in the UK and across 
Europe, governments are targeting net 
zero emissions by 20506.

Rail is a relatively low carbon form of 
transport, generating less than 1/20 of 
the CO2 emissions of air travel and less 
than 1/7 of the CO2 emissions compared 
with road transport7, and is a very 
efficient way of moving people into city 
centres and over long distances. In 2018, 
greenhouse gas emissions from rail 
(passenger and freight) made up just 
1.4% of the UK’s domestic transport 
emissions3, while 10% of passenger miles 
travelled in Great Britain were by rail3. 

<1/20

of CO2 Emissions vs. air and <1/7 vs. car7

6  https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_20_335

7  European Environment Agency Study (2014)

8  UBS Global Aerospace & Airlines: Consumers’ climate awareness on the rise; assessing the impact on traffic and places demand, 30 September 2019

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20 14

Market Overview continued

Complex with growing fragmentation 

Trainline operates in a fragmented market with over 400 rail carriers in Europe9, 
30 in the UK10, and over 140 coach companies, with that number increasing over 
time driven by ongoing liberalisation of the European rail sector.

UK

Europe

UK passenger rail services are delivered 
by 30 operators (‘TOCs’). This includes 
(i) those franchised by the Department 
for Transport or Transport Scotland; 
(ii) those with a concession agreement 
whereby they deliver services without 
taking on any revenue risk; and (iii) Open 
Access Operators which obtain track 
access rights from Network Rail to run 
individual routes10.

•  Germany – c.30% of the annual 

volume of rail kilometres has been put 
out to public tender already, with a 
variety of private companies operating 
long-distance and regional rail 
connections, including Flixtrain 
and Transdev; 

•  Austria, Sweden – new entrants 
Westbahn and MTR Express, 
respectively, have generated 
incremental demand for rail.

Major carrier competitors have more 
recently announced plans to offer 
services outside of their domestic 
markets, such as Trenitalia in France and 
SNCF in Spain, providing more choice 
and quality for customers and more 
competitive fares. 

Increasing and fragmenting supply at 
national, long-distance and regional 
levels should intensify competition 
amongst operators, enhancing Trainline’s 
market-fit. For consumers, Trainline 
serves as an independent aggregator 
that provides an extensive, fully 
transparent range of carriers and routes 
and an excellent customer experience. 
For carriers looking to grow, Trainline 
offers a world-class technology platform 
and a wide customer reach, particularly 
useful when entering new markets. 

Liberalisation and supply fragmentation 
of the rail and coach markets is unfolding 
across Continental Europe today. 
There has been a series of European 
Commission directives aimed at 
encouraging competition across 
Europe’s railways and facilitating 
efficient transport systems that operate 
effectively across borders, the latest 
directive being the Fourth Railway 
Package, which mandates competition 
in every EU rail market, starting in 2020 
and finalised by 202311. 

This has created an environment 
supportive of market volume growth, 
and a growing opportunity for 
independent retailers, with many of the 
c.400 European rail carriers being new 
entrants within the last 15 years9. 

Examples of liberalisation to date in 
Europe include12: 

•  France – as of January 2019, the 

French government formally began 
to open up the main domestic 
passenger railway lines. Two of the 
major cross-country routes previously 
operated by SNCF (Nantes – Bordeaux 
and Lyon – Nantes) were put out to 
public tender;

•  Italy – NTV Italo trains entered the 

Italian high-speed rail market after it 
opened up to competition in 2012. 
They now operate across 25 stations 
and have gained significant market 
share from the Italian national 
provider Trenitalia; 

Trainline Annual Report 2019/2015

Runway for migration to online and mobile

Today we estimate only c.39% of rail and coach ticket purchases are made online12 
across Europe, compared to c.86% of journeys by air12. This represents significant 
online growth headroom. 

Likewise in the UK, industry penetration 
of mobile eticketing has grown 50% 
in the past year to c.21%, yet there is 
significant further headroom for further 
growth, with eticket availability of  
c.71%. We expect continued growth 
in both online sales, and etickets, 
as consumers seek out best prices 
and greater convenience.

Online sales penetration 
in Europe12

86%

E-ticket availability and 
penetration in UK13

>2x

39%

71%

>3x

21%

Rail

Air (LCC)

Penetration

Availability

Governmental support for the rail industry in response to COVID-19

In both the UK and across Europe, Governments have been quick to support the 
rail sector in mitigating the impact of COVID-19.

UK

On 23 March 2020, in response to 
the effects of the Coronavirus, the UK 
government temporarily transitioned 
franchised train operators onto 
Emergency Measures Agreements. 
The agreements transferred all revenue 
and cost risk to the government, with 
operators continuing to run day-to-day 
services for a small, pre-determined 
management fee. They have been put in 
place for an initial six months, allowing 
the railway to stay open for the full 
duration of the crisis14.

Trainline strongly welcomes these 
measures as they provide greater 
flexibility to operators and the 
government at a time when they need it. 

They ensure core services remain in 
place for key workers, with the option 
of ramping up activity quickly when 
the situation warrants it. The agreements 
do not affect any of Trainline’s 
arrangements with operators and we 
continue to liaise closely with both them 
and the Department for Transport on a 
variety of different points.

Europe

As in the UK, the EU and its member 
states have introduced tax relief for 
businesses and sectoral support for 
travel trade associations and EU carriers. 

We are very supportive of governmental 
support measures across our markets 
given the reassurance they give to the 
industry and to customers.

9  https://de.statista.com/statistik/daten/studie/13296/umfrage/anzahl-der-eisenbahnverkehrsunternehmen-in-europa/

10 https://www.thetrainline.com/train-companies

11  European Commission https://ec.europa.eu/transport/modes/rail/packages/2013_en

12 OC&C, based on 2017 market data

13 http://orr.gov.uk and internal data

14 https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/rail-emergency-measures-during-the-covid-19-pandemic

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20 16

Our Strategy

Our aim is to make rail and coach travel easier and to encourage our 
customers to make more environmentally sustainable travel choices.

Our strategic priorities:

Enhance the customer experience

Build demand

Optimise revenues

Grow Trainline for Business (T4B)

Customer experience is at the heart of our business. 
We invest in the best tech talent and innovative 
technologies, such as AI and machine learning, 
to deliver products that make rail and coach travel 
as smart, seamless and friction-free as possible.

Our ambition is to create a marketplace where the rail 
and coach inventory of all carriers globally is available in 
one convenient online experience – a leap forward in 
making travel more accessible. 

We remain committed to delivering the best possible 
Customer Experience and have a pipeline of new 
products and features enabling wide deployment across 
our different market segments, further strengthening 
Trainline’s position as the leading one-stop-shop for rail 
and coach travel.

Our addressable customer base remains large and the 
headroom for growth is significant. Having built a 
strong brand in the UK, increasingly centred around 
our 4.9-star rated mobile app, we are now deploying 
our marketing playbook globally to drive customer 
acquisition at scale and increase the frequency with 
which those customers engage and transact with us. 

As we grow demand, we are persuading more 
customers to choose greener modes of transport. 

Expanding our active user base and growing net ticket 

Trainline for Business today is primarily a UK-focused 

sales in our consumer businesses provides Trainline 

business segment. Trainline for Business comprises our 

with greater opportunity to optimise our revenues. 

business to business (B2B) sub-segment and our white 

We seek to optimise the revenue we generate 

label online solutions for train operating companies, 

(our revenue take rate) through the development and 

both of which offer significant headroom for growth.

roll-out of ancillary revenue streams across our markets, 

such as offering travel insurance options and serving 

targeted advertising. 

To position Trainline for Business for future growth, we 

are focused upon increasing demand from our existing 

customer accounts, winning new accounts and, over 

time, scaling Trainline for Business internationally.

Key measures

•  Eticket penetration

•  Conversion rate growth

•  App rating 

•  App downloads

•  App share of transactions

•  Number of visits

Progress in 2019/20

•  4.9/5 star app rating in the UK and now in International

•  Launched 000’Ks of new content pages in a further 

•  >20% conversation rate growth in our 

consumer business

•  Completed build of new, micro-service based global 
tech platform and migrated across all carriers and 
majority of our customer base. Paused migration of 
remaining customers given current disruption from 
COVID-19 and will resume once we see a recovery

•  Successfully launched SplitSave (Split-ticketing), 

driving high customer satisfaction

•  Driving adoption of etickets in the UK with eticket 

penetration up to 21%, of which >70% through Trainline 

10 languages for search engine optimisation

•  Rolled-out our own proprietary bidding engine to 

optimise pay-per-click advertising

•  Monthly visits up 19% to 90 million

•  Migrated web customers to app through scaled A/B 

testing across our web flows

•  Mobile app downloads grew 49%; >50% came from 

International

•  UK consumer app share of transactions up 10%pts 

to 76%

•  Take rate in UK Consumer and International

•    Growth of Global API

•  B2B win/retention rate

•  White label client win/retention rate

•  Launch of new revenue streams (multi-currency 

•  Successful launch of Global API, a platform to scale 

payments, flexible fees engine across our markets, 

T4B internationally, allowing B2B clients access to 

travel insurance and targeted advertising in the UK)

broad supply across the UK and Europe and meeting 

•  Increased revenue take rate for UK Consumer 

business by ~40 basis points, offsetting dilution from 

growth in on-the-day ticket sales

•  Increased revenue take rate for International business 

by ~110 basis points, enhancing monetisation in our 

less mature business

growing demand from corporate and SMEs for 

improved access to European rail. First clients live 

in the UK, France and Germany with strong pipeline 

•  Retained both white label clients up for tender 

of potential clients

since IPO

•  66% B2B win rate

Priorities for 2020/21 •  Investing in our strong pipeline of new innovation 

•  Marketing investment temporarily paused given 

•  Optimising revenues where feasible in context of 

•  Position ourselves for International growth through 

•  Continue fine-tuning our global platform for 

European markets

COVID-19. Intend to ramp up marketing activity once 
recovery begins

COVID-19

our Global API

•  A strong pipeline of new ancillary partnerships to 

drive further long-term revenue optimisation

Trainline Annual Report 2019/2017

Our strategic priorities:

Enhance the customer experience

Build demand

Optimise revenues

Grow Trainline for Business (T4B)

Customer experience is at the heart of our business. 

Our addressable customer base remains large and the 

We invest in the best tech talent and innovative 

technologies, such as AI and machine learning, 

headroom for growth is significant. Having built a 

strong brand in the UK, increasingly centred around 

to deliver products that make rail and coach travel 

our 4.9-star rated mobile app, we are now deploying 

as smart, seamless and friction-free as possible.

our marketing playbook globally to drive customer 

Our ambition is to create a marketplace where the rail 

and coach inventory of all carriers globally is available in 

acquisition at scale and increase the frequency with 

which those customers engage and transact with us. 

one convenient online experience – a leap forward in 

As we grow demand, we are persuading more 

making travel more accessible. 

customers to choose greener modes of transport. 

Expanding our active user base and growing net ticket 
sales in our consumer businesses provides Trainline 
with greater opportunity to optimise our revenues. 
We seek to optimise the revenue we generate 
(our revenue take rate) through the development and 
roll-out of ancillary revenue streams across our markets, 
such as offering travel insurance options and serving 
targeted advertising. 

Trainline for Business today is primarily a UK-focused 
business segment. Trainline for Business comprises our 
business to business (B2B) sub-segment and our white 
label online solutions for train operating companies, 
both of which offer significant headroom for growth.

To position Trainline for Business for future growth, we 
are focused upon increasing demand from our existing 
customer accounts, winning new accounts and, over 
time, scaling Trainline for Business internationally.

We remain committed to delivering the best possible 

Customer Experience and have a pipeline of new 

products and features enabling wide deployment across 

our different market segments, further strengthening 

Trainline’s position as the leading one-stop-shop for rail 

and coach travel.

Key measures

•  Eticket penetration

•  Conversion rate growth

•  App rating 

•  App downloads

•  App share of transactions

•  Number of visits

Progress in 2019/20

•  4.9/5 star app rating in the UK and now in International

•  Launched 000’Ks of new content pages in a further 

•  >20% conversation rate growth in our 

consumer business

•  Completed build of new, micro-service based global 

10 languages for search engine optimisation

•  Rolled-out our own proprietary bidding engine to 

optimise pay-per-click advertising

tech platform and migrated across all carriers and 

•  Monthly visits up 19% to 90 million

majority of our customer base. Paused migration of 

remaining customers given current disruption from 

COVID-19 and will resume once we see a recovery

•  Migrated web customers to app through scaled A/B 

testing across our web flows

•  Mobile app downloads grew 49%; >50% came from 

•  Successfully launched SplitSave (Split-ticketing), 

driving high customer satisfaction

International

•  Driving adoption of etickets in the UK with eticket 

penetration up to 21%, of which >70% through Trainline 

to 76%

•  UK consumer app share of transactions up 10%pts 

•  Continue fine-tuning our global platform for 

European markets

recovery begins

•  Take rate in UK Consumer and International

•    Growth of Global API

•  Launch of new revenue streams (multi-currency 

payments, flexible fees engine across our markets, 
travel insurance and targeted advertising in the UK)

•  Increased revenue take rate for UK Consumer 

business by ~40 basis points, offsetting dilution from 
growth in on-the-day ticket sales

•  Increased revenue take rate for International business 
by ~110 basis points, enhancing monetisation in our 
less mature business

•  B2B win/retention rate

•  White label client win/retention rate

•  Successful launch of Global API, a platform to scale 
T4B internationally, allowing B2B clients access to 
broad supply across the UK and Europe and meeting 
growing demand from corporate and SMEs for 
improved access to European rail. First clients live 
in the UK, France and Germany with strong pipeline 
of potential clients

•  Retained both white label clients up for tender 

since IPO

•  66% B2B win rate

Priorities for 2020/21 •  Investing in our strong pipeline of new innovation 

•  Marketing investment temporarily paused given 

•  Optimising revenues where feasible in context of 

•  Position ourselves for International growth through 

COVID-19. Intend to ramp up marketing activity once 

COVID-19

our Global API

•  A strong pipeline of new ancillary partnerships to 

drive further long-term revenue optimisation

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20 18

Key Performance Indicators

We use the following financial and non-financial KPIs  
to measure the strategic performance of our business.

Net ticket sales £bn 

 International  
 UK T4B  
 UK Consumer  

2,680
218
1,124

1,338

3,194
349

1,198

1,648

3,727

490

1,191

2,046

Revenue £m 
 International
 UK T4B  
 UK Consumer  
178
9
54

114

210
14

58

137

261

26

57

178

Adjusted EBITDA £m 

+£33m
+62%

85

53

31

FY’18

FY’19

FY’20

FY’18

FY’19

FY’20

FY’18

FY’19

FY’20

Net ticket sales represent the gross value of ticket 
sales to customers, less the value of refunds issued, 
during the year. Net ticket sales does not represent 
the Group’s revenue. 

Net ticket sales increased 17% to £3.7 billion, 
with strong growth in UK Consumer up 24%, 
and International, up 41%, while UK T4B declined 
slightly year-on-year at (1)%.

The Group generates the majority of its revenue in 
the form of commissions earned from the rail and 
coach industry on ticket sales based on a percentage 
of the value of the transaction. The Group also earns 
booking fees and other service charges billed 
directly to the customer, on a per transaction basis. 

Revenue increased 24% to £261 million, ahead of 
expectations set out at IPO, with strong growth in 
UK Consumer, up 30%, and International, up 79%, 
while T4B declined (3)%. 

Adjusted EBITDA is profit or loss after tax before 
net financing expense, tax, depreciation and 
amortisation, exceptional items (primarily 
IPO-related fees and expenses) and share-based 
payment charges. 

Adjusted EBITDA grew 62% to £85 million, 
supported by strong volume growth and our 
improving operating leverage. 

Adjusted basic earnings 
per share pence 

Basic earnings per share pence 

Operating free cashflow £m 

FY’20

8.05

(17.67)

FY’20

FY’19

2.42

(3.28)

FY’19

+5.63 pence
+233%

(14.39) pence
(438)%

FY’20

59

FY’19

42

FY’18

11

+£16m
+39%

Adjusted basic EPS is profit after tax for the year, 
excluding exceptional items (primarily IPO-related 
fees and expenses) amortisation of acquired 
intangibles and share-based payment charges 
together with the tax impact of these items, divided 
by the weighted average number of ordinary shares. 

Adjusted EPS was 8.05 pence, a 5.63 pence 
increase on the prior year, predominantly driven 
by strong volume growth and our improving 
operating leverage.

Basic EPS is profit after tax for the year divided by 
the weighted average number of ordinary shares.

Basic earnings per share was (17.67) pence, a 
reduction of 14.39 pence on the prior year, 
predominantly driven by the exceptional costs 
and finance charges linked to the IPO in the year. 

Operating free cash flow is cash generated from 
operating activities adding back exceptional 
items, and deducting cash flow in relation to 
capital expenditure. 

Operating free cash flow was £59 million, up from 
£42 million in the prior year. The growth was 
predominantly driven by growth in adjusted EBITDA 
of £33 million and a reduction in capital expenditure 
of £5million partly offset by a reduction in working 
capital benefit of £21 million due to the timing of 
payments to our rail carriers.

Trainline Annual Report 2019/2019

Operating loss/profit £m 

Average visits per month m 

FY’20

2

FY’19

FY’18

(8)

£(8)m
(78)%

11

+14m
+19%

56

90

75

UK industry eticket
penetration %

21%

14%

+7pts
+50%

FY’18

FY’19

FY’20

FY’19

FY’20

Operating profit is a profit measure reflecting profit 
or loss after tax before net financing income expense 
and tax. 

Average number of visits per month to our consumer 
apps or websites (UK Consumer and International).

Operating profit of £2 million was driven by strong 
volume and revenue together with leverage achieved 
across the cost base. This was offset in the year by 
£21 million of exceptional costs all relating to 
the IPO. 

Our platforms hosted more than 90 million visits per 
month from UK and International consumers this 
year, an increase of 19%. 

Internally calculated value of eticket sales as a 
percentage of total rail ticket sales value for the UK 
rail industry.

By the end of FY’20, eticket penetration increased 
to 21%, or 1 in 5 tickets, reflecting greater market 
awareness and growing availability of journeys 
where etickets can be used.

Net debt/Adjusted EBITDA

Cumulative app downloads m

+2.9X
+78%

(0.8)

FY’20

(3.7)

FY’19

(6.8)

FY’18

+9m
+38%

32

24

18

Transactions through
mobile app %

+10pts
+15%

54%

76%

66%

Ratio of total net debt at year end 
to consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for the year. 
Bank covenants require this to be 3.75 or less. 

Net debt reduced to £71 million from £194 million in 
February 2019, meaning net debt to adjusted EBITDA 
was 0.8x at 29 February 2020, down from 3.7x a year 
ago. This reflects the benefit to net debt from 
proceeds of the IPO and strong organic 
cash generation.

FY’18

FY’19

FY’20

FY’18

FY’19

FY’20

Cumulative number of app downloads in UK 
Consumer and International.

Total cumulative downloads of the Trainline app 
increased to 32 million.

Gross transactions through the mobile app as a 
percentage of total gross transactions over the year 
in UK Consumer. 

The percentage of transactions that went through 
the Trainline mobile app increased by ten percentage 
points to 76%.

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20 20

CFO’s Financial Highlights

Shaun McCabe  
Chief Financial Officer

“Our continued 
investment in 
customer 
experience has 
fuelled growth 
and reinforced our 
position as the 
leading independent 
rail and coach 
platform.”

We reported strong growth in FY’20, in our first 
year as a listed business, reaching the top end of 
our guidance. 

Cost of sales grew 15% to £34 million, 
primarily due to increased volumes but 
partially offset by lower fulfilment costs 
per transaction of etickets versus paper 
tickets. As a result, gross profit increased 
34% to £144 million, growing faster than 
revenue, with gross margin expanding 
from 78% to 81%. 

+17%

Growth in Group net ticket sales

+24%

Growth in Group revenue

Group overview 

Net ticket sales increased 17% to 
£3.7 billion in line with guidance 
expectations (of high-teens percentage 
rate growth). Revenue increased 24% to 
£261 million, at the top end of already 
improved guidance expectations of 
growth in the low to mid-20% range. 

Gross profit increased 29% to 
£201 million and adjusted EBITDA grew 
62% to £85 million, driven by strong 
volume growth, improving operating 
leverage, and ticket fulfilment cost 
savings in the UK from an increased 
use of etickets. 

UK Consumer

Net ticket sales for UK Consumer 
increased 24% to £2,046 million, 
supported by an increased mix of app 
customers, greater eticket availability 
and increased conversion rates. The UK 
business also benefited in the fourth 
quarter from the successful launch of 
SplitSave, a new split-ticketing mobile 
app feature offering the lowest fares 
available, as well as some switching to 
UK Consumer following a change in 
operator and branding of the West Coast 
mainline franchise. Together these 
factors helped accelerate our growth 
in market share in the fourth quarter.

Revenue increased 30% to £178 million, 
driven by the growth in net ticket sales 
and a c.~40 basis point increase in 
revenue take-rate. Our take-rate 
improvement resulted from the full year 
effect of new ancillary revenue streams, 
including our multi-currency service, 
insurance and advertising, in addition 
to the continuing optimisation of fees.

Trainline Annual Report 2019/2021

FY’20 
£m

FY’19 
£m

Change 
%

2,046
1,191
3,237
490
3,727

1,648
1,198
2,846
349
3,194

178
57
235
26
261

144
40
184
17
201

85
2

137
58
195
14
210

107
41
148
8
155

53
11

+24%
(1)%
+14%
+41%
+17%

+30%
(3)%
+20%
+79%
+24%

+34%
(1)%
+25%
+120%
+29%

+62%
(78)%

+29%

Growth in Group Gross Profit

+62%

Growth in Group Adj. EBIDTA

Net ticket sales
UK Consumer
UK T4B
UK total
International
Total Group

Revenue
UK Consumer
UK T4B
UK total
International
Total Group

Gross Profit
UK Consumer
UK T4B
UK total
International
Total Group

Total Adjusted EBITDA
Operating profit

UK Trainline for Business (T4B)

International

UK T4B net ticket sales declined 1% year 
on year to £1,191 million. White label 
ticket sales were impacted by a change 
in operator and branding for the West 
Coast mainline franchise in the fourth 
quarter, albeit partly offset by higher 
related ticket sales through UK 
Consumer. B2B ticket sales were 
impacted by the loss of the Egencia B2B 
contract in March 2019, as previously 
disclosed, as well as by a slowdown in 
discretionary travel spend by large 
corporations in the second half of the 
year resulting from Brexit uncertainty. 

Revenue declined 3% to £57 million 
given lower net ticket sales and some 
margin pressure as we secured and 
extended major partnerships for the 
long term.

Cost of sales reduced 6% given lower 
volume and the benefit from reduced 
fulfilment costs per transaction, resulting 
in an improved gross margin from 70% to 
71%, with gross profit declining 1% to 
£40 million. 

International net ticket sales increased 
by 41% to £490 million, with new 
customer acquisition continuing to 
underpin growth, along with growth 
in conversion. This was partly offset 
by the impact of widespread national 
strike action in France in Q4, which had 
an estimated 8% points impact on our 
growth for the full year. Outside of 
France our International business 
continued to perform strongly in the 
fourth quarter.

Revenue increased 79% to £26 million, 
supported by rapid growth in net ticket 
sales and the launch of new revenue 
services in our international markets, 
driving revenue take-rate up by ~110 
basis points.

Cost of sales grew 31% to £9 million 
driven by higher net ticket sales. 
Gross profit grew 120% to £17 million, 
with gross margin increasing from  
54% to 67%, driven by the take-
rate expansion.

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20 22

CFO’s Financial Highlights continued

Adjusted EBITDA

Loss after tax

Earnings per share (EPS)

Group adjusted EBITDA increased by 
62% to £85 million. This increase was 
primarily due to volume growth and 
operating leverage, with revenue and 
gross profit scaling faster than operating 
expenses as the business continues to 
realise the benefits of scale. 

The Group continues to tightly manage 
direct and central operating costs, 
albeit with some additional marketing 
investment to support the growth of 
Trainline’s International business. 
In addition there was a one-off benefit 
from the implementation of IFRS 16 
Leases as there was no rental expense 
in the FY’20 adjusted EBITDA figure but 
there was £3 million rental expense in 
the FY’19 comparative. 

Operating profit

The Group reported an operating profit 
for the year of £2 million, £8 million 
lower than prior year given £21 million of 
exceptional fees and charges relating to 
the IPO in June, as previously disclosed 
in our H1 results announcement. 
Excluding these one-off costs, operating 
profit would have been £24 million, up 
£13 million year-on-year.

Operating profit included a depreciation 
and amortisation charge of £51 million, 
up £12 million year-on-year, driven by the 
increased capital investment relating to 
the new Single Global Platform and a 
step-up in investment behind our 
product roadmap. 

Operating profit also included a share-
based payment charge of £11 million, up 
£7 million on the prior year. £7 million of 
this related to post-IPO employee 
incentive schemes and £4 million related 
to the final true up charge in relation to 
pre-IPO employee incentive schemes. 

Loss after tax for FY’20 was £81 million, 
£67 million lower than the prior year driven 
by one-off, exceptional items incurred as 
a result of the IPO. In addition to items 
described above within operating profit, 
as previously disclosed in our H1 results 
announcement the Group recorded a 
one-off £70 million charge to finance costs 
related to share-based payments and 
other share related costs and the write off 
of previously capitalised financing costs 
(pre-IPO financing), neither of which 
impacted the Group’s cashflow. The share-
based payment charge resulted from the 
crystallisation of the Group’s pre-IPO 
share-based payment arrangements for 
employees and management and reflects 
the final fair value accounting movement 
in relation to pre-IPO employee 
incentive schemes. 

Excluding the £92 million of one-off 
exceptional items relating to the IPO, 
profit after tax would have been 
£11 million, £25 million higher than 
the prior year. 

Net finance costs excluding exceptional 
IPO-related charges were £12 million, 
a reduction of £12 million year-on-year, 
reflecting the new capital structure put 
in place in June 2019 following the IPO.

The FY’20 tax charge was £1 million, 
with our corporation tax largely offset 
by a deferred tax credit in relation to 
the unwind of deferred tax liabilities on 
intangibles acquired in past acquisitions. 
Over time the corporation tax charge is 
expected to increase as profits increase 
and the deferred tax benefit is expected 
to reduce as the relating assets become 
fully amortised. 

Adjusted basic EPS was 8.05 pence, 
a 5.63 pence increase on last year. 
Adjusted basic earnings per share 
adjusts for the exceptional one-off costs 
in the year (primarily IPO-related fees 
and expenses), amortisation of acquired 
intangibles and share-based payment 
charges, together with the tax impact 
of these items. 

Basic loss per share was 17.67 pence, an 
increase of 14.39 pence on the prior year, 
predominantly driven by the exceptional 
costs and finance charges linked to the 
IPO in the year. 

Impact of COVID-19 
and mitigants

From the end of February 2020, 
COVID-19 has considerably impacted 
the rail and coach industry across 
our markets.

In response, we have taken mitigating 
actions to reduce the Group’s monthly 
cash outflow from operating costs and 
capital expenditure. This included pausing 
marketing and other discretionary spend, 
furloughing about 20% of the workforce 
under the UK Government’s Coronavirus 
Job Retention Scheme, reducing Board 
and Executive team salaries, introducing a 
Group-wide pay and recruitment freeze, 
and deferring bonus payments in relation 
to fiscal year 2020 performance. In taking 
these actions, we have reduced the 
Group’s monthly cash outflow from 
operating costs and capital expenditure 
to c.£8–9 million. 

Given the disruption in Trainline’s 
operating environment as a result of the 
COVID-19 pandemic, Trainline’s financial 
covenant on its Revolving Credit Facility 
has been waived until August 2021.

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20Statement of financial position

Non-current assets
Cash and cash equivalents
Other current assets
Current liabilities
Non-current liabilities
Net assets & Total equity

23

FY’20 
£m
557
 92
52
(169)
(159)
373

FY’19 
£m
564
94
47
(166)
(303)
237

Change 
%
(1)% 
(2)%
+10%

(2)% 

+47%
+58%

Outlook for FY’21

Statement of financial position

Cash flow

Total net assets at the end of FY’20 were 
£373 million, the move from £237 million 
in FY’19 was predominantly caused by 
the extinguishment of liabilities and capital 
restructure following the IPO. 

The adoption of IFRS 16 has resulted in an 
increase in property, plant and equipment 
of £15 million and a corresponding 
increase in loans and borrowings of 
£15 million. As the modified 
retrospective approach was adopted 
no restatement to the FY’19 figures has 
been made in relation to IFRS 16. 

Non-current assets have decreased to 
£557 million, down 1%. This is the net 
impact of the £15 million increase due to 
IFRS 16 described above and £21 million 
decrease in intangible assets, 
predominantly due to the amortisation 
charge on assets acquired in previous 
business combinations. 

Non-current liabilities have decreased 
to £159 million, down 47%. Following the 
IPO in June the previous bank loan was 
repaid in full and a new revolving credit 
facility was issued for £207 million. 
During FY’20 £60 million has been repaid 
on this facility. The reduction in the level 
of bank debt combined with cash 
generation means net debt has reduced 
to £71 million at the end of FY’20, 
compared to £194 million in FY’19.

Operating free cash flow was 
£59 million, up 39% or £16 million year 
on year. 

The increase was predominantly driven 
by growth in adjusted EBITDA of 
£33 million and a reduction in capital 
expenditure of £5 million as we 
approach completion of the Global 
re-platforming project. Operating free 
cash flow growth was partly offset by 
a reduction in the benefit from working 
capital movements, £21 million lower 
year-on-year, relating to the timing of 
our payments to rail carriers. 

Cash and cash equivalents are slightly 
down at £92 million, down 2%. The key 
driver for this movement is net cash from 
operating activities of £60 million. 
Purchase of tangible and intangible 
assets of £28 million, net one-off 
financing cash inflows in relation to the 
IPO of £118 million and a debt repayment 
of £130 million including the £60 million 
repayment of the revolving credit facility 
in the second half of the year.

Shaun McCabe 
Chief Financial Officer
7 May 2020

Uncertainty remains around when 
COVID-19 related restrictions will be 
lifted in our markets as well as what the 
macroeconomic recovery will look like 
thereafter. Until visibility improves, 
we will not provide specific guidance 
for FY’21.

However, given our mitigating actions 
and our secure liquidity position, we are 
confident we can operate through even 
an extended downturn period. 

Trainline’s liquidity headroom will be 
c.£150 million by the end of May 2020. 
By this time, the Group expects to have 
fully completed the working capital 
outflow arising from settling pre-existing 
bookings to train and coach operators as 
well as processing refunds to customers.

Given the Group’s monthly cash outflow 
from operating costs and capital 
expenditure of c.£8–9 million (see 
previous page), this gives the Group 
sufficient liquidity to operate for the 
foreseeable future with no revenue 
generation or further cost mitigation. 

Longer-term, we continue to see the 
same structural tailwinds for the 
business, while in the shorter term, we 
expect COVID-19 to encourage a faster 
shift to digital ticketing as train users are 
less willing to use ticket machines or 
queue at the station. Similarly, ongoing 
social distancing requirements will 
increase the need for clear and accurate, 
on-the-go travel information. We also 
expect customers to be very value 
conscious and SplitSave will be an 
important feature for customers looking 
for the cheapest rail fares available. 
Against that backdrop, we remain 
resolutely focused on supporting our 
customers through these difficult times.

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20 24

Principal Risks and Uncertainties

In order to sustainably grow our business, meet our objectives and 
provide the best possible customer experience, we ensure we have 
a robust risk management strategy.

Our risk management 
framework

Trainline’s Board has ultimate 
responsibility for our Risk Management 
programme, which is combined with 
an active responsibility from all levels 
of leadership within the Group – the 
Board, the Management Team and the 
Audit and Risk Committee, 
in particular.

Trainline’s Audit and Risk Committee 
is responsible for reviewing the 
effectiveness of Trainline’s internal 
controls and risk management 
processes, and for reporting such 
matters to the Board. The Audit and 
Risk Committee is also responsible for 
reviewing and maintaining Trainline’s 
risk register. It ensures that the risk 
register is comprehensive, frequently 
updated, monitored and effectively 
communicated back to the Board. 
This process allows Trainline’s Board to 
assess and define appropriate strategic 
objectives for the Group, and in turn 
facilitates our Management Team in 
executing our strategic objectives.

The Board receives updates from the 
Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee 
on its work and provides guidance on 
assessing risk against our strategic 
and operational priorities and on the 
implementation of mitigation plans.

Trainline’s Board are responsible for 
overseeing the work of the Audit and 
Risk Committee, and monitoring and 
maintaining its approach to Group risk 
management. The Board also decides 
Trainline’s risk appetite and determines 
the culture of risk to be flowed down 
through the business. It is responsible for 
assessing events and circumstances that 
could threaten our current and future 
strategy, business model and ambitions, 
and sets boundaries around the level of 
risk in which we are willing to operate. 

There is a clear flow of timely and 
relevant communication and decision-
making on risk from the Board to the 
business and vice versa. By ensuring 
this clear flow, our leadership remains 
aligned on our risk appetite, how 
decisions around risk are made and 
how our strategy is executed in-line 
with Trainline’s risk appetite.

High-level strategic, financial, regulatory 
and reputational risks are formally 
assessed during our annual long-term 
business planning process and are 
reviewed by the Board.

By combining their skills and in-depth 
knowledge of the business, our 
Management Team and senior managers 
carry out the day-to-day management 
of Trainline’s operations, within the risk 
parameters set by the Board.

We take compliance seriously and 
ensure that applicable legislation and 
directives are complied with.

All of our people across our three sites 
are given Security and Data Privacy 
training on a rolling basis.

Assessing our suppliers

Our procurement processes reflect 
our commitment to sustainability and 
governance. Suppliers are assessed 
to ensure they are fit for purpose and 
sustainable, and that they meet 
Trainline’s ethical standards, security 
requirements, environmental and 
corporate responsibilities and comply 
with relevant legislation, wherever they 
are in the world. 

Risk management framework

Trainline Board

Overall responsibility for Trainline’s Risk Management programme

Audit & Risk Committee

Responsible for reviewing the effectiveness of Trainline’s internal controls and 
risk management processes, and for reporting such matters to the Board

Compliance & Risk 
Management processes

Annual review of risk identification and management of systems and 
processes, with regular reporting to the Audit and Risk Committee on 
changes to the risk register and risk profile

Management Team

Supported by and contributors to internal risk management systems 
and processes

Trainline Annual Report 2019/2025

Trainline identified risks and mitigants 

Risk management is an integral 
part of Trainline’s business culture 
and organisation. 

Ultimate accountability for risk 
management lies with the Board, 
supported by the work of the Audit and 
Risk Committee which has responsibility 

for reviewing Trainline’s risk register, risk 
management and compliance activities. 
Guided by the Board, the Management 
Team takes an active role in managing 
risk. The Management Team helps to 
determine the risk appetite for the 
business, which is approved by the Board, 
and oversees the development and 

review of the risk register. The register is 
continually updated and reviewed 
formally at least every 6 months. 

Trainline continually looks to identify 
emerging risks and to perform deep-dive 
analyses on risks it considers most 
important to the business.

Description 
of risk

How we mitigate 
the risk

Market shock/economic disruption

Through detailed and careful analysis, modelling of cash 
balances and debt levels, and by ensuring liquidity and access 
to finance facilities, Trainline is committed to maintaining a 
healthy balance sheet.

Our forecasts and projections include contingencies to help us 
cater for any negative impacts on our business, operationally 
or financially, and in most scenarios.

Trainline has a diverse portfolio of investors, allowing us to 
maintain access to capital markets.

Trainline is exposed to 
market risks including 
foreign currency rates, 
general market sentiment 
and the risk of global 
market shocks, such as 
a pandemic.

Significant market events 
could damage Trainline’s 
competitiveness, 
creditworthiness and the 
spending power of our 
customers, ultimately 
impacting our financial 
results and the success of 
our product proposition.

How we monitor 
the risk

Status 
of risk

•  Duration and 
cost of debt

Prominent

•  Monitoring of 
financial and 
investment markets

•  Investor engagement

•  Engagement with 

banking and 
finance partners

•  Monitoring our 
credit rating

•  Analysis of industry, 

economic and 
financial drivers

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20 26

Principal Risks and Uncertainties continued

Description 
of risk

How we mitigate 
the risk

How we monitor 
the risk

Status 
of risk

Prominent

•  Monitoring 
government 
updates and advice 
across markets

•  Engagement with 
key government 
organisations 
and representatives

•  Monitoring customer 

feedback and 
sentiment 
across markets

•  Level of customer 
contact rates, UK 
and International

•  Employee check-ins 
and engagement 
surveys

•  Investor engagement

•  Engagement with 
carrier partners

Prolonged COVID-19

Trainline has been 
exposed to and affected 
by the impact of 
COVID-19, notably as a 
result of lockdown 
measures taken by most 
governments, particularly 
by the UK, Europe and 
USA. Restrictions on 
domestic travel, including 
commuting, and cross-
border travel into 
and around Europe, 
has impacted Trainline’s 
operations.

Trainline has seen a 
downturn in traffic on all 
platforms, on ticket 
purchases and on ancillary 
revenue in all markets.

As well as closure of our 
offices in London, Paris 
and Edinburgh, the onset 
of COVID-19 saw a 
significant increase in 
the number of customers 
contacting Trainline to 
refund or exchange 
tickets in all markets.

Should COVID-19 
continue, Trainline will 
need to ensure that we 
are well-positioned to 
manage the impact on 
our operations.

Trainline’s priorities during the COVID-19 pandemic remain 
the safety and wellbeing of our people and supporting our 
customers to make changes to their travel plans and process 
refunds, during this exceptional time. We swiftly transitioned 
all of our teams to work from home with minimal disruption 
to our business and we continue to support them whilst they 
work remotely. In addition, we have managed unprecedented 
levels of inbound customer service requests and improved 
customer self-serve functionality – introducing simple, 
automated change and refund processes on our app and 
website – while also working with the rail industry to relax 
refund terms and conditions. We continue to monitor and work 
with our carrier partners and government to minimise the 
impact and also to plan the returning growth after COVID-19.

We continue to monitor customer feedback closely and 
to keep customers updated via our social media and 
CRM channels.

Trainline has also undertaken the following actions:

•  Reduced operating costs and cash outflows

•  Paused marketing and other discretionary spend

•  Put a hold on recruitment of new team members

•  Deferred bonus payments and pay reviews for all staff 

for FY’20

•  Revised payment terms with some of our suppliers

•  Voluntary salary reductions of Management Team and Board 

of Directors, including our CEO 

•  Furloughed teams under Government Coronavirus Job 

Retention Scheme

•  Obtained a covenant waiver

Trainline continues to work hard on ensuring the wellbeing of 
its team. Trainline has continued key touchpoints between all 
staff and the Management Team and has increased its focus on 
wellbeing across offices by running sessions and activities 
including regular and frequent all-company meetings, virtual 
wellbeing sessions; meditation and yoga, and coming together 
once a week to celebrate achievements and progress during 
these times.

Trainline continues to monitor developments closely and 
adapt responses accordingly to ensure that the business is 
strengthened for the long-term and that Trainline is well 
positioned to return to growth once all restrictions are lifted.

Trainline Annual Report 2019/2027

How we monitor 
the risk

Status 
of risk

•  Security incidents

Increasing

•  Routine testing of 
network security

•  Global payments 
industry fraud to 
sales statistics

•  Employee 

Stable

engagement surveys 
and satisfaction 
scores

•  Regretted 

attrition rate

Description 
of risk

How we mitigate 
the risk

IT security and cybercrime

A major breach in systems 
as a result of identity 
fraud, theft, hacking, 
phishing or an information 
security incident could 
adversely impact our 
business operations and 
reputation and expose the 
Group to litigation or 
other regulatory action.

People

Our business depends on 
hiring and retaining first 
class talent in the highly 
competitive tech industry. 
Inability to attract and 
retain critical skills and 
capabilities could hinder 
our ability to deliver on 
our strategic objectives.

As an online retailer and processor of customer data, 
Trainline takes information security very seriously. 
As fraudsters become more sophisticated, the benchmark on 
security excellence is constantly being raised – we remain alert 
to and monitor these developments.

We are certified PCI compliant, and our designated Head of 
Privacy Compliance is responsible for overseeing the Group’s 
adherence to both privacy legislation and best practice.

We have a Data Protection working Group, comprising 
key individuals across the business including Security, Legal, 
Technology, Operations and Finance. They have implemented 
a lengthy and robust evaluation to ensure that we are 
operating at a high standard of compliance with new 
Global Data Protection Regulations.

We ensure that all members of our team undertake mandatory 
security training on topics including Privacy & Data.

For more information on our technology, see page 10.

At Trainline, we invest heavily in attracting, nurturing and 
retaining our first-class talent. All new joiners are carefully 
selected by our in-house talent team and once onboard, 
each team member is encouraged and nurtured to develop 
their skills and interests within the business. 

We work hard to foster a highly collaborative, agile and 
successful culture and have developed professional, social and 
health and wellbeing initiatives across all of our offices all 
geared to provide our people with opportunities to develop 
their interests, career plans and take good care of themselves.

Actively monitoring our organisational needs and the changing 
nature of individual career plans, helps to ensure that our team 
flourishes and can successfully and sustainably deliver Trainline’s 
strategic objectives. 

Our processes include organisation design reviews, talent 
reviews and succession planning. We also undertake regular 
benchmarking and remuneration reviews to ensure that we 
remain competitive. 

Employee engagement surveys throughout the year help us 
to monitor whether our team is, and remains, motivated and 
looked after professionally and personally. Trainline continuously 
strives to improve employee engagement, year-on-year.

For more information on our people and culture, see page 31.

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20 28

Principal Risks and Uncertainties continued

How we monitor 
the risk

Status 
of risk

Stable

•  Competitor 
behaviours

•  Industry and 

consumer trends

•  Laws and regulations 
across geographies 
in which we operate

Stable

•  Regular review, and 
maintenance of 
risk register

•  Audit Committee 

review of compliance  
processes

•  Board, employee, 
customer and 
industry concerns

Description 
of risk

How we mitigate 
the risk

Competitive landscape

The combination of our leadership, exceptional team, 
agile way of working and strong industry networks help 
to ensure that we stay up-to-date with the competitive 
landscape within which we operate.

We are constantly innovating with our technology and 
engaging our customers for feedback so that we provide a 
world-class, accessible, user-friendly and useful service for 
rail and coach bookings. Our robust and scalable business 
model helps to ensure that we remain competitive as we 
continue to grow globally.

We also undertake regular horizon-scanning activities to 
understand competitive threats and opportunities to develop 
strategic partnerships.

Trainline aims to be uncompromising in its approach to 
compliance, which is overseen by the Audit & Risk Committee 
and ultimately the Board, and which is supported by Legal, 
Finance, Security, Operations and Technology teams.

As well as dedicated compliance resources, we ensure that 
our people are appropriately trained in compliance, relative 
to their roles.

All employees are trained in Security, Privacy and Data 
compliance and mandatory processes and policies such 
as gifts and hospitality, political and charitable donations, 
expenses and anti-bribery and corruption, are disseminated 
to all employees through our Staff Handbook.

Trainline has a whistleblowing policy and hotline, allowing 
any team member to feed concerns through an appropriate, 
procedural channel. Responsibility for and adherence to 
carrier and retailing licences falls to our Legal, Finance 
and Compliance functions.

Failure to ensure our 
technology and user-
experience meets our 
customers’ needs and 
remains ahead of 
competitor products 
would have an adverse 
impact on our 
future results.

Compliance

Non-compliance by 
Trainline with legislation, 
licences and other 
regulatory requirements 
could affect Trainline’s 
reputation and 
operational and financial 
success, and result in 
financial or other legal 
penalties, an inability to 
retail rail and coach 
tickets and loss 
of revenue.

Examples of such 
legislation, regulations 
and licences include 
anti-bribery and 
corruption, tax legislation 
and licenses with our 
carrier partners in the UK, 
across Europe and 
beyond, and the legal and 
governance requirements 
of Trainline operating as a 
public limited company.

Trainline Annual Report 2019/2029

Description 
of risk

How we mitigate 
the risk

How we monitor 
the risk

Status 
of risk

General supply

Our business is dependent 
on performing and 
operationally safe rail 
and coach operators and 
systems. A significant 
and prolonged disruption 
to traveller services or 
systems, due to bad 
weather, industrial action 
or a pandemic such as 
COVID-19, for example, 
would have an adverse 
impact on our future 
results. We also rely on 
our carriers for our rail 
and coach products and 
relevant information.

We continue to expand and diversify our carrier supply 
portfolio, reducing our dependency on any one operator 
within the market.

We remain actively engaged with the industry across all 
geographies in which we have supply, in order to ensure 
we are as up to date as the industry in the event of any 
service issues.

Our focus is on making rail and coach travel easier. 
Whilst delays and disruption are outside of Trainline’s control, 
our relentless focus on innovating our product aims to provide 
customers with the best possible experience and real time 
information, as well as alternative travel options, whether 
services are running smoothly or not.

We also work to support our carrier partners and government 
in a return to growth after COVID-19.

•  Deep-rooted 

Stable

relationships with 
the industry and our 
carrier partners

•  Highly-experienced 

supply team 
responsible for 
monitoring and 
responding to 
needs of our 
partners, as well as 
in identifying new 
supply opportunities

Regulatory and political environment

We remain actively engaged with British and other EU 
national governments, institutions and our carrier partners 
to stay abreast of policy and legislative activities and ensure 
as far as possible that any potential negative impacts on 
Trainline’s business, staff, customers and partners are 
minimised. Simultaneously, Trainline actively engages in 
scenario-planning and risk management.

•  Changes to laws 
and regulations 
across geographies 
in which we operate

•  Public sentiment 

and trends

Stable

Changes to government 
policy or regulations, 
whether in the UK or 
across Europe, such as 
Brexit, could affect the 
Group’s operations or 
financial prospects. 
Similarly, activity by 
state-owned carriers, 
affected by government 
activity in their respective 
jurisdictions, could 
negatively affect Trainline’s 
operations in the short to 
medium term.

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20 30

Principal Risks and Uncertainties continued
Viability statement

The plan is subject to downside 
sensitivity analysis. Each sensitivity case 
is based around the likely impact of the 
principle risks. This sensitivity analysis 
involves flexing the key assumptions by 
downside changes which are considered 
to be reasonably possible as a result of 
the principle risks occurring.

Specific scenarios which were modelled 
included a COVID-19 scenario where the 
dip in sales lasted longer than the base 
case, net ticket sales growth not being at 
the level expected across all years, 
additional marketing spend being 
required to meet expected net ticket 
sales growth across all years, and 
additional required capital expenditure 
to create new features being above the 
level originally anticipated. The financial 
impact of each of these scenarios was 
considered and none of the downside 
scenarios raised concerns over the 
Group’s ability to meet its 
future liabilities. 

Due to COVID-19 the Group has further 
reviewed its cash and liquidity position 
and announced on 29 April 2020 that it 
had agreed a covenant waiver for its 
current Revolving Credit Facility until 
August 2021. This review confirmed the 
Group has sufficient cash and headroom 
under its current Revolving Credit 
Facility to see it through a prolonged 
lockdown period and will be able to 
service its cost base, assuming no 
revenues, for at least a year.

It is not possible to test the forecast for 
every possible eventuality however the 
Directors believe the sensitivity analysis 
was appropriate and tested the most 
likely potential outcomes.

In accordance with the UK Corporate 
Governance Code 2018, the Directors 
and the Management team have 
assessed the long-term viability of the 
Group and its ability to meet its liabilities 
over a three year period. The Directors 
carried out a review of the Group’s 
principle risks as set out on page 24 to 
29 and the potential impact of any of 
these risks on the long-term viability of 
the Group. 

The conclusion of this assessment is that 
the Group is expected to be able to 
meets its liabilities and continue in 
operation over the three year period to 
28 February 2023. 

Three years was considered an 
appropriate timeframe for the 
assessment. Given the fast pace of the 
digital environment in which the Group 
operates it is considered that a longer 
forecasting period would become less 
reliable, as it is hard to predict digital 
trends and pace of change for a longer 
period. Three years is also the longer-
term forecasting period which is 
considered by the Board on an annual 
basis. The first year of the forecast is 
normally the Group’s detailed budget 
and the outer two years are forecast 
using a bottoms-up detailed calculation 
methodology with a top-down strategic 
overlay from Senior Management and 
the Board. The plan utilises the detailed 
one year budget as a plan and overlays 
assumptions supported by the Group’s 
strategic pillars to forecast the outer two 
years. The budget for FY’21 used in 
assessing viability assumes significantly 
reduced trade due to the impact of 
COVID-19. 

The key assumptions in the forecast 
period which could be impacted by the 
principal risks are; the length of time 
COVID-19 will impact trading; the rate of 
net ticket sales growth and the 
associated revenue growth; the level of 
marketing investment required to reach 
growth targets; and the level of capital 
expenditure required to meet 
growth targets. 

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20Our People and Culture

31

At Trainline, we pride ourselves on having high levels of employee 
satisfaction, with 80% of our people saying they ‘are proud to work at 
Trainline’ and 5% regretted attrition in the year ended 28 February 2020.

Commitment to diversity

Our journey to gender balance

We all know that diverse teams perform 
better – solving problems faster than 
teams of similar people1 and making 
decisions 60% faster than non-diverse 
teams2 – and positively impact employee 
retention and engagement2. 

At Trainline, we are committed to equal 
pay: the payment given to men and 
women doing the same job at the same 
level. The difference between the 
average pay of men and women working 
at Trainline remains less than 1%.

At Trainline, we sell tickets to people 
living in more than 175 countries in 
14 languages – so it is important we 
have diverse teams to represent the 
customers we serve. We are proud of our 
team of more than 600 talented people 
of 40 nationalities, working in London, 
Edinburgh and Paris.

•  During the past year, we have 

continued to focus on recruiting more 
women into Trainline and addressing 
a gender imbalance that exists in our 
Company, like many other tech 
businesses. This is a focus particularly 
in our technology specialist teams that 
make up half our people.

Our progress includes:

•  The majority of our hiring managers 

have taken training on how to 
recognise and avoid unconscious bias.

•  Making it mandatory that female 

candidates are interviewed for senior 
management and leadership roles, 
with a minimum of one female on 
each shortlist.

•  We now review our plan to reduce 
our gender pay gap on a quarterly 
basis and our hiring plans monthly, 
at executive level.

•  In all Company-wide forums or 

communication, we continue to focus 
on championing and giving a voice 
to diverse groups and individuals, 
ensuring women have a voice 
alongside their male colleagues and 
there are visible female role models 
at every level.

•  We have launched our learning and 

development programme (Know How 
You Grow) to help junior women and 
men at Trainline thrive and progress 
to more senior roles within 
the organisation.

•  Ongoing focus on our mentoring 

programme which gives every mid 
and senior level woman and man the 
opportunity to partner with an 
executive team mentor who can 
advise, champion and support them 
in their roles and career.

1 

 2017 Harvard Business review, https://hbr.org/2017/03/
teams-solve-problems-faster-when-theyre-more-
cognitively-diverse

2   https://www.ciphr.com/advice/5-reasons-diverse-

workforce-matters/, https://www.women-ahead.org/
networks-research

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20 32

Our People and Culture continued

A continued shortage of women in 
tech – as well as in the rail and coach 
industries – can limit the number of 
female candidates applying for open 
roles, particularly senior and leadership 
positions. However, we are pleased that, 
as a result of our efforts, we have 
increased the number of women in our 
teams at Trainline from 34% in April 2018 
to 35% in April 2019 and this figure 
continues to rise. In the same time 
period, we have managed to reduce 
our gender pay gap from 22% in April 
2018 to 20% in April 2019.

In 2019/ 2020, tackling gender 
imbalance at Trainline continues to be 
a priority for us, and we will continue to 
support wider change in the 
tech industry.

2018 saw the launch of our partnership 
with the charity Future Frontiers, to help 
equip students from disadvantaged 
backgrounds with the information, 
skills and mindset to achieve their career 
aspirations. We continued to support 
Future Frontiers in 2019, pairing 124 
secondary school students with Trainline 
employees in our London and Edinburgh 
offices to date, and the partnership 
continues into 2020. We completed our 
second year of partnership with Code 
First: Girls, a UK-based social enterprise 

focussed on building diversity and skills 
in the tech sector, to help 20,000 young 
women in the UK to code, for free, by 
2020 as part of their 20:20 campaign3. 
We make sure we have comprehensive 
policies for our people, all contained 
within  our Staff Handbook, which 
everyone receives when they join Trainline 
and which underline our commitment to:

•  Promoting diversity and equality of 

opportunity for all staff and 
job applicants. 

•  Creating a working environment in 

which all individuals can make the best 
use of their skills, free from 
discrimination or harassment. 

•  Ensuring our people understand their 
duty to act in accordance with our 
policies, always treat colleagues with 
dignity, and not to discriminate 
against, harass or victimise others, 
regardless of their status. 

•  Providing a safe environment for all 

people in all offices.

•  Ensuring we pay fairly by 

benchmarking roles and by 
undertaking regular 
performance reviews. 

At Trainline, we take our role in human 
rights seriously, and understand that 
societies in which human rights are 
respected and protected, enhance the 
wellbeing of citizens and allow business 
to flourish. We operate to ensure that we 
as a company, and all of our employees, 
respect international human rights 
standards through our Human 
Rights policy.

Encouraging innovation 

There are a lot of brains sparking 
innovative ideas at Trainline – over 600 
in fact. Our Discovery Days get great 
minds from across the business together 
in one room to think about new and 
exciting ways we can make 
our customers’ lives easier. 

We celebrate new ideas every Friday 
at Weekly Wins and connect with our 
colleagues in the tech industry by 
hosting regular meet-ups at our offices 
(35 in 2019). We hold an annual Tech 
Summit to which we invite external, 
inspirational speakers (44 talks at 
our 2019 summit); and last year we held 
our second Trainline Summer of 
Craft, a week of inspiring 
engineering workshops. 

Trainline Annual Report 2019/2033

Our values and behaviours

Wow our customers

Blaze new trails

•  We see the world through our 

•  We’re obsessed with improvement

customers’ eyes

•  We make every journey smarter

•  We treat our customers as individuals

•  We learn fast and act faster

•  We’re game changers

Focus on impact

One team

•  We make smart, data driven decisions

•  We collaborate and build on each 

•  We prioritise, agree clear goals 

and deliver

•  We’re agile and lean

other’s ideas

•  We’re direct, honest, open and fair

•  We help each other, have fun and 

enjoy the journey together

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20 34

Our People and Culture continued

Our four core values
We’re proud of our four core values and 
how ingrained they are in our culture. 
Our people understand that how they 
work is as important as what they 
deliver, and every member of our team 
knows what’s expected of them and how 
they can succeed. We recognise and 
reward our people for living our values 
and behaviours through our Reward and 
Recognition programme, including  our 
Quarterly Awards.

Our customer focus
Everyone’s voice is heard here, but most 
importantly, our customers’. Getting insight 
from the people across Europe and the 
world who use our app and website 
daily helps us to constantly improve. 
Our in-house Customer Research team 
regularly tests new features and updates 
with customers then feeds back 
comments to our teams to learn from. 

We regularly invite customers into our 
offices to give us their views. We note 
down what they love about us and 
make plans to develop the product 
improvements or new features they’d like 
to see, to keep making journeys easier 
and simpler. 

Working as one team
We work in an agile way, in small 
mission-based teams, allowing 
everyone to collaborate and take 
on new responsibilities. 

For those wanting to broaden their 
skills, our mentoring programme pairs 
colleagues with experienced professionals 
within the business, to help guide their 
ambitions and providing  them with 
coaching. We understand that everyone 
starts somewhere, so new managers can 
go to drop-in sessions to get tips on how 
to handle their new role effectively. 

When things move at a mile a minute, 
taking time to relax together is a must. 
So, we make a conscious effort to let our 
hair down and connect, away from the 
nine-to-five tasks. Whether it’s a yoga 
class or a salsa night, social and 
wellbeing events are regularly in the 
calendar for those who want to join. 
Themed Company social events happen 
monthly and there’s even the occasional 
bring-your-dog to-work day, as well as 
the annual Christmas party.

Taking everyone on the journey
Communication is something we really 
value. We’ve laid out our work areas with 
plenty of space for break-out huddles 
and cross-team stand-ups, so updates 
are quick and easy. 

Although our teams are spread across 
three offices in London, Paris and 
Edinburgh, we’re one Company. So, to 
make sure there’s a regular conversation 
going, we hold monthly all-hands 
meetings to bring everyone up to speed 
on our latest projects and how the 
business is performing and our executive 
team take it in turn to host ‘Ask me 
anything’ lunches or informal Q&As to 
encourage two-way communication.

Lunch and Learns give colleagues 
the chance to share food and ideas 
collaboratively and, every Friday, we 
celebrate our teams’ achievements over 
pizza at Weekly Wins. Then there’s The 
Download, a regular email update that’s 
sent to all staff, highlighting what’s new 
and exciting in the world of Trainline. 

Our focus on wellbeing
Our annual cross-Company Wellbeing 
Weeks and Days help our employees 
take care of their mind, body and spirits, 
packed-full of choice, including nutrition 
workshops, meditation classes and even 
puppy therapy. But our focus on our 
teams wellbeing is not limited to specific 
dates – our Employee Assistance 
Programme provides a free 24-hour 
confidential helpline and face-to-face 
counselling with experienced therapists 
and advisors; plus our online health 
portal offering access to a wealth of 
health and wellbeing advice from 
budgeting to sleep and fitness tips. 

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20Robin Hancock
Chief People Officer

“Trainline’s success  
is driven by our 
600+ strong team  
of highly talented 
and diverse people, 
focused on making  
a positive impact  
on the lives of 
millions of travellers, 
every day.” 

35

Developing our team

Support – Railway Children 

•  Mentoring – all of our team have 

the opportunity to take part in our 
mentoring programme

•  Learning and Development 

opportunities are open to all. We’ve 
spent more than £350,000 this 
financial year on up-skilling our team

•  Team off-site – we make sure our 
teams get together outside of the 
office to share ideas, get creative, 
work on problem-solving and team-
building activities enabling leadership

•  We run training specifically for all of 

our managers, helping them to upskill, 
develop new skills and drive success in 
our teams

•  Our Executive Leadership team spend 
time together at an annual off-site; 
working on strategic thinking, 
team-building and social activities

•  All managers and Executives are 
encouraged to participate in 
mentoring and coaching sessions – 
we recognise that we can all learn 
from each other, wherever you are 
and whatever level you are at 
within Trainline

We give back

As our business grows, so do the 
opportunities we have to positively 
impact the world around us. We’re 
proud to partner with these charitable 
organisations to support, educate and 
inspire tomorrow’s generations.

Inspire – Future Frontiers 

We believe in thinking big, which is why 
we partner with Future Frontiers – an 
award-winning charity that believes all 
young people can be motivated by their 
aspirations. We work with them to help 
equip students from disadvantaged 
backgrounds with the information, skills 
and mindset to achieve their career 
aspirations. Over the past two years, 
our teams in London and Edinburgh have 
mentored 124 secondary school students 
to encourage them to dream big and 
fulfil their future potential and we’ve also 
partnered on delivering career talks in 
local schools. 

For many years, we’ve partnered with 
Railway Children, the charity that 
provides protection and opportunity for 
children living on the streets in India, 
East Africa and the UK, many of whom 
find shelter in railway stations. 
We support them with our internal 
fundraising events, including bake sales 
and our annual Christmas raffle. 

Educate – Code First Girls & Ada 
Tech School 

Tackling gender imbalance and 
championing talent within the tech 
industry is at the absolute core of our 
culture and values. We’re proud to partner 
with Code First: Girls to help 20,000 
young women in the UK to code, for free, 
by 2020 as part of the Code First: Girls’ 
20:20 Campaign3. As well as financial 
support, we’re helping to deliver the 
training programme by providing in-house 
specialists as mentors and hosting courses 
in our London office. We’ve opened up the 
programme to women at Trainline too, so 
they can add new strings to their bows and 
learn a new skill. 

Trainline also supports the newly opened 
Ada Tech School in France, whose goal it 
is to break the status quo and support 
more women to become developers. 

Give & Gain 

Every year we hold Trainline’s Give and 
Gain Day, where our teams in London, 
Edinburgh and Paris spend the day helping 
local communities by working with 
charities and not-for-profit organisations 
such as Thames21, Le Vestaire de 
Solidarités Saint-Bernard, KIDS Chelsea 
Playground, Surfrider Foundation with 
Ocean Initiatives, Spitalfields Farm and 
South London Cares. 

On top of this, everyone who works at 
Trainline can take a paid day out of the 
office each year to work for a charity of 
their choice. 

3  https://www.codefirstgirls.org.uk/2020

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20 36

Stakeholder Engagement

At Trainline, engaging with our stakeholders is 
integral to how we achieve our vision and strategy. 

Through appropriate, timely and 
proactive engagement with our 
stakeholders, we aim to look after our 
team, provide the best possible 
experience for our customers, generate 
sustainable value and continue to grow 
our business

The following table summarises: our key 
stakeholders; what’s important to them; 
how we have engaged with them directly 
and through relevant organisations; 
and highlights of the results of that 
engagement during the financial year.

Our key stakeholders 
and their significance 
to our business

Our customers

Customer experience is at 
the heart of Trainline’s 
business. Understanding  
our customers’ travel 
needs is key to us 
delivering and 
continually improving  
our best-in-class 
product experience.

What is important to them

How we engage with them

Highlights of the results 
of our engagement

•  Access to the cheapest, fastest 
and most convenient tickets 
for their journeys, saving them 
money, time  
and hassle.

•  A secure, reliable and robust 

product experience.

•  Greater accessibility to more 

sustainable modes 
of transport.

We spend as much time as possible engaging with 
and learning from our customers.

•  Providing and maintaining a 

best-in-class customer experience.

In 2019, we engaged with over 13,000 travellers. 
We met them in stations, held virtual workshops, 
organised weekly feedback sessions, they tested 
our product and we shared new ideas, all to 
better understand how we can make their 
experiences better.

•  Trainline is the world’s leading 

independent rail and coach app, 
with a 4.9* app rating.

•  90m visits to our platform per 

month (+19%). 

Our carrier partners

In order to provide our 
customers with the best 
possible rail and coach 
journey experience, it’s 
paramount we establish 
and maintain strong 
relationships with our 
carrier partners. 
Trainline also provides 
white label services to  
a number of Train 
Operating Companies.

•  The opportunity to increase 

their reach, ticket sales and the 
number of customers travelling 
on their services.

•  Lower cost to serve customers.
•  Access to Trainline’s 

Trainline has carrier partners in the UK, across 
Europe and other parts of the world.

We have a dedicated, multi-national team of rail 
and coach travel specialists responsible for 
establishing and growing relationships with our 
carrier partners.

operational excellence  
and innovation, through  
our white label service.

Beyond this team, we collaborate with carrier 
partners at every level of the organisation to drive 
collaboration, deliver marketing campaigns and 
improve processes to enhance 
customer experience.

During the year, we have been especially focused on:

•  Engagement with the Rail Delivery Group in 

the UK on split ticketing and other innovations;

•  Coordinating with coach operators to offer 

alternative methods of travel during 
rail disruption.

•  In the last financial year, we 

increased the number of our carrier 
partners to 270, allowing our 
customers to travel in and across 45 
countries in Europe and the rest of 
the world.

•  Trainline now sells over 350 tickets, 
on behalf of our carrier partners, 
every minute.

Trainline Annual Report 2019/2037

Our key stakeholders 
and their significance 
to our business

What is important to them

How we engage with them

Highlights of the results 
of our engagement

Government and regulators

Government and 
regulatory policy 
determine the business 
environment in which 
Trainline operates.

•  Developing and implementing 

regulatory frameworks 
and guidelines.

•  Overall reduction of 
carbon emissions.

•  How Trainline can help 

Governments achieve their 
policy aims, including the 
move to sustainable travel and 
liberalisation of rail travel 
in Europe.

Trainline regularly meets and attends forum 
discussions with key policymakers, government 
representatives and industry bodies across the UK 
and wider Europe. 

During the year, our focus has been on: 

•  Engaging with multiple EU departments in 

relation to travel, sustainability and data-related 
initiatives, with the aim of ensuring a fair 
marketplace for all existing organisations and 
new entrants into the rail and coach markets.
•  In France, we engaged extensively in relation to 
the new Law on Mobility together with other 
relevant initiatives.

•  In the UK, we engaged extensively on the 

Williams Review, as well as continuing to work 
closely with the Department for Transport, Rail 
Delivery Group and consumer rights 
organisations such as Transport Focus.

•  Trainline was mentioned as an 
example of innovation by Keith 
Williams (leader of the Williams 
Review of rail).

•  The French Law on Mobility 

included provisions dealing with 
terms for fair distribution of rail and 
coach tickets.

•  The Open Data Directive included 
provisions dealing with terms for 
ensuring fair, reasonable and 
non-discriminatory access to rail 
data, including real-time data.

Our people

Ensuring that we attract, 
nurture and retain our 
people and focus them on 
achieving our strategy is 
key to Trainline’s success.

Trainline’s Board is keenly 
aware that the interests  
of our people should  
be considered when  
making decisions that may 
impact them and the 
wider business.

•  The opportunity to develop  

and progress.

•  An opportunity to contribute, 

take ownership and deliver to a 
clear and shared strategy.
•  Working with a diverse and 
gender-balanced team.
•  The opportunity to give  
back through charitable  
and social causes.
•  Work/life balance.
•  The opportunity to share in the 

success of the business.

•  Every six months, we undertake a Group-wide 
engagement survey, so we can see how our 
whole team are doing. The survey also allows us 
to measure our progress against our key 
engagement indicators.

•  Every month all our people across all our offices 
get together so our Management Team can 
bring everyone up to speed on our latest 
projects, the progress towards our strategy  
and our business performance.

•  We undertake performance reviews twice a year 
to help our people understand how they are 
performing against set objectives.

•  We provide a comprehensive Learning and 

Development programme.

•  Over 77% of our people contributed 
to our annual engagement survey 
and our overall engagement score 
increased by 2% in the past  
six months.

•  We have high levels of employee 

satisfaction, with 80% of our people 
saying they ‘are proud to work 
at Trainline’.

•  79% of our team say that they 

‘would recommend Trainline as a 
place to work’.

•  We have 5% regretted attrition in 
the year ended 28 February 2019.
•  We have increased our investment 

•  We offer a health and well-being programme 

in learning and development.

•  We have listened to feedback and 
are taking steps to improve our 
office environments.

•  All our people have access to share 
schemes and over 80% hold an 
interest in shares of the Company.

•  In total the Company met with 76 
existing shareholders and 89 
prospective investors since IPO.

that all our people can benefit from.

•  Since IPO, we’ve refreshed our share schemes so 

that all of our people can benefit from the 
success of the Company.

Since the IPO the Investor Relations Team, 
Executives and senior management have met 
regularly with investors via office visits, 
conferences and roadshows.

The Company has also held an investor and analyst 
meeting for the Group’s half-year results 
announcement and held quarterly results 
conference calls for analysts and investors.

The Chair of the Remuneration Committee 
consulted with major shareholders (representing 
over 60% of our issued share capital) on the 
proposed Directors’ Remuneration Policy which 
shareholders will be invited to vote on at our 
2020 AGM.

Our shareholders

The Board is accountable 
to shareholders.

•  Understanding the strategy 
and operations of the Group.

Trainline aims to ensure 
that a good dialogue with 
shareholders, investors 
and analysts is 
maintained, and that their 
issues and concerns are 
understood and 
considered by the Board, 
the Management 
Team and our people.

•  Financial performance and 

commercial success.

•  Understanding the exposure to 

macro-economic and 
political risk.

•  Opportunity for dialogue with 
management on key matters, 
e.g. performance and 
executive remuneration.

•  Sustainability and the 

environmental and ethical 
impact of the Group.

•  The governance structures that 

are in place and changes 
to them.

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20 IPO

In making its decision to proceed with 
the IPO the Board considered its 
consequences and the benefits of the 
financing and liquidity opportunities to 
the Company’s stakeholders.

As a result of that consideration the Board 
ensured that governance processes were 
introduced to help protect the interests of 
shareholders and that share plans were 
implemented to provide opportunities for 
our people to share in the success of the 
Company and to align them with the 
interests of shareholders. The Board also 
noted that the enhancement in the 
reputation of the Group and the increased 
financial security would be of benefit to its 
suppliers, customers and 
other stakeholders.

By considering these matters the 
directors have had regard to the matters 
set out in section 172(1)a to (f) of the 
Companies Act 2006 when performing 
their duty under section 172. 

38

Stakeholder Engagement continued

Section 172(1) Statement

Section 172 of the Companies Act 2006 
requires a director of a company to act 
in the way he or she considers, in good 
faith, would most likely promote the 
success of the Company for the benefit 
of its members as a whole. 

In doing this s.172 requires a director to 
have regard, amongst other matters, 
to the: 

•  likely consequences of any decision in 

the long-term; 

•  interests of the company’s employees; 

•  need to foster the company’s business 
relationships with suppliers, customers 
and others; 

•  impact of the company’s operations on 

the community and environment; 

•  desirability of the company 

maintaining a reputation for high 
standards of business conduct; and 

•  need to act fairly as between members 

of the company. 

The Board understands that how we 
behave matters not only to our people 
but also to the many stakeholders who 
have an interest in our business. 
We believe that productive business 
relationships with our suppliers, 
customers and other key stakeholders 
are key to the success of the Group and 
that the interests of relevant parties 
should be considered when making 
decisions that may impact them. 
Though engagement is carried out by 
those most relevant to the stakeholder 
or issue in question, the Board receive 
updates on the engagement that has 
been undertaken, the reoccurring 
questions, concerns raised and the 
feedback provided by the Group’s 
key stakeholders. 

When making decisions the Board takes 
the course of action that they consider 
best leads to the success of the 
Company over the long-term, and when 
doing so also consider the interests of 
the stakeholders that we interact with. 
The Board acknowledges that every 
decision made will not necessarily result 
in a positive outcome for all of our 
stakeholders but by considering the 
Group’s purpose and values together 
with its strategic priorities the Board 
aims to make sure its decision is 
consistent and predictable. 

We set out below some examples of 
how the directors have had regard to the 
matters set out in section 172(1)a to (f) 
when discharging their section 172 duty 
and the effect of that on certain of the 
decisions taken by them.

Annual Strategy Review

The Board carries out a review of the 
Company’s strategy on an annual basis. 
This includes approving the business 
plan for the following year and 
considering future years. In the most 
recent strategic review the Board 
received presentations from the 
Management Team which included 
senior executives from our People, 
Supply, Technology and Finance teams. 
The Board also received reports which, 
in addition to covering our business and 
financial performance, included papers 
relating to our people and our 
regulatory obligations.

In making its decision to approve the 
business plan and future strategy of the 
Company, the Board considered the 
feedback received from engagement 
exercises with our stakeholders. As a 
result of that consideration, the business 
plan and future strategy were focussed 
to ensure that they aligned with the 
issues and factors that are most relevant 
to our key stakeholders where these did 
not impact the long-term success of the 
Company or the enhancement of 
its reputation.

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20Non-Financial Information Statement

39

The following table sets out where non-financial information can be found 
within this Annual Report, further to the Financial Reporting Directive 
requirements contained in sections 414CA and 414CB of the Companies 
Act 2006. Where possible, it also states where additional information can 
be found that supports these requirements.

Reporting requirement

Relevant Trainline policies and procedures Where to read more in this report

Page

Business Model

Non-Financial KPI’s

Principal Risks

N/A

N/A

•  Our business model

•  Key Performance Indicators

Trainline risk management process

•  Principal risks and uncertainties

Environmental Matters

Environmental policy

•  Market overview

•  Global GHG emissions and energy use data

Human Rights

Human rights policy

•  Principal risks and uncertainties

Our People

Anti-slavery and human trafficking policy

•  Our people and culture

Trainline staff handbook and accompanying 
policies and procedures

•  Our people and culture

•  Principal risks and uncertainties

Social Matters

N/A

•  Stakeholder engagement

•  We give back

Anti-Corruption and Anti-Bribery Anti-fraud and corruption policy  

•  Audit, risk and internal control

and procedure

8

19

24

13

78

24

32

31

27

37

35

57

The Strategic Report, which has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006, has been approved 
by the Board and signed on its behalf.

On behalf of the Board

Neil Murrin
Company Secretary
7 May 2020

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20 40

Governance

Trainline Annual Report 2019/2041

In this section

Chair’s Governance Statement 
Our Board of Directors 
Report of the Nomination Committee 
Report of the Audit and Risk Committee 
Directors’ Remuneration Report and Policy 
Directors’ Report 
Statement of Directors’ responsibilities 

42
46
51
54
58
76
79

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20 42

Chair’s Governance Statement

Brian McBride 
Independent Non-executive Chair

“We firmly believe 
in doing business 
the right way by 
operating with high 
standards of 
business and 
personal integrity.”

Following the resignation of Philipp 
Freise on 12 November 2019, the Board 
is comprised entirely of executive and 
independent non-executive directors. 
Excluding myself, the Independent 
Non-executive Directors make up at 
least half of the Board membership. 

Stakeholders 

We have invested a considerable amount 
of time engaging with our stakeholders 
and our new shareholders, to help us 
understand their objectives and 
concerns but also to ensure they 
understand our business and strategy. 
You can read more on the highlights of 
this engagement on page 36.

Diversity 

The Board wholeheartedly supports all 
the work Trainline undertakes to create 
a diverse workforce and encourage our 
people to be engaged in our success. 
The Group is involved in a number of 
initiatives aimed at encouraging more 
women into technology, which you can 
read more about on page 31. 

External audit tender

The Audit & Risk Committee intended to 
undertake a competitive external audit 
tender with the appointment in place for 
the HY’21 results, however in light of 
COVID-19 the tender has been delayed 
and we now expect the appointment to 
be made in advance of the FY’21 Full-Year 
results for the FY’22 audit.

Further information on the tender and 
the assessments the Audit & Risk 
Committee have made when considering 
the effectiveness of the external audit 
process and the work of the current 
external auditor are available on  
page 54.

On behalf of the Board, I am pleased 
to provide an overview of Trainline’s 
corporate governance and reports from 
the Board’s Committees. 

Governance

The Board is committed to the highest 
standards of corporate governance. 
We have a clear governance structure 
which ensures that we as a Board, and 
Trainline as a business, act responsibly 
in decision-making, management of risk 
and delivery of our objectives. 

Governance policies and processes to 
comply with the 2018 UK Corporate 
Governance Code (the ‘Governance 
Code’) were established for our IPO in 
June and have been maintained since. 

Board

Our Board sets the tone and culture for 
the Group and the expectations placed 
on our team. We firmly believe in doing 
business the right way by operating with 
high standards of business and 
personal integrity. 

We have recruited experienced and 
knowledgeable Independent Non-
executive Directors, in Duncan Tatton-
Brown and Kjersti Wiklund who along 
with myself, understand the business 
and possess the backgrounds and skills 
in technology, innovation and high 
growth companies required to be 
effective in our roles. 

The search for our Senior Independent 
Non-executive Director is ongoing. 
Ensuring the candidate has the right skills, 
experience and knowledge to complement 
our existing Board members is a key goal 
for myself and the Nomination Committee 
which is why we have taken the time to 
ensure we make the right appointment. 
I look forward to introducing the 
appointee in due course. 

I would like to thank Douglas S. 
McCallum, Philipp Freise and Franziska 
Kayser for their service to Trainline 
during their time on the Board and wish 
them well in their future endeavours. 

Trainline Annual Report 2019/2043

If you have any questions you wished to 
raise with the Board at the AGM, I invite 
you to submit it via email to 
investor@trainline.com before the AGM 
takes place. We will maintain a list of 
responses to frequently asked questions 
in relation to our AGM on our website at 
https://investors.thetrainline.com/AGM.

In the event that the Stay at Home 
measures are lifted in part or in full prior 
to the AGM, the Board will consider 
whether shareholders should be allowed 
to attend the AGM in person taking into 
account first and foremost the health 
and safety of attendees. Any changes 
to restrictions on attendance will be 
reflected on our website at  
https://investors.thetrainline.com/AGM.

Brian McBride
Independent Non-executive Chair
7 May 2020

Board remuneration

In early April, in recognition of the 
uncertainty generated by COVID-19, the 
CEO volunteered to take a 50% salary 
reduction (to £287,500), the CFO 
volunteered to take a 20% reduction (to 
£320,000) and the Chair and Non-
executive Directors’ base fees were also 
voluntarily reduced by 20%. 
The reductions took effect from 20 April 
2020 and will stay in place for the 
foreseeable future. 

Also, in line with the Group-wide 
decision to defer the payment of all 
bonuses until such time that the impact 
of COVID-19 has ended, the Executive 
Directors’ bonuses will also be 
deferred accordingly.

The Remuneration Policy that will be put 
to shareholders to vote upon at our 2020 
AGM and that we intend to operate 
through to 2023 is detailed on pages 61 
to 68. Kjersti has provided commentary 
on the development of the Remuneration 
Policy and the engagement with 
shareholders that has been undertaken 
on page 58. I encourage you to read this 
and hope that we can count on your 
support when you consider how to vote 
at the AGM.

Annual General Meeting 

Attendance at the AGM will not be 
permitted if the Government’s 
compulsory COVID-19 Stay at Home 
measures, prohibiting public gatherings 
of more than two people, are still in 
place at the time of the AGM.

Given the above, I strongly encourage 
you to appoint the chair of the AGM as 
your proxy with directions as to how to 
cast your vote on the resolutions 
proposed. In doing so your vote will be 
cast without the need for you to attend.

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20 44

Board Leadership and Company Purpose 

The Board recognises that culture plays a fundamental role in the delivery of 
Trainline’s purpose and the successful execution of its strategy. The Board 
is ultimately responsible for ensuring that its activities reflect the culture we 
wish to instil in our people and the Chair of the Board therefore sets a clear 
emphasis on setting the tone from the top and leading by example.

The Chair of the Remuneration 
Committee updated the Board on her 
consultation with major shareholders 
(representing over 60% of our issued 
share capital) on the proposed Directors’ 
Remuneration Policy which shareholders 
will be invited to vote on at our 2020 
AGM. Further details on how the Group 
has engaged with shareholders and 
other stakeholders are available on  
page 36.

The Board uses all these and other 
informal reporting streams to monitor 
whether the culture and behaviours the 
Group strives for aligns with reality. 

The Board is satisfied that the Group’s 
culture is a positive one and is conducive 
to the successful execution of its purpose 
and its strategy.

As part of the business of each Board 
meeting, the CEO typically submits a 
company update, giving details of 
progress against goals and the macro 
environment in which Trainline 
operates. The Board also receives 
accounting and other management 
information about Trainline’ resources, 
and presentations on legal, governance 
and regulatory developments.

To ensure that the Board has good 
visibility of the key operations of the 
business, members of the Management 
Team attend Board meetings regularly to 
update the Board on their specific areas 
of expertise and the execution of the 
Group’s strategy.

To help the Board understand the views 
and concerns of the workforce, the 
Senior Independent Non-executive 
Director will be designated as the 
Non-executive Director for Workforce 
Engagement. Once appointed, as part 
of their role the Senior Independent 
Non-executive Director will attend 
colleague engagement sessions,  
meet individually with workforce 
representatives to discuss their views 
and concerns, and will report on these 
to the Board to help us understand the 
culture of the Company as well as to 
hear our people’s concerns and ideas.

The Board has received reports 
throughout the year on stakeholder 
issues and concerns, including details of 
our Group-wide colleague engagement 
surveys and updates from senior 
management on the issues and concerns 
raised by shareholders and stakeholders. 

The principal matters considered by the Board during the year were:

Strategy Development and Planning

•  Strategy planning and review

Operational

•  Progress towards strategic goals

Shareholders and Stakeholders

Financial Performance 
and Risk

Other Activities

•  Investor relations updates
•  Key stakeholder updates

•  Financial results
•  Annual and half-yearly reports

•  Talent management
•  Culture and colleague engagement

Environmental, Social  
and Corporate Governance

•  Implementation of governance 
processes arising from the IPO

Trainline Annual Report 2019/2045

Our culture
Wow our customers
Blaze new trails
Focus on impact
One team

Our strategy
Enhance customer  
experience
Build demand  
Optimise revenues
Grow Trainline for Business

Our purpose
To make rail and coach travel easier and 
more accessible, thereby encouraging 
people to make more environmentally 
sustainable travel choices

Our purpose, 
culture, 
behaviours  
and strategy

Our behaviours
Be customer obsessed
Think big
Simplify
Take ownership
Be curious
Build trust
Encourage honesty
Bring positivity

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20 46

Our Board of Directors

Brian McBride

Clare Gilmartin

Shaun McCabe

Independent Non-executive Chair 

Executive Director and  
Chief Executive Officer

Executive Director and  
Chief Financial Officer

Skills and experience: 

Skills and experience: 

Skills and experience: 

Clare has been CEO of Trainline since 
2014, leading the business through a 
period of rapid growth and expansion. 
Prior to Trainline, Clare was Vice 
President, Greater Europe for eBay. 
Clare holds a Bachelor of Commerce 
(Int) degree from University College of 
Dublin and is its Business Alumni of the 
Year 2019.

Shaun joined the Group and became 
Chief Financial Officer in September 
2016. Prior to this, Shaun held the 
position of International Director for 
ASOS, and previously as Chief Financial 
Officer for Amazon Europe. Shaun is a 
Chartered Accountant (ICAEW) and 
holds a bachelor’s degree in Finance and 
Economics from the University of Essex.

Other appointments: 

Other appointments: 

Adviser to Future Frontiers, an award-
winning social enterprise that provides 
career guidance to pupils from low 
income backgrounds, and through 
Trainline is a supporter of Code 
First: Girls.

Non-executive Director for AO, an 
online-only retailer operation in the 
UK, Germany and the Netherlands.

Brian has a strong track record in leading 
businesses having held many senior 
positions throughout his career including 
Chair of ASOS from 2012 to 2018 and 
Chief Executive Officer of Amazon.co.uk 
from 2006 to 2011. He has also held 
Non-executive Director positions at AO 
World plc, Computacenter PLC,  
SThree PLC and Celtic FC PLC.  
He was previously on the Board of the 
BBC and was a member of the Advisory 
Board of Huawei UK.

Other appointments: 

Non-executive Director at Standard Life 
Aberdeen plc, Wiggle Ltd and Kinnevik 
AB. Brian is also Senior Adviser to 
Lazard’s Global Financial Advisory 
business and a Senior Adviser to Scottish 
Equity Partners. He is a member of the 
UK Government’s Digital Advisory Board, 
which steers the digital delivery of 
Government services to UK citizens.

Committees:

N 

*
  R 

Trainline Annual Report 2019/2047

Duncan Tatton-Brown

Kjersti Wiklund

Independent 
Non-executive Director

Independent 
Non-executive Director

Attendance during 
the financial year

Board Member

Meetings

Skills and experience: 

Skills and experience: 

Duncan has been the Chief Financial 
Officer of Ocado plc since 2012. Prior to 
joining Ocado, Duncan held the Chief 
Financial Officer’s role at Fitness First 
plc, and prior to that, Duncan was Group 
Finance Director of Kingfisher plc. 
He has also been Finance Director of 
B&Q plc and Chief Financial Officer of 
Virgin Entertainment Group and held 
various senior finance positions at Burton 
Group Plc. Until July 2018, Duncan was 
a Non-executive Director and Senior 
Independent Director of Zoopla Property 
Group PLC. Prior to this, he was a 
Non-executive Director and Audit 
Committee Chair of Rentokil Initial plc. 
Duncan holds a master’s degree in 
Engineering from King’s College, 
Cambridge. He is also a member 
of the Chartered Institute of 
Management Accountants.

Kjersti has held senior roles, including 
Director, Group Technology Operations 
of Vodafone, and Chief Operating 
Officer of VimpelCom Russia, Deputy 
Chief Executive Officer and Chief 
Technology Officer of Kyivstar in 
Ukraine, Executive Vice President and 
Chief Technology Officer of Digi 
Telecommunications in Malaysia, and 
Executive Vice President and Chief 
Information Officer at Telenor in Norway. 
Kjersti was also a Non-executive Director 
of Laird PLC in the United Kingdom, 
Cxense ASA in Norway, Fast Search & 
Transfer ASA in Norway and Telescience 
Inc in the United States. She holds a 
Master of Business Management from 
BI Norwegian Business School and an 
MSc in Electronical Engineering 
from Chalmers University of 
Technology, Sweden.

Other appointments: 

Other appointments: 

Chief Financial Officer of Ocado plc.

Committees:

*
  R 
N    AR 

Non-executive Director of Babcock 
International Group PLC, Spectris PLC 
and Zegona Communications PLC.

Committees:

N    AR    R 

*

7/7

7/7

7/7

7/7

7/7

4/4

4/4

3/3

Brian McBride  
(Chair since 5th Nov. 2019)

Clare Gilmartin (CEO)

Shaun McCabe (CFO)

Duncan Tatton-Brown (INED)

Kjersti Wiklund (INED)

Douglas S. McCallum  
(Chair until 5th Nov. 2019)

Philipp Freise  
(NED until 12th Nov 2019)

Franziska Kayser  
(NED until 20th Sep 2019)

Key

AR  Audit & Risk Committee member

R 

Remuneration & Nomination 
Committee member

N    Nomination Committee member

*

  Denotes Committee Chair

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20  
 
48

Division of Responsibilities

Governance structure

The Board operates with the assistance of three permanent Board Committees and delegates authority 
on specific matters to other committees where it considers it appropriate to do so.

Trainline plc Board of Directors

Supported by 
Audit & Risk Committee

Monitors the integrity of the Group’s financial statements and reports to the Board on the Annual Report and Financial 
Statements and other disclosures;

Oversees the external auditor and monitors their independence;

Monitors and reviews the internal control and risk management system;

Reviews whistleblowing, fraud, bribery and other compliance policies and procedures.

Supported by 
Remuneration Committee

Develops the Group’s policy on Board remuneration and monitors its ongoing appropriateness; 

Determines the levels of remuneration for Executive Directors, the Chair and the Company’s senior management; 

Reviews colleague remuneration and administers the Group’s share schemes.

Supported by 
Nomination Committee

Monitors the composition of the Board and its Committees, including the effectiveness of its members; 

Leads the process for Board appointments; 

Plans for the orderly succession of Board and senior management positions and oversees the development of a diverse pipeline.

Supported by 
Trainline’s Management Team

Lead by our CEO, Trainline’s Management Team is comprised of the Group’s senior 
executives who are responsible for developing, informing and monitoring the strategy as set 
by the Board. The executives oversee the day-to-day operations of Trainline and come together 
to review, assess and agree on actions to be taken to achieve the objectives of the Group.

To see more information about Trainline’s Management Team, visit investors.thetrainline.com

Trainline Annual Report 2019/2049

Senior Independent  
Non-executive Director

•  acts as a sounding board for the Chair;

•  is available to shareholders if they 

have concerns which have not been 
resolved through the normal channels 
of communication with the Company 
or for which such contact is 
inappropriate; and

•  at least annually, leads a meeting of 

the Non-executive Directors, without 
the Chair present, to appraise the 
performance of the Chair, taking into 
account the views of the 
Executive Directors.

The role of the Board

Our Board is the driving force of 
Trainline strategy, culture and 
governance, ensuring that our high 
standards are consistent across the 
business. It is accountable to Trainline’s 
shareholders and seeks to represent the 
interest of other stakeholders when 
setting our long-term focus, strategy, 
culture and policies, ensuring that the 
Group has the right resources, 
overseeing risk and corporate 
governance, and monitoring progress 
towards meeting our objectives and 
annual plans.

Our Directors are collectively 
responsible for the success of Trainline. 
The Non-executive Directors exercise 
independent, objective judgement in 
respect of Board decisions, and 
scrutinise and challenge management. 
They also have various responsibilities 
concerning the integrity of financial 
information, internal controls and risk 
management. The Board considered the 
RSU grant to Brian McBride on his 
appointment to the Board and at the 
time of his appointment as Chair and 
considered him to be independent.

The Board conducts an annual review of 
the Group’s overall strategy. The CEO, 
CFO and the Executive Team take the 
lead in developing our strategy, which is 
then reviewed, constructively challenged 
and approved by the Board.

The Board works to ensure that the 
Company generates and maintains value 
over the long-term. By embodying and 
promoting Trainline’s culture, the Board 
works to monitor and assess Trainline’s 
objectives in developing world-class 
technology and maintaining Trainline’s 
robust and scalable business model with 
due regard to Trainline’s customers, 
people, suppliers and other 
key stakeholders.

The role of the Chair, 
the Chief Executive Officer 
and the Senior Independent 
Non-executive Director

There is a clear division between 
executive and non-executive 
responsibilities to ensure accountability 
and appropriate oversight. The roles of 
Chair and Chief Executive Officer are 
separately held and their responsibilities 
are well defined in writing and 
in practice.

Chair

•  leads the Board and is responsible for 
its overall effectiveness in directing 
the Group;

•  shapes the culture in the boardroom, 
in particular by promoting openness 
and debate;

•  sets a board agenda primarily focused 

on strategy, performance, value 
creation, culture, stakeholders and 
accountability, ensuring that issues 
relevant to these areas are reserved 
for board decision; and

•  demonstrates objective judgement.

Chief Executive Officer

•  develops the Group’s proposed 

strategy, plans, commercial and other 
objectives for the Board to consider 
and then deliver the Boards decisions;

•  manages the Group on a day-to-day 

basis within the authority delegated by 
the Board; 

•  keeps the Chair and the Board 

informed of potentially complex, 
contentious or sensitive issues 
affecting the Group; and

•  manages the Group’s risk profile  

in line with the assessment made by 
the Board.

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20 50

Composition, Succession and Evaluation

Board composition 

Board succession

Board evaluation 

Appointments to the Board are made 
solely on merit with the objective of 
ensuring that the Board contains an 
appropriate balance of skills and 
knowledge of the Group and its 
business, and length of service.

Appointments are made based upon 
the recommendations made by the 
Nomination Committee with due 
consideration given to diversity. 
In compliance with the Governance 
Code at least half of the Board, 
excluding the Chair, is composed of 
Independent Non-executive Directors.

Since our IPO the following changes 
have taken place in the membership 
of the Board:

Brian McBride succeeded Douglas 
S. McCallum as Independent  
Non-executive Chair of the Board  
on 5 November 2019

Douglas S. McCallum resigned as 
Non-executive Chair of the Board 
on 5 November 2019 

Philipp Freise resigned as a Non-
executive Director on 12 November 2019

Franziska Kayser resigned as a  
Non-executive Director on 
20 September 2019

Since the IPO the Chair has met privately 
with the Chief Executive Officer and 
separately with the Independent 
Non-executive Directors, without the 
Executive Directors being present, during 
which time they have been invited to 
raise any concerns they may have about 
the Board and its effectiveness.

An evaluation of the operation and 
effectiveness of the Board, its 
Committees and individual directors will 
take place during the next financial year, 
the process and the outcomes of which 
will be reported upon in the next Annual 
Report. The Board intends to comply 
with the Governance Code guidance 
that an externally facilitated evaluation 
take place at least every three years.

Length of tenure of 
Non-executive Directors*

0–3 years

3–6 years

6+ years

100

Composition of the Board

Independence

Independent
Non-executive
Chair
Executive

2

2

1

Directors’ nationalities

*  Owing to this being the first year since the Admission of Trainline  

to the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange.

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20Report of the Nomination Committee

51

I am pleased to present Trainline’s first 
Report of the Nomination Committee 
as a listed company which provides a 
summary of the Committee’s role and 
activities for the period since the IPO 
until 29 February 2020.

During the period we reviewed the 
areas under our remit in accordance with 
the Committee’s terms of reference. 
These reviews assist the Board in 
determining appointments to the Board 
and succession planning for the Board 
and senior management team. 
Apart from the need to appoint a Senior 
Independent Non-executive Director, 
the Committee is satisfied with the 
current composition of the Board and 
its Committees though it will continue 
to monitor and refresh their composition 
where appropriate.

Membership

The Committee comprises three 
Independent Non-executive directors, 
Kjersti Wiklund, Duncan Tatton-Brown, 
and myself (Brian McBride) as its Chair. 
The biography of each member of the 
Committee is set out on pages 46 to 47. 

During the period, Douglas McCallum 
resigned from the Committee following 
his resignation as Chair of the Board.

The Committee’s key activities 

Key matters discussed by the Committee 
since IPO included a review of: 

•  the structure, size and composition 
of the Board post IPO, including the 
skills, knowledge, independence, 
experience and diversity of its 
members; and

•  the appointment of Brian McBride 

as Chair of the Board.

The Committee’s Key Activities 
Planned For FY’21

Prior to the Committee’s next report 
for FY’21 it intends to undertake the 
following key activities:

•  appoint a Senior Independent  

Non-executive Director;

•  a review of succession planning 

arrangements for the Board and senior 
management and whether this and the 
Board appointment process support 
the development of a diverse pipeline 
of candidates;

•  the annual evaluation of the Board; 

and

•  a review of the Group’s policies 
on diversity and inclusion, their 
implementation and progress 
against objectives.

Brian McBride
Chair of the Nomination Committee
7 May 2020

Brian McBride 
Chair of the 
Nomination Committee

Attendance during 
the financial year

Committee Member

Meetings

Brian McBride  
(Chair since 5th Nov. 2019)

Duncan Tatton-Brown (INED)

Kjersti Wiklund (INED)

1/1

1/1

1/1

Our responsibilities

•  Monitor the composition of 

the Board and its Committees, 
including the effectiveness of 
its members

•  Lead the process for 
Board appointments

•  Plan for the orderly 

succession of Board and 
senior management positions 
and oversee the development 
of a diverse pipeline

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20 52

Report of the Nomination Committee continued 

During the period since IPO, the 
Committee has used the services of 
The Up Group Ltd as external executive 
search consultants. Trainline also utilises 
the services of The Up Group when 
making senior appointments, below 
Board level, to the Group. The Up Group 
has no other connection with the 
Company or the Board.

Succession planning

The Directors believe that the current 
composition of the senior management 
team combines deep operational 
knowledge of the UK and International 
rail industry with digital expertise which 
will help deliver the Group’s next phase 
of growth and strengthen its 
leadership position.

During FY’21 the Committee intends 
to undertake a review of succession 
planning arrangements for the Board 
and senior management and assess 
whether the succession planning 
arrangements and the Board 
appointment process support the 
development of a diverse pipeline 
of candidates.

Role and work of the 
Nomination Committee

The Committee met once during the 
period since IPO which all Committee 
members attended.

In future years the Committee will meet 
twice per year with meetings held to 
coincide with key events, in particular 
the evaluation of the Board and 
Committee. The Chair of the Committee 
reports at the next subsequent Board 
meeting on the business concluded at the 
previous Committee, the discharge of its 
responsibilities and informs the Board of 
any recommendations made 
by the Committee.

The Committee acts in accordance with 
its terms of reference and the matters 
delegated to it by the Board.

Key areas of focus for 
the Nomination Committee

The main matters that the Committee 
considered during the period are 
described as following:

The appointment of Brian McBride as 
Independent Non-executive Chair

The Committee considered the 
succession planning for the previous 
Chair of the Board, who did not meet 
the independence criteria under the UK 
Corporate Governance Code 2018, and 
the proposal in the IPO prospectus that 
Brian McBride be appointed as Chair of 
the Board following a post-IPO 
transitionary period.

After considering the structure, size 
and composition of the Board, including 
the skills, knowledge, independence, 
experience and diversity of its members, 
the Committee agreed that the proposal 
to appoint Brian as Chair of the Board 
was still appropriate.

The Committee was cognisant that 
this would leave the position of Senior 
Independent Non-executive Director 
vacant but agreed that as Brian was 
particularly qualified to be Chair of 
the Board and that, as the search for a 
suitable candidate to replace him as 
Senior Independent Non-executive 
Director was ongoing, it was appropriate 
to recommend the appointment to 
the Board. 

Selection process for 
the appointment of 
new Board members

When considering new appointments 
to the Board, the Committee:

•  selects appropriate external executive 

search consultants for the role 
in question;

•  prepares a specification for 

candidates, setting out the agreed 
key skills and character profile being 
sought to fit the desired balance, 
membership and dynamics of 
the Board;

•  receives a long list of candidates 

meeting the specification, ensuring 
that this includes candidates from a 
diverse range of backgrounds and 
that it includes a sufficient number  
of female candidates;

•  agrees a shortlist and invites these 

candidates to be interviewed by the 
Chair, the Chief Executive Officer, 
the Chief Financial Officer and other 
members of the Board where 
appropriate; and

•  agrees on the preferred candidates 
and recommends them to the Board.

Trainline Annual Report 2019/2053

Diversity and inclusion

Director reappointment

In accordance with the provisions of the 
Governance Code, all Directors will retire 
at the forthcoming AGM of the Company 
and the Board has recommended their 
reappointment. In reaching its decision 
to recommend reappointment, the Board 
acted on the advice of the 
Nomination Committee.

All the Directors being proposed for 
reappointment attended all meetings 
they were scheduled to attend and the 
Committee is satisfied they devote 
sufficient time to their duties and 
demonstrate great enthusiasm and 
commitment to their roles.

One of the pivotal considerations on any 
appointment to the Board is diversity. 
The Committee will take an active role in 
setting and meeting diversity objectives 
and strategies for the Group as a whole. 
The Board’s policy is to continue to seek 
and encourage diversity within long and 
shortlists, including with regard to gender, 
as part of the overall selection process 
for non-executive director roles. The 
Committee believe we have a diverse 
Board which is able to effectively serve 
the Company’s interests.

The Committee recognises that 
technology is a male dominated sector 
and that the Group has more work to do 
to balance its gender split. Whilst there 
are no quick fixes, the Group takes an 
active role in improving diversity in the 
technology sector. Further information 
on Trainline’s initiatives to improve 
diversity is available on page 31.

The Committee intends to review the 
Group’s diversity and inclusion policies 
during the FY’21 period, how they link to 
the Group’s objectives and strategy, how 
they are being implemented, and 
progress towards achieving diversity 
and inclusion objectives.

Gender balance (actual headcount as at 29 February 2020)

Board of Directors

Senior Management Team and 
their direct reports

All our People

Male
Female

Male
Female

Male

Female

3

2

61%

39%

64%

36%

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20 54

Report of the Audit and Risk Committee

Duncan Tatton-Brown
Chair of the Audit and 
Risk Committee

Attendance during 
the financial year

Committee Member

Meetings

Duncan Tatton-Brown (INED)

Kjersti Wiklund (INED)

Brian McBride (prior to his 
appointment as Chair of the Board)

3/3

3/3

2/2

Our responsibilities
•  Monitor the integrity of the 

Company’s financial statements 
and report to the Board on the 
Annual Report and 
Financial Statements 
and other disclosures

•  Oversee the external auditor and 

monitor their independence

•  Monitor and review the internal 
control and risk management 
system and internal audit function

•  Review whistleblowing, fraud, 
bribery and other compliance 
policies and procedures

I am pleased to present Trainline’s first 
Report of the Audit and Risk Committee 
as a listed company, which provides a 
summary of the Committee’s role and 
activities for the period since the IPO 
until 29 February 2020.

During the period, we reviewed the 
areas under our remit with management 
and external auditors, in accordance 
with the Committee’s terms of reference. 
These reviews help ensure the interests 
of our shareholders are protected and 
that the Group’s reporting is fair, 
balanced and understandable.

Membership

The Committee comprises two 
Independent Non-executive Directors, 
Kjersti Wiklund and myself (Duncan 
Tatton-Brown) as its Chair. During the 
period, Brian McBride resigned from the 
Committee following his appointment as 
Chair of the Board.

The biography of each member of the 
Committee is set out on page 47. 
The Committee as a whole has the 
competence relevant to the sector in 
which the Group operates. As a member 
of the Chartered Institute of Management 
Accountants and as Chief Financial Officer 
of a FTSE100 Company I have the relevant 
financial knowledge and extensive 
experience to be the Chair of 
the Committee.

The Committee’s key activities 
during FY’20

Key matters discussed by the Committee 
since IPO included a review of:

•  the impact of COVID-19 on the Group, 

and the Going Concern and 
Viability Statement;

•  the adequacy and effectiveness of the 
Company’s internal financial controls;

•  the Group’s risk management process, 
including the risk register, the internal 
control system and the effectiveness 
and independence of the risk 
management function;

•  the integrity of the financial 

statements of the Company and any 
formal announcements relating to its 
financial performance;

•  the Group’s accounting policies, the use 
of Alternative Performance Measures, 
significant financial reporting issues, 
judgements and estimates, including 
the completion accounting treatment 
of the IPO and pre and post-IPO 
share schemes;

•  whether this Annual Report, taken 
as a whole, is fair, balanced and 
understandable, provides shareholders 
with the information necessary to assess 
the Company’s position, performance, 
business model and strategy, and the 
completeness of the included disclosures;

•  the plans for and outcome of the 

preparation and review of the Group’s 
half year results and the audit of these 
year end financial statements 
including presentations from both 
management and the external auditor;

•  the effectiveness of the external 

audit process, the independence and 
objectivity of the external auditor and 
the supply of non-audit services by the 
external auditor, including its network 
firms, to the Group;

•  the need for and development of the 

Internal Audit function

•  the Group’s whistleblowing policies;

•  the post-IPO Group reorganisation;

•  the Group’s tax strategy; and

•  the Groups compliance with Rail 

Delivery Group licence requirements.

The Committee’s key activities 
planned For FY’21

Prior to the Committee’s next report 
for FY’21 it intends to undertake the 
following key activities:

•  conduct a competitive tender for the 
provision of external audit services 
with the appointment in place for the 
full-year results;

•  oversee the implementation of the 

internal audit function; and

•  undertake a review of the Committee’s 

performance since the IPO, its 
composition and terms of reference. 

Duncan Tatton-Brown
Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee
7 May 2020

Trainline Annual Report 2019/2055

Role and work of the Audit 
& Risk Committee

Meetings are held to coincide with key 
events, in particular the reporting and 
audit cycle for the Group. The Chair 
of the Committee reports at the next 
subsequent Board meeting on the 
business concluded at the previous 
Committee, the discharge of its 
responsibilities and informs the Board 
of any recommendations made by 
the Committee.

Key areas of focus for the 
Audit & Risk Committee  
during FY’20

Going concern and viability 
assessments

The Committee reviewed and advised 
the Board on the Group’s going concern 
and viability statements included in this 
Annual Report and the assessment 
reports prepared by management in 
support of such statements. The current 
and anticipated impact of COVID-19 
was considered as part of the review. 
The external auditor discussed the 
statements with the Committee and 
reviewed the conclusions reached by 
management regarding going concern 
and viability.

Financial Statements and reporting

Internal controls review

The Committee monitored the financial 
reporting process for the Group, which 
included receiving reports from, and 
discussing these with, the external 
auditor. As part of the year end reporting 
process the Committee reviewed this 
Annual Report, a management report on 
accounting estimates and judgements, 
a management report on Alternative 
Performance Measures, the external 
auditor’s report on internal controls, 
accounting and reporting matters, 
and management representation 
letters concerning accounting and 
reporting matters.

Monitoring the integrity of the 
Company’s financial statements, 
the financial reporting process and 
reviewing the significant accounting 
issues are key roles of the Committee. 
The Committee plays an important role 
in advising the Board when it considers 
whether the Annual Report, taken as a 
whole is fair, balanced and understandable 
and provides the information necessary 
for shareholders to assess the 
Company’s position, performance, 
business model and strategy.

The Board monitors the key elements 
of the Group’s internal control and risk 
management framework arrangements 
supported by the Audit and Risk 
Committee. During the period the 
Committee advised the Board on its 
review of the effectiveness of the systems 
and processes including financial, 
operational and compliance controls. 

Accounting judgements and key 
sources of estimation uncertainty

The Committee assessed whether 
suitable accounting policies had been 
adopted and the reasonableness of the 
judgements and estimates that had been 
made by management.

The Committee also reviewed the 
impact of the new accounting standard, 
International Financial Reporting 
Standard (IFRS) 16, on the Group’s 
leases and the accounting adjustments 
required. The Committee considered 
and agreed with managements 
proposed implementation.

The Committee, alongside management 
and the external auditor identified the 
areas set out in the table below as the 
key areas of judgment and estimation.

Key areas of judgement and estimation
Issue Considered

Going concern

The going concern disclosure is an area of judgement. Given 
the current COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting economic 
conditions the level of uncertainty around this judgement is 
considered higher in the current environment. Additionally 
there is significant heightened public interest and scrutiny 
around the ability of companies to continue for a period of 
12 months should these conditions prevail.

Carrying value of goodwill

The carrying value of goodwill depends on the Group's ability 
to meet future trading forecasts. There is inherent uncertainty 
in forecasting future cash flows and as such this area of 
estimate is a focus for the Committee.

Share-based payments

Judgement is required when assessing whether share-based 
payment arrangements are cash or equity settled. Depending on 
the allocation as cash or equity settled impacts the accounting 
treatment and whether the instruments are required to be 
remeasured at fair value at each Balance Sheet date. 

Financial Statement disclosures

As this is the first Annual Report Trainline plc will prepare as a 
Company listed on the UK Stock Exchange there is a risk that 
the disclosures and reporting requirements of a UK listed 
Company are not met.

How the issue was addressed

The Committee considered the work performed by management in assessing the Group's ability 
to continue as a going concern, particularly around its consideration of the impact of COVID-19  
and the steps taken to protect the Group's liquidity. As part of this review the Committee reviewed 
management's 'worst case' cash burn scenario which showed the Group has sufficient cash and 
liquidity headroom to continue for a period of greater than 12 months with no sales. This combined 
with the covenant waiver led the Committee to conclude there is no material uncertainty around the 
Group's ability to continue as a going concern and as such the disclosures in this area are appropriate. 

The Committee reviewed and discussed Management's conclusions around the carrying value 
of goodwill, including: the methodology applied; the achievability of the business plans and how 
COVID-19 had been reflected in the plans; considering the appropriateness of discount rates and 
long term growth rates applied and considering the outcome of sensitivity analysis. The Committee 
agreed with Management's conclusion that an impairment is not required (FY'19 £nil).

The Committee considered the treatment of new share-based payment schemes issued during the 
year, particularly their treatment as cash or equity settled. The Committee considered Management 
accounting papers referencing the underlying legal documentation and the requirements of IFRS2, 
Share-Based Payments. The Committee agreed with Management’s conclusion to treat post IPO 
equity schemes as equity settled. 

The Committee have reviewed the Financial Statements in detail and provided comments. 
Additionally they considered Management papers in relation to Financial Statement presentation 
and the external auditors findings. The Committee noted that an appropriate process had been 
followed in checking completeness and accuracy of disclosures and as such concluded the Financial 
Statement disclosures were adequate. 

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20 56

Report of the Audit and Risk Committee continued

Internal Audit

The Committee reviewed the need for 
an internal audit function, recommended 
its implementation be facilitated by an 
external third party and began a tender 
process which has been delayed due 
to COVID-19. The Committee intends 
to continue the tender and oversee 
implementation of the internal audit 
function during FY’21.

Tax strategy review

The Committee reviewed the Group’s tax 
strategy and related disclosures in this 
Annual Report prior to review and 
approval by the Board.

Risk management review

The Committee received updates from 
the Group’s risk management function, 
in particular on the Company’s risk 
register and whistleblowing system and 
policies, prior to the Board determining 
the Company’s overall risk appetite, 
tolerance and strategy.

The Committee, in supporting the 
Board to assess the effectiveness of 
risk management and internal control 
processes, relies on reporting by 
management, compliance reports 
and the assurance provided by the 
external auditor.

The Board discussed and reviewed the 
Group’s risk appetite when reviewing 
the principal risks and the strategy for 
the Group. Regular review of the risk 
appetite ensures that the Company’s 
risk exposure remains appropriate and 
acceptable in enabling the Group to 
achieve its strategic objectives. 
The Committee considers the Group 
risk appetite and principal risks when 
considering the effectiveness of the risk 
management system.

Assessing the effectiveness 
of the external audit process 
and the external auditor

The Committee places great importance 
on ensuring that the external audit is 
effective and of a high standard. 
The Committee reviewed and approved 
the annual audit plan to ensure it was 
consistent with the scope of the audit 
engagement. In reviewing the audit 
plan, the Committee discussed the areas 
identified by the external auditor as most 
likely to give rise to a material financial 
reporting error or those that are 
perceived to be of higher risk and 
requiring additional audit emphasis 
(including those set out in the 
Independent Auditor’s Report). 
The Committee also considered the 
audit scope and materiality threshold. 
The Committee also met privately with 
the external auditor, without Company 
management presence, to discuss their 
remit and issues arising from their work.

KPMG have acted as external auditor 
to the Group since 2002 with the current 
Audit Partner, Sarah Styant, 
in the role for 1 year. 

Independence and objectivity

The Committee considered the safeguards 
in place to protect the external auditor’s 
independence. KPMG provided a letter 
of independence to the Committee 
reporting that it had considered its 
independence in relation to the audit 
and confirmed that it complies with UK 
regulatory and professional requirements 
and that its objectivity is not compromised. 
The Committee took this into account 
when considering the external auditor’s 
independence and concluded that 
KPMG remained independent and 
objective in relation to the audit.

Non-audit work carried out by the 
external auditor

The Committee has set a policy around 
the provision of non-audit services 
by the external auditor. This policy 
is designed to comply with the FRC 
guidance on the provision of non-audit 
services and help maintain the 
independence and integrity of the 
Group’s external auditor. The policy sets 
out specific considerations around the 
provision of non-audit services and 
requires approval by part or all the 
Committee for any proposed services 
with an expected fee of more than 
£50,000.

The fees paid for non-audit services 
during the year ended 29 February 2020 
amounted to £1.7million. £1.6 million of 
these fees related to services provided 
by the external audit firm as part of the 
IPO process and were incurred before 
the Company listed. The fees relating to 
the IPO were one-off in nature and are 
not expected to reoccur. The external 
auditor has undertaken audit-related 
assurance services for the provision of 
the accountants report in relation to the 
historical financial information for the 
IPO and audit-related assurance services 
for the 31 August 2019 half-year review 
for fees totalling £0.1 million. Further  
details of these amounts can be found 
in Note 3 of the Financial Statements. 

Certain types of work, as defined by the 
FRC, are explicitly prohibited to be 
provided to the Group including specific 
tax advisory services and internal audit 
services. A detailed list of prohibited 
services is included in the Committee’s 
non-audit services policy.

Audit fees

The Committee was satisfied that the 
level of audit fees payable in respect of 
the audit services provided (being 
£297,000) was appropriate and that an 
effective audit could be conducted for 
such a fee.

Trainline Annual Report 2019/2057

External audit tender and 
statement of compliance with the 
Competition and Markets Authority 
(CMA) order

In order to comply with The Statutory 
Audit Services for Large Companies 
Market Investigation (Mandatory Use of 
Competitive Processes and Audit 
Committee Responsibilities) Order 2014 
(Article 7.1), the Committee will conduct 
a competitive tender for the provision of 
external audit services during 2020 with 
the appointment in place for the FY’21 
Full-Year results.

The Group was due to tender the audit 
for FY’21 in line with the CMA Order 
2014 but sought an extension from the 
CMA in light of COVID-19, this extension 
was granted on 17 April 2020.

Undertaking an external audit tender 
during FY’21 is in the best interests of the 
Company’s members as it will be the first 
full financial year of the Company  
since IPO.

Anti-bribery and corruption 

Trainline is committed to the highest 
standards of ethical conduct and 
integrity in our business practices and 
adopts a zero-tolerance approach to 
bribery and corruption. Any of our 
people found to have breached the 
Group’s policies will face disciplinary 
action which could include dismissal 
for gross misconduct. We pass on these 
policies, where appropriate, to our 
supply chain as part of our procurement 
and contracting procedures.

Whistleblowing

Trainline is committed to the highest 
possible standards of openness, honesty 
and accountability and will take every 
step possible to create a positive 
environment where people will feel 
comfortable in raising any concerns 
they have.

Our whistleblowing procedures are 
included in the Groups staff handbook. 
If anyone has a concern they wish to 
raise they can contact an independent 
reporting line for anonymous reporting 
of concerns.

Risk

Like any business, the Group faces a 
number of risks and uncertainties. 
The Group’s risk tolerance is set by the 
Board and is the level of risk it is willing 
to accept to sustainably achieve our 
strategic objectives. 

The Group’s risk management policies 
identify and analyse the risks faced by 
Trainline, set appropriate risk limits and 
controls, and monitors ongoing risks. 
Through its training and management 
standards and procedures, the Group 
aims to maintain a disciplined and 
constructive control environment in 
which all our people understand their 
roles and obligations in relation to risk.

An overview of the Group’s risk profile, 
and the management of those risks is 
available on page 24.

The Group undertakes a robust 
assessment of its principal and emerging 
risks, which takes into account the risks 
that threaten our business model, future 
performance, solvency or liquidity and 
the Group’s strategic objectives. The 
Committee periodically receives updates 
from senior managers on changes to the 
risk assessment and reports to the Board 
on these risks and the effectiveness of 
the risk management system. The Board 
has overall responsibility for the 
establishment and oversight of the 
Group’s risk management framework.

Overview of our anti-bribery and corruption policies and procedures:

Receiving corporate 
hospitality and gifts

Offering corporate hospitality 
and gifts

Facilitation payments

Corruption

Should be refused if they could influence or appear to influence decisions made 
on behalf of the Group. Colleagues are required to update the Group Gift Register. 
Substantial physical gifts should be passed onto the Group for donation to charity 
or disposal. 
Must be fully documented, approved by the relevant member of the senior 
management team and recorded in the Group Gift Register. Any hospitality above 
a set value must also be approved by the Business Review and Approvals Group.

Are strictly prohibited, no matter the value, even where such payments are 
perceived as a common part of local business practice or law. This prohibition 
also applies to those who work on behalf of the Group.
All our people are made aware of the Groups Anti-Fraud and Corruption Strategy 
when they join. Concerns should be reported in accordance with the Groups 
Whistleblowing Policy. Disciplinary action and other appropriate measures will 
be taken as necessary.

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20 58

Directors’ Remuneration Report and Policy

Kjersti Wiklund 
Chair of the 
Remuneration Committee

Attendance during 
the financial year

Name

Kjersti Wiklund (Chair)

Brian McBride

Duncan Tatton-Brown

Board

4/4

4/4

4/4

Our responsibilities

•  Develop the Group’s policy 
on executive remuneration 
and monitoring its 
ongoing appropriateness;

•  Determine the levels of 

remuneration for Executive 
Directors, the Chair and the 
Company’s senior management;

•  Review colleague remuneration 

and administer the Group’s 
share schemes.

Dear Shareholder,

On behalf of the Board, I am pleased to 
present the Directors’ Remuneration 
Report for FY’20, outlining what we have 
achieved in Trainline’s first year as a 
listed company.

This report has three parts; the Chair’s 
Annual Statement, a Policy Report and 
an Annual Report on Remuneration. 
Together, they cover the required 
regulatory information, balanced against 
commercial sensitivities, and also 
provide further context and insight into 
how our Executive pay 
arrangements operate.

This report comes at a time when the 
Committee is considering the impact of 
COVID-19 on remuneration, and we have 
already taken several actions that are 
detailed further below. We will continue 
to stay close to the situation, monitor 
business impact, exercise judgement 
and apply necessary discretion to 
FY’21 remuneration.

Our Remuneration Policy

The proposed 2020 Remuneration Policy 
is based on the remuneration framework 
that was detailed in the Company’s 2019 
IPO Prospectus and is structured to 
support the strategy of the Company 
and align executive remuneration with 
shareholder experience.

In the development of the 2020 Policy, 
the Committee took account of 
prevailing market and best practices, 
including recent changes to the UK 
Corporate Governance Code and various 
investor body guidelines. 

The 2020 Policy reinforces a 
performance-oriented pay structure, 
with lower fixed components of pay and 
higher variable components. 
The variable components focus on key 
financial and strategic targets and the 
delivery of exceptional returns to 
shareholders (through the super-stretch 
relative TSR performance targets for the 
exceptional element of the PSP awards).

The incumbent CEO and CFO currently 
receive pensions of 15% and 10.5% of 
salary, respectively, and have agreed to 
reduce pensions such that alignment 
with the broader workforce (currently 

c.5.5% of salary) is achieved by the end 
of FY’23. Any new Executive Directors 
will be offered a pension consistent with 
the prevailing rate for the 
broader workforce. 

The 2020 Policy for remunerating new 
Executive Director hires is aligned with 
that for incumbents except for the 
additional flexibility for the Committee 
to award up to 400% of salary under the 
PSP in the first year of appointment, 
depending on the individual 
circumstances around the appointment 
and the calibre and experience of the 
candidate, and only in the absence of 
any buy-out awards. A resolution to 
approve the required change to the PSP 
rules will be tabled at the 2020 AGM.

Various IPO-linked awards were made 
to the Directors in recognition of the 
services provided to the Group prior 
to IPO (including a cash award to Shaun 
McCabe and a share award to Brian 
McBride vesting over three years 
following IPO); going-forward the 
remuneration structure for the Executive 
and Non-executive Directors is as 
described in this report and is broadly 
consistent with typical practice for a 
UK-listed Company. 

In line with our commitment to open 
dialogue with our shareholders, the 
Committee also consulted with over 60% 
of our shareholder base on the initial 
proposals. Those shareholders we 
consulted were broadly supportive of 
the proposals, and the final 2020 Policy 
reflects the feedback we received.

The 2020 Policy is intended to operate 
for a three-year period from the 2020 
AGM. The Committee believes that the 
proposed approach to remuneration will 
support the delivery of the Company’s 
key objectives during its initial years as a 
public Company. The Company’s 
remuneration framework will no doubt 
continue to evolve in the future as 
Trainline establishes itself as a listed 
Company. The Committee will engage 
with shareholders ahead of any future 
significant changes to the 2020 Policy or 
its implementation.

Trainline Annual Report 2019/2059

The FY’21 annual bonus and PSP targets 
will be devised to attempt to factor in 
the current and expected impact of 
COVID-19 on the business. However, 
given the ongoing uncertainty on when 
we can expect normalcy to return, the 
Committee will monitor their 
appropriateness to ensure they retain 
the appropriate amount of stretch and 
motivational value over the coming year. 
If any amendments are made, these will 
be disclosed in full in next year’s Annual 
Report on Remuneration. 
The Committee will ensure that any 
payout of the FY’21 bonus and any 
vesting of the FY’21 PSP cycle is 
consistent with the stakeholder 
experience over this uncertain period, 
taking into account perspectives of 
shareholders, employees, and 
customers, as well as other factors such 
as the mitigation of any windfall gains.

The Committee believes that the 
proposed 2020 Remuneration Policy and 
the approach to implementation in FY’21 
are in the best interests of all 
shareholders, and we respectfully ask for 
your support at the 2020 AGM.

Kjersti Wiklund
Chair of the Remuneration Committee
7 May 2020

Remuneration outcomes 
for FY’20

Implementation of the 
Remuneration Policy for FY’21

FY’20 was an important year for the 
Company, with its Listing on the London 
Stock Exchange in June signalling the 
strength of the business model. 
Bonus targets were set for the Executive 
Directors around key financial measures 
(Group adjusted EBITDA, Group Capital 
Expenditure, net debt net sales growth 
and revenue growth) and several key 
strategic objectives.

Performance overall was strong in these 
areas resulting in bonus outcomes of 
27.9% for financial measures and 29.7% 
and 32.5% out of 50% for achievement of 
strategic measures for the CEO and CFO 
respectively. The Committee reviewed 
the bonus outcomes in the context of the 
Company’s underlying business and 
financial performance for FY’20, and 
concluded that they were appropriate 
and that no discretionary adjustment 
was required. However, in line with the 
Group-wide decision to defer the 
payment of all bonuses until the 
exceptional business circumstances due 
to COVID-19 have ended, the Executive 
Directors’ bonuses will be deferred 
accordingly, and only be paid when 
bonuses are also paid to all other eligible 
employees across the business.

The first awards under the Company’s 
Performance Share Plan were granted in 
July 2019, with the CEO and the CFO 
each receiving an award of 250% of 
salary. Awards will vest after three years, 
subject to the achievement of stretching 
earnings growth and relative TSR 
performance targets.

The Committee reviewed Executive 
Directors’ salaries in early 2020 and 
agreed that they should remain 
unchanged for 2020. In early April, in 
recognition of the uncertainty generated 
by COVID-19, the CEO volunteered to 
take a 50% salary reduction and the CFO 
volunteered to take a 20% reduction. 
The reduced salaries will take effect 
from 20 April 2020, for the foreseeable 
future. The Chair and Non-executive 
Directors’ have similarly volunteered to 
take a 20% reduction to base fees. 

The current intention is for the maximum 
annual bonus opportunities for FY’21 to 
be 200% and 150% of normal salary for 
the CEO and the CFO, respectively. 
The performance measures will be based 
on a Company scorecard of financial and 
strategic metrics, including revenue, 
adjusted EBITDA and net debt (weighted 
at least 75% of the bonus) and personal 
objectives (weighted no more than 25% 
of the bonus). The financial measures are 
aligned with KPIs for Trainline, and the 
combination of financial and strategic 
targets and personal objectives will 
ensure direct alignment between 
incentive outcomes and the Company’s 
performance, as well as the delivery of 
near-term strategic objectives. 

The current intention is for awards of 
250% of salary to be made in 2020 to the 
CEO and the CFO under the PSP. 
The performance measures will continue 
to be EPS and relative TSR vs. 
the FTSE250 excluding investment 
trusts. As was the case for awards 
granted in 2019, of the 250% of normal 
salary, 50% of salary will be structured as 
an award, which vests only for the 
achievement of exceptional EPS 
performance and if Trainline’s relative 
TSR performance is above upper 
quartile. Vested awards will be subject to 
a two-year post-vesting holding period.

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20 60

Remuneration at a glance

This section is a snapshot of the Company’s performance over the FY’20 year and the remuneration received by 
our Executive Directors. Full details can be found in the Annual Report on Remuneration on pages 68 to 75.

FY’20 remuneration outcomes

Annual bonus

The annual bonus was based on a mix of financial (weighted 50% of the total) and strategic (weighted 50% of the total) performance 
measures for FY’20. The performance targets and actual performance are set out below: 

Measures
Group Adjusted EBITDA
Group capital expenditure
Net debt
Net sales growth1
Revenue growth1
Total 

Weighting (% of 
total bonus)
15%
5%
2.5%
15%
12.5%
50%

Weighting (% of 
total bonus)

Strategic objectives

50%

Key: 

  Performance range 

  Actual outturn 

Performance targets

Threshold
£68.5m
n/a
£181.8m

Target
76.5m
£25.0m
£174.3m

Stretch 
£84.5m
£22.5m
£166.8m

Actual FY’20 
achievement
£85.2m
£25.8m
£70.8m
17%
24%

Key achievements during FY’20
CEO: Strong growth in sales through app, greater 
eticket availability and improved take rates.
CFO: Launched additional features and payment 
options and improved take rates.

Resulting bonus 
outcome (% of total 
bonus)
15%
0%
2.5%
5.4%
5%
27.9% out of 50%
Resulting bonus 
outcome (% of total 
bonus)

29.7% out of 50%

32.5% out of 50%

1  Given the commercially sensitive nature of the strategic measures, several measures have been merged into these groupings for disclosure purposes.

Based on actual outturn as set out above, the CEO and the CFO will receive 57.6% and 60.5% of the maximum bonus 
respectively, which represents 115% and 91% of salary respectively. As the CEO earned above 100% of salary 13% of her bonus will 
be deferred in shares for two years under the Deferred Share Bonus Plan. In line with the Group-wide policy, the CEO and CFO 
have deferred the payment of their FY’20 bonuses until the exceptional business circumstances due to COVID-19 have ended and 
bonuses are paid to all those eligible across the business.

Implementation of the Remuneration Policy in FY’21

For FY’21, the Executive Directors will be remunerated in line with the proposed Remuneration Policy, as summarised in the table 
below. In recognition of the uncertainty generated by COVID-19, effective 20 April 2020 and for the foreseeable future, the CEO’s 
salary reduced by 50% and the CFO’s salary reduced by 20%. The Chair and Non-executive Directors’ fees will also be reduced 
by 20%.

Element of pay

Implementation for FY’21

Fixed remuneration

Base salary

Pension

Benefits

Variable pay

Annual bonus and 
DSBP

PSP

FY’21 salaries: £575,000 (reduced to £287,500) for Clare Gilmartin, £400,000 (reduced to £320,000) for 
Shaun McCabe
The incumbent CEO and CFO have agreed to reduce pension contributions such that alignment with the 
broader workforce (currently c.5.5% of salary) is achieved by the end of FY’23

Any new hires to be offered a pension consistent with the prevailing rate for the broader workforce
As per FY’20

Awards of up to 200% of normal salary for CEO and 150% of salary for CFO, based on the achievement 
of Group financial targets and specific and quantifiable strategic (weighted 75% of maximum) and 
personal objectives (weighted 25% of maximum). Awards earned above 100% of salary deferred in 
shares for two years.
Awards of 250% of salary based on EPS and relative TSR, of which 50% of salary is based on the 
achievement of exceptional EPS and relative TSR performance targets.

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20Remuneration Policy

61

This section of the report sets out the proposed 2020 Remuneration Policy which will be put before shareholders 
for approval at the 2020 AGM. The Committee intends that the 2020 Remuneration Policy will come into effect 
from that date (25 June 2020) for a period of up to three years. 

The basic elements of the 2020 Remuneration Policy were outlined in the Company’s Prospectus dated 21 June 2019. Since Listing, 
the Remuneration Committee reviewed and further developed the remuneration policy based on external advice from its 
independent remuneration consultants, Mercer, and having regard to the Group’s evolving strategy. Very few changes have been 
made to the broad Remuneration Policy elements outlined in the Prospectus.

Executive Directors’ remuneration policy table

The table below sets out the individual elements of Executive Directors’ remuneration, how each element operates, and the 
maximum opportunity and any applicable performance measures.

Element

Salary

Purpose and link to strategy Operation 

Maximum opportunity

Performance measures

To recruit and retain 
high-calibre Executive 
Directors.

Salaries are typically reviewed 
annually, on 1 April, though the 
Committee reserves the right to make 
salary increases from any other time 
where considered appropriate.

Whilst there is no maximum 
salary, increases will 
normally be in line with the 
average increase for the 
wider workforce.

Not applicable.

Pension

To provide appropriate 
retirement plans.

Base salaries are determined 
taking into account a number of 
factors, including:

• 

individual’s role, responsibilities, 
and performance;

•  salary levels at comparable 

companies, adjusted to reflect 
scale; and

•  salary increases for the wider 

workforce.

The Executive Directors currently 
participate in the Company’s pension 
scheme, and the Company makes 
contributions on their behalf.

The Committee retains the discretion 
to provide a cash allowance in lieu of 
pension contribution during the term 
of the Policy.

The Committee retains the 
discretion to make increases 
above this level in certain 
circumstances, for example 
following an increase in 
responsibility or scope, or 
where an individual is 
appointed on a below-
market salary.

The Company’s maximum 
contributions/cash 
allowances for existing 
Executive Directors are 15% 
and 10.5% of salary for the 
CEO and the CFO, but will 
reduce such that alignment 
with the broader workforce 
is achieved by the end of 
FY’23.

For new appointments to the 
Board, the Committee will 
set a pension contribution 
rate which is in line with the 
contributions available to the 
wider workforce at that time.

Not applicable.

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20 62

Remuneration Policy continued

Element

Purpose and link to strategy Operation 

Maximum opportunity

Performance measures

Benefits

To ensure that the 
overall package is 
competitive.

Executive Directors receive private 
medical and dental insurance for the 
individual and their immediate family, 
and life assurance.

The value of benefits is 
based on the cost to the 
Company and is not pre-
determined.

Not applicable.

Other benefits may be provided at the 
discretion of the Committee based on 
individual circumstances and business 
requirements, such as relocation 
allowances.

Annual 
Bonus & 
Deferred 
Share Bonus 
Plan (DSBP)

To incentivise 
and reward the 
achievement of 
annual financial and 
non-financial targets, 
in line with the 
Company’s strategic 
priorities.

To directly align the 
interests of Executive 
Directors and 
shareholders and 
support retention 
through long-term 
deferral in shares.

Performance objectives are reviewed 
at the beginning of each year to 
ensure that the bonus opportunity, 
performance measures, targets and 
weightings are appropriate.

The level of pay-out is determined by 
the Committee after the year-end, 
based on performance against targets 
and any additional factors they deem 
relevant.

Any annual bonus earned above a 
threshold of 100% of salary is deferred 
in shares for a period of two years.

Dividends may accrue over the 
deferral period in respect of DSBP 
awards that vest.

The Committee retains 
the discretion to approve 
a higher than typical cost in  
exceptional circumstances 
(e.g. relocation) or 
in circumstances driven 
by factors outside the 
Company’s control 
(e.g. material increases 
in insurance premium).

The maximum bonus 
opportunity is 200% of 
salary. The CEO and the CFO 
currently have opportunities 
of 200% and 150% of salary, 
respectively.

For threshold and target 
performance, the bonus 
earned is 0% and up to 50% 
of maximum, respectively.

The bonus is 
determined 
based on annual 
performance 
against financial 
and strategic 
metrics, and 
personal 
objectives.

Performance 
measures and 
weightings will be 
determined at the 
start of the year 
to align with the 
Company’s 
short-term 
financial and 
strategic priorities. 
No more than 25% 
of the bonus 
opportunity will be 
based on personal 
objectives.

Details of the 
measures 
applicable for the 
year under review 
are provided in the 
Annual Report on 
Remuneration.

Trainline Annual Report 2019/2063

Element

Purpose and link to strategy Operation 

Maximum opportunity

Performance measures

Performance 
Share Plan 
(PSP)

To incentivise and 
reward the delivery of 
long-term shareholder 
value and the 
achievement of 
long-term financial 
targets.

Awards of nil-cost options, market 
value options or conditional shares are 
made annually, with vesting 
dependent on the achievement of 
performance conditions. Performance 
conditions are reviewed prior to grant 
to ensure that the award level, 
performance measures, targets and 
weightings are appropriate.

The maximum annual award 
level is 250% of salary, 
comprising a core award of 
200% of salary and an award 
of 50% of salary linked to 
exceptional performance. 

For threshold performance, 
up to 20% of the core 
award vests.

Performance 
conditions and 
weightings will be 
determined prior 
to grant each year 
to align with the 
Company’s 
longer-term 
strategy. 

Details of the 
measures 
applicable for the 
year under review 
are provided in the 
Annual Report on 
Remuneration.

Awards normally vest based on 
performance measured over a 
minimum of three years.

The level of vesting is determined by 
the Committee after the performance 
period, based on the degree to which 
the performance conditions have been 
met. In adjudicating the final vesting 
outcome, the Committee will also 
consider the underlying performance 
of the business, as well as the value 
created for shareholders.

A two-year holding period will apply 
to vested PSP awards granted in 2020 
and subsequent years, during which 
vested shares may not be sold save to 
cover tax liabilities.

Dividends may accrue over the vesting 
period in respect of awards that vest.

The Company operates an HMRC-
approved plan that provides all 
employees with a tax-efficient way of 
purchasing Partnership Shares and 
allows the grant of Free and/or 
Matching Shares.

Executive Directors are entitled to 
participate in the SIP on the same 
terms as other employees.

Share 
Incentive 
Plan (SIP)

To encourage 
employee share 
ownership and further 
support shareholder 
alignment.

In line with the award limits 
set by HMRC (or any lower 
limit as determined by 
the Committee).

Not applicable.

Notes to the Policy table:

Executive Director shareholding guidelines

Shareholding guidelines are in place whereby Executive Directors are encouraged to build and maintain over time a shareholding 
in the Company with a value of equivalent to at least 200% of their base salary commencing on the date of their appointment to 
the Board. Details of the Executive Directors’ current shareholdings are provided in the Annual Report on Remuneration. 

Executive Directors will also be subject to a post-employment shareholding guideline. Executive Directors will normally be 
expected to maintain a holding of Trainline shares at a level equal to the lower of the in-post shareholding guideline and the 
individual’s actual shareholding for a period of two years from the date the individual ceases to be a Director. The specific 
application of this shareholding guideline will be at the Committee’s discretion.

Payments from previously agreed remuneration arrangements

The Committee reserves the right to make any remuneration payments where the terms of the payment were agreed (i) prior to 
the Company’s IPO, or (ii) before the Policy came into effect, or (iii) at a time when the relevant individual was not a Director of 
the Company and, in the opinion of the Committee, the payment was not in consideration for the individual becoming a Director 
of the Company. This does not apply to pension contributions for new appointments to the Board. Details of any such payments 
will be set out in the Annual Report on Remuneration as they arise.

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20 64

Remuneration Policy continued

Discretion

The Committee may make minor amendments to the Policy (e.g. for regulatory, exchange control, tax or administrative purposes 
or to take account of a change in legislation) without obtaining shareholder approval for that amendment.

There are a number of specific areas in which the Committee may exercise discretion, including: 

•  To vary the annual bonus and PSP performance measures and weightings each year to reflect strategic priorities;

•  To adjust the formulaic annual bonus and PSP outcomes positively or negatively based on a holistic assessment, to ensure the 

final outcome is a fair and true reflection of underlying business performance and shareholder experience;

•  To adjust the performance conditions for in-flight PSP awards in exceptional circumstances, provided the new conditions are 

no tougher or easier than the original conditions;

•  To adjust in-flight PSP awards in the event of a variation of the Company’s share capital or a demerger, delisting, special 

dividend, rights issue or other event, which may, in the Committee’s opinion, affect the current or future value of awards; and

•  To settle awards in cash (for example, on a termination).

The exercise of any discretion will be fully disclosed in the relevant Annual Report on Remuneration.

Malus and clawback

Awards under the annual bonus (including deferred awards under the DSBP) and PSP are subject to malus and clawback 
provisions. Provisions apply for a period of two years from date of payment in respect of the cash bonus, and for a period of five 
years from date of grant in respect of awards under the DBSP and the PSP. 

Clawback refers to the recovery of paid or vested amounts, and may be applied in certain circumstances including the following:

•  Material misstatement of the Company’s financial accounts;

•  Conduct by the individual resulting in significant reputational damage to the Company; 

•  Fraud, negligence or gross misconduct by the individual.

Malus refers to the reduction, including to nil, of unvested or unpaid awards. The Committee is able to apply malus to awards in 
the circumstances set out above.

Selection of performance measures

The annual bonus is currently based on a combination of financial and strategic measures, and personal objectives. The PSP is 
currently based on EPS and relative TSR. The use of EPS incentivises Executive Directors to grow profit over the long term, whilst 
the relative TSR measure supports shareholder alignment and incentivises outperformance against the broader market.

The mix of annual and long-term measures is discussed in further detail in the Annual Report on Remuneration. Targets are set 
taking into account a number of factors including internal and external forecasts, and market practice.

The Committee keeps the performance measures, weightings and targets of both the annual bonus and the PSP under review 
and reserves the right to adjust these if they are no longer considered to be appropriate.

Remuneration arrangements throughout the Group

Remuneration arrangements throughout the Group are based on the same high-level remuneration principles as for the Executive 
Directors. Annual salary reviews take into account personal performance, Group performance, local pay and market conditions, 
and salary levels for similar roles in comparable companies. 

Mid-level staff are eligible to participate in annual bonus schemes; opportunities and performance measures vary by 
organisational level, and an individual’s role. Senior executives are eligible for PSP awards on similar terms to Executive Directors, 
although award opportunities are lower and vary by organisational level; other staff are eligible to participate in a restricted stock 
plan. All UK employees are eligible to participate in the Share Incentive Plan on identical terms and we also offer similar all-
employee share plans to overseas colleagues.

Trainline Annual Report 2019/2065

Non-executive Directors’ Remuneration Policy

The table below sets out details of the Company’s Policy on Non-executive Directors’ remuneration.

Element

Purpose and link to strategy Operation 

Fee

To attract and retain 
high-quality Non-
executive Directors 
with experience 
relevant to the 
Company.

Non-executive Directors are paid a base fee 
for membership of the Board, with additional 
fees being paid for the role of Chair of a Board 
Committee, to take into account the additional 
responsibilities and workload required.

The Company has the discretion to pay an 
additional fee to a Non-executive Director, 
should the Company require significant 
additional time commitment in exceptional or 
unforeseen circumstances. Any such fees will 
be time-limited in nature.

Fees are determined based on the 
responsibility and time commitment required, 
and with reference to appropriate market 
comparisons. 

Fees are normally paid in cash.

Performance 
measures

Not applicable.

Maximum opportunity

The maximum annual 
aggregate fee for all 
Non-executive Directors is 
currently £1.5 million. Any 
proposed revision to this 
limit would be subject to 
shareholder approval, as 
required under the 
Company’s Articles of 
Association.

Other 
payments

To have the flexibility 
to provide additional 
fees/benefits, if 
required.

Non-executive Directors do not currently 
receive any benefits. However, benefits may 
be provided in the future if, in the view of the 
Company, this is considered appropriate.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Travel and other reasonable expenses 
(including fees incurred in obtaining 
professional advice in the furtherance of their 
duties) incurred in the course of performing 
their duties are reimbursed.

Remuneration Policy for new hires

The remuneration package for a new Executive Director will be set broadly in line with the prevailing approved Remuneration 
Policy at the time of the appointment. The Committee will ensure that the package is sufficient to attract the appropriate 
individual, having regard to the calibre, skills and experience required, whilst being cognisant of not paying more than 
is necessary.

The annual bonus opportunity will be limited to 200% of salary and the PSP award level will typically be no more than 250% of 
salary apart from in exceptional circumstances under which the first PSP award may be up to 400% of salary. In addition, the 
Remuneration Committee may offer additional cash and/or share-based awards when it considers these to be in the best 
interests of the Company and its shareholders, to take account of remuneration forfeited when leaving the former employer. 
Any such buyout awards would reflect, as far as practicable, the nature, time horizons and performance conditions attaching to 
that remuneration. The Committee will seek to use the current remuneration structure in making awards, but in some cases it 
may be required to use the flexibility afforded by Listing Rule 9.4.2R, if appropriate. Shareholders will be informed of any such 
awards or payments at the time of appointment. It is expected that a PSP award of up to 400% of salary in the first year would be 
considered only in circumstances where no buy-out award is provided. Where an Executive Director is required to relocate from 
their home location to take up their role, the Committee may provide reasonable assistance with relocation in line with local 
market norms for a period of up to two years.

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20 66

Remuneration Policy continued

Remuneration opportunities in different performance scenarios

The charts below illustrate the potential future value and composition of the Executive Directors’ remuneration opportunities in 
four performance scenarios: minimum, on-target (i.e. in line with the Company’s expectations), maximum, and maximum plus 
50% share price appreciation, a scenario where 50% share price appreciation is included. The potential remuneration opportunities 
are based on the proposed 2020 Policy, applied to the Executive Directors’ salaries as at 1 March 2020 (i.e. before the voluntary 
reductions). The charts below exclude the effect of any Company share price appreciation except in the ‘Maximum+50%’ scenario.

Assumptions:

Performance scenario
Minimum 

On-target

Maximum

Includes 
Salary, pension and benefits (fixed remuneration)

No bonus payout

No vesting under the PSP
Fixed remuneration 

50% of maximum annual bonus payout (i.e. 100% and 75% of salary for the CEO and 
the CFO, respectively)

20% vesting of the core award under the PSP (i.e. 40% of salary)
Fixed remuneration

100% of maximum annual bonus payout (i.e. 200% and 150% of salary for the CEO 
and the CFO, respectively)

Maximum +50%

100% vesting of the PSP (i.e. 250% of salary)
Fixed remuneration

100% of maximum annual bonus payout (i.e. 200% and 150% of salary for the CEO 
and the CFO, respectively)

100% vesting of the PSP, plus 50% share price appreciation

CEO £000

CFO £000

£3,267

44%

35%

21%

£3,986

54%

29%

17%

£2,045

49%

 29%

22%

£2,545

59%

24%

17%

£445

100%

£905
 18%
33%

49%

£679

100%

£1,484
15%
39%

46%

Minimum

On-target

Maximum

Maximum +50%

Minimum

On-target

Maximum

Maximum +50%

 Fixed pay        

 Annual bonus        

 Long-term incentive

Executive Directors service contracts and termination Remuneration Policy

The Executive Directors have service contracts with an indefinite term, which are terminable by either the Company or the 
Executive Director on 12 months’ notice. The service contracts make provision, at the Board’s discretion, for early termination 
involving payment of salary and other emoluments in lieu of notice.

Effective dates of Executive Director service contracts are set out in the table below.

Executive Director
Clare Gilmartin
Shaun McCabe

Date of contract
12 June 2019
12 June 2019

Trainline Annual Report 2019/2067

The table below summarises how the awards under incentive plans are typically treated in specific circumstances, with the final 
treatment remaining subject to the Committee’s discretion. When considering the use of discretion, the Committee reviews all 
potential incentive outcomes to ensure that any application of discretion is fair to both shareholders and participants.

Plan 
Annual 
bonus

DSBP

PSP

Scenario 
All leavers (except the circumstances set out below) No bonus is paid.
Death; injury, disability or ill-health; the sale of the 
participant’s employing Company or business, or in 
other circumstances at the discretion of the 
Remuneration Committee
Change of control

Timing and calculation of payment/vesting

The Committee may determine that an Executive 
Director is eligible to receive a bonus for the year. The 
Committee will determine the level of bonus taking into 
account performance.
The Committee will assess the most appropriate 
treatment for the outstanding bonus period according 
to the circumstances.

All leavers (except the circumstances set out below) Awards lapse.
Death; injury, disability or ill-health; the sale of the 
participant’s employing Company or business, or in 
other circumstances at the discretion of the 
Remuneration Committee
Change of control

Awards will vest on the original vesting date, or, if the 
Committee so determines, as soon as practicable after 
the date of cessation. 

Awards vest immediately, and will be pro-rated for time, 
unless the Committee determines otherwise.

Alternatively, participants may choose, or at the 
discretion of the Committee may be required, to accept 
an exchange for new equivalent awards in the acquirer.

All leavers (except the circumstances set out below) Awards lapse.
Death; injury, disability or ill-health; the sale of the 
participant’s employing Company or business, or in 
other circumstances at the discretion of the 
Remuneration Committee

Awards will vest on the original vesting date, or, if the 
Committee so determines, as soon as practicable after 
the date of cessation. 

The extent to which awards vest will be determined by 
the Committee, taking into account the extent to which 
the performance conditions have been satisfied. 
Awards will be pro-rated for time based on the 
proportion of the performance period elapsed, unless 
the Committee determines otherwise.
Awards vest immediately, subject to the Committee’s 
assessment of performance. Awards will be pro-rated 
for time based on the proportion of the performance 
period elapsed, unless the Committee determines 
otherwise.

Change of control

Alternatively, participants may choose, or at the 
discretion of the Committee may be required, to accept 
an exchange for new equivalent awards in the acquirer.

In respect of vested PSP awards that are still subject to a holding period, awards will normally be released at the end of the holding 
period, however the Committee has discretion to determine otherwise, taking into account the circumstances at the time.

Non-executive Director letters of appointment

The Non-executive Directors have letters of appointment, the terms of which recognise that their appointments are subject to 
the Company’s Articles of Association and their services are at the discretion of the shareholders. The appointment letters for the 
Non-executive Directors provide that no compensation is payable on termination, other than any accrued fees and expenses.

The table below shows the appointment and expiry dates for the Non-executive Directors.

Non-executive Director
Brian McBride
Duncan Tatton-Brown
Kjersti Wiklund

Effective date of appointment
10 June 2019
10 June 2019
10 June 2019

Expiry of appointment
AGM 2022
AGM 2022
AGM 2022

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20 68

Remuneration Policy continued

Consideration of wider employee views and shareholders

In reviewing and developing the 2020 Remuneration Policy, the Committee has taken into account the internal context, including 
the remuneration arrangements that apply for other employee Groups, recent developments in the UK governance landscape for 
executive remuneration, and the views of our shareholders.

The Committee is dedicated to ensuring open dialogue with shareholders in relation to remuneration. The Committee Chair 
consulted with major shareholders and proxy advisors during FY’20 on the proposed 2020 Remuneration Policy (and its 
implementation in FY’21). The Committee took on board the comments received, and commits to further engagement in advance 
of any significant changes. Further information on the consultation process is set out on page 58. 

Annual Report on Remuneration 

The following section sets out our Annual Report on Remuneration, outlines decisions made by the Committee 
in relation to Directors’ remuneration in respect of FY’20 and how the Committee intends to apply the proposed 
2020 Remuneration Policy for FY’21.

The Annual Report on Remuneration will be subject to an advisory shareholder vote at the AGM to be held on 25 June 2020. 
Where information has been audited, this has been stated. All other information in this report is unaudited.

Role and responsibilities of the Remuneration Committee

Detailed responsibilities are set out in the Committee’s terms of reference, which may be found at www.investors.thetrainline.com.

The Committee currently consists of two independent Non-executive Directors and the Chair of the Board who was independent 
on appointment. The Committee invites other individuals such as the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief 
People Officer and external consultants to attend its meetings when appropriate. No Director takes any part in any decision 
affecting his or her own remuneration.

During FY’20, representatives of KKR, the principal shareholder prior to the Company’s Listing, also attended Committee 
meetings as observers. Since the placing of KKR’s shares in November 2019, and the stepping down of KKR representatives from 
the Board, no further KKR representation at Committee meetings took place.

Advisors

The Committee’s independent advisor during the year was Mercer, having been appointed in November 2019 following a 
competitive tender process. Mercer attends Committee meetings, reports directly to the Committee Chair, and is a signatory and 
adheres to the Code of Conduct for Remuneration Consultants (which can be found at www.remunerationconsultantsgroup.com). 
Mercer was paid fees of £48,296 for its services to the Committee during the year, excluding expenses and VAT, in accordance with 
its letter of engagement.

Prior to Mercer’s appointment, the Committee received advice from EY, to whom fees of £4,350, excluding expenses and VAT, 
were paid for the period following Admission.

Key activities during the year

During the period the Committee held four scheduled meetings. The key activities and matters discussed at these 
meetings included:

•  the appointment of remuneration advisors to the Committee;

•  the preparation of the 2020 Remuneration Policy;

•  results of the engagement with significant shareholders on the 2020 Remuneration Policy; and

•  the award of share grants.

Trainline Annual Report 2019/2069

Single figure of total remuneration for Executive Directors (Audited)

The following table sets out the single figure of total remuneration for Executive Directors in FY’20 for the period since Admission 
(i.e. 26 June 2019 to 29 February 2020).

Clare Gilmartin
Shaun McCabe

Salary 
(000)
£392
£273

Pension 
(000)
£61
£29

Benefits 
(000)
£17
£2

Total fixed 
(000)
£469
£303

Annual bonus1 
(000)
£451
£247

PSP2 
(000) 
£0
£0

Total variable 
(000
£451
£247

Total 
remuneration 
(000)
£920
£550

1 

In line with the Group-wide policy, both Executive Directors have deferred the payment of their FY’20 bonuses until such time that the impact of COVID-19 has ended and bonuses are paid to 
all those eligible across the business. The annual bonus figure shown in the table for Clare Gilmartin includes £87,970 which will be paid in deferred shares under the Deferred Share 
Bonus Plan.

2  No PSP vesting occurred in the period.

Single figure of total remuneration for Non-executive Directors (Audited)

The following table sets out the single figure of total remuneration for Non-executive Directors in FY’20 for the period since 
Admission (i.e. 26 June 2019 to 29 February 2020).

Brian McBride1
Duncan Tatton-Brown
Kjersti Wiklund
Douglas McCallum3
Philipp Freise4
Franziska Kayser5

Fees  
(000)
£111
£51
£51
£86
£0
£0

Taxable 
benefits (000)
£0
£0
£0
£0
£0
£0

RSU  
(000)
£300²
£0
£0
£0
£0
£0

Total fees 
(000)
£411
£51
£51
£86
£0
£0

1  The fees above reflect Brian McBride’s role as Deputy Chair and Senior Independent Non-executive Director up until 4 November 2019, and thereafter as Chair of the Board for which his 

annual fee was £265,000.

2  In recognition of the services he provided to the Group prior to Admission and his appointment as Deputy Chair and Senior Independent Non-executive Director, Brian McBride was granted 
an award of restricted stock units with a grant date value of £300,000 vesting subject to his continued appointment to the Board in equal tranches over three years following Admission. 
If Mr McBride ceases to be a Director at any time before each vesting date in circumstances other than death, injury, ill-health, disability or in other circumstances which the Board decides 
appropriate, the restricted stock units will lapse automatically upon such termination. In case of a change of control event, the restricted stock units will vest on a pro-rated basis. Mr McBride 
is required to hold any shares acquired from the vesting of the restricted stock units so long as he remains a Director of the Company, and such shares may be clawed back in case of 
termination of his Directorship by reason of misconduct.

3  Douglas McCallum stepped down from his role as Chair on 5 November 2019. The fees above reflect those paid between Admission and 5 November 2019.

4  Philipp Freise stepped down from his role as Non-executive Director representing KKR on 12 November 2019. He was not paid a fee nor did he receive any taxable benefits.

5  Franziska Kayser stepped down from her role as Non-executive Director representing KKR on 20 September 2019. She was not paid a fee nor did she receive any taxable benefits.

Notes to the tables (Audited)

Base Salary

During FY’20, the annual salaries of the Executive Directors were £575,000 and £400,000 for the CEO and the CFO, respectively.

Pension

During FY’20, the CEO and CFO received pension benefits by way of cash allowances equal to 15% and 10.5% of 
salary respectively.

Legacy Items

Prior to Admission, the Executive Directors and senior managers participated in long-term share schemes. Key details of these 
were set out in the IPO Prospectus. The value delivered under the Legacy shares schemes was determined based on the value 
created between the date of grant and the date of Admission and so represents performance prior to listing, achieved over a 
number of years. The awards vested on listing and the number of shares delivered to participants was determined at this point. 
There are no outstanding awards under the Legacy share schemes. There were two legacy share schemes in place prior to the 
IPO, one was cash-settled and one was equity-settled. These schemes ceased to exist at the date of the IPO and new long-term 
incentive plans have been set up as part of the Listed Group. The terms of the two legacy share plans were set by the pre-
Admission shareholders.

Upon Admission Douglas McCallum held 5,360,018 shares (1.2% of the issued share capital) of which 1,876,006 were sold upon 
Admission at £3.50 per share totalling £6,566,021. The balance of 3,484,012 shares with a value of £12,194,042 is carried forward 
and is subject to a lock-up period of 365 days.

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20 70

Annual Report on Remuneration continued

Legacy Items continued

Upon Admission Clare Gilmartin held 13,097,533 shares (2.9% of the issued share capital) of which 4,584,136 were sold upon 
Admission at £3.50 per share totalling £16,044,476. The balance of 8,513,397 shares with a value of £29,796,890 is carried 
forward and is subject to a lock-up period of 365 days.

Upon Admission Shaun McCabe held 4,019,813 shares (0.9% of issued share capital) of which 1,406,934 were sold upon 
Admission at £3.50 per share totalling £4,924,276. The balance of 2,612,879 shares with a value of £9,145,076 is carried forward 
and is subject to a lock-up period of 365 days. Shaun McCabe also received a bonus payment for £2,833,422 which was payable 
after Admission in recognition of his contribution to the success and progress of the business over the previous three years. 

Annual Bonus

The maximum bonus opportunities for FY’20 were 200% and 150% of salary for the CEO and the CFO, respectively. The annual 
bonus is based on the achievement of Group financial targets and a set of specific and quantifiable strategic objectives. 
Performance targets and actual outturn are set out below.

Financial element

Measure 
Group Adjusted EBITDA1
Group capital expenditure4
Net debt

Net sales growth

Revenue growth
Total 

Weighting (% of 
total bonus)
15%
5%
2.5%

15%

12.5%
50%

Key: 

  Performance range 

  Actual outturn 

1  See page 132 for the definition of Group Adjusted EBITDA.

2  achievement results in 0% of maximum payout.

3  achievement results in 50% of maximum payout.

4  Group capital expenditure excludes additions through trade and asset acquisitions.

Performance targets

Threshold2
£68.5m
n/a
£181.8m

Target3
£76.5m
£25m
£174.3m

Stretch 
£84.5m
£22.5m
£166.8m

Actual FY’20 
achievement
£85.2m
£25.8m
£70.8m

17%

24%

Resulting bonus 
outcome (% of total 
bonus)
15%
0%
2.5%

5.4%

5%
27.9% out of 50%

Whilst the Group financial measures and targets have been disclosed in full, for reasons of commercial sensitivity, the divisional 
financial measures have been merged into the groups of ‘Net sales growth’ and ‘Revenue growth’ for disclosure purposes. 
Each grouping consists of a number of separate sub-measures; actual FY’20 achievement against targets for these sub-measures 
is disclosed on an aggregated basis. Due to the commercially sensitive nature of these divisional targets, the Committee does not 
currently intend to disclose them at a future date.

Strategic element

Measure
CEO
Enhance the customer 
experience & build demand

Weighting (% of 

total bonus) Key progress during FY’20

Optimising revenues & margin

15%

Preparing the Group for 
capital transaction

Other (inc. staff engagement, 
diversity, etc
CEO Total:

10%

5%

50%

20%

Strong app growth, greater eticket availability and 
improved NPS scores have contributed to strong sales 
growth
Improved take rates driven by new ancillary revenue 
streams in the UK and International consumer 
segments. Gross profit increased 29%
Preparing the Group for public or private capital 
transaction, subsequent successful IPO and share price 
growth in FY’20
Strong delivery of staff engagement, equal pay and 
regretted attrition rates

FY’20 
achievement

Resulting bonus 
outcome (% of 
total bonus)

Target

9% 

Target

8.5%

Stretch

10%

Target

2%

29.7% out of 50%

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20Measure
CFO
Enhance the customer 
experience & build demand

Optimising revenues & margin

Preparing the Group for capital 
transaction

Other (inc. staff engagement, 
diversity, etc
CEO Total:

Weighting (% of 

total bonus) Key progress during FY’20

6%

Launched additional features and payment options 
enhancing the customer experience and contributing 
to strong sales growth
12% Improved take rates driven by new ancillary revenue 
streams in the UK and International consumer 
segments. Gross profit increased 29%
Preparing the Group for public or private capital 
transaction, subsequent successful IPO and share 
price growth in FY’20
Strong delivery of staff engagement, equal pay and 
regretted attrition rates

12%

20%

50%

71

FY’20 
achievement

Resulting bonus 
outcome (% of 
total bonus)

Target

Target

2% 

5% 

 Stretch 

19.5%

Target

6%

32.5% out of 50%

Given the commercially sensitive nature of the strategic measures, several measures have been merged into the groupings for 
disclosure purposes. Each of these groupings consists of several different measures. Given the granular nature of each measure 
the Committee does not intend to disclose the performance targets of the individual measures comprising these groupings.

The resulting bonus outcomes for FY’20 for the Executive Directors are set out below. Payment of these bonuses is deferred until 
the exceptional business circumstances due to COVID-19 have ended, and bonuses are paid to all those eligible across 
the business. 

Executive Director
CEO
CFO

Annual bonus outcome 
(% of maximum)
57.6%
60.5%

Annual bonus outcome 
(% of salary)
115%
91%

Annual bonus outcome 
(000)
£4511
£247

1 

In line with the Policy, as the CEO’s bonus has exceeded 100% of salary, 100% of salary will be paid in cash, and the balance will be paid in deferred bonus shares under the Deferred Share 
Bonus Plan. 

PSP awards granted in FY’20

On 31 July 2019, the Executive Directors received awards under the PSP as set out in the table below:

Executive Director
CEO
CFO

Date of grant
31 Jul 2019
31 Jul 2019

Number of 
shares granted
268,691
186,915

Share price on 
date of grant
£4.28
£4.28

Face value
£1.15m
£0.8m

Award as % 
of salary

Vesting date
200% 28 Feb 2022
200% 28 Feb 2022

The vest period for these awards, the first since Admission, is three years from grant. Subsequent PSP awards for Executive 
Directors will also include a two-year post-vest holding period. Dividend equivalents will not accrue in respect of the awards over 
the period from the date of grant to the vesting date.

Vesting of up to 100% of salary is based on EPS, as set out below:

Measure
EPS¹ for FY’22

1  The EPS measure is Basic EPS with the impact of share-based payments excluded

Vesting of up to 100% of salary is based on relative TSR, as set out below:

Performance targets

Maximum 
vesting (% of 
salary
100%

Threshold  
(20% vesting)
13.5p

Median  
(50% vesting)
15p

Stretch  
(100% vesting)
17p

Measure

Maximum 
vesting (% of 
salary

Threshold  
(20% vesting)

Relative TSR vs. FTSE250 excluding investment trusts

100%

Median

Stretch  
(100% vesting)
Upper 
quartile

Performance targets1

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20 72

Annual Report on Remuneration continued

Up to an additional 25% of the PSP award (50% of salary) is structured as a kicker based on exceptional EPS and relative TSR 
performance. It will vest only if the stretch EPS target (17p) has been achieved, and then only if relative TSR is above upper 
quartile as follows:

Measure

Relative TSR vs. FTSE250 excluding investment trusts

Performance targets

Threshold  
(0% vesting)
Upper 
quartile

Stretch  
(100% vesting)
Upper 
decile

The performance period for these awards, which were granted shortly after Admission, is for TSR the period 26 June 2019 to 
28 February 2022, and for EPS the three financial years ending 28 February 2022.

Deferred share bonus plan (‘DSBP’) awards granted in FY’20

In line with Policy, as the CEO’s bonus has exceeded 100% of salary, 100% of salary will be paid in cash, and the balance, being 
£87,970, will be paid in deferred bonus shares under the Deferred Share Bonus Plan. The grant of shares will take place once the 
impact of COVID-19 has ended and bonuses are paid to all eligible employees across the business.

Payments for loss of office

No payments for loss of office were made during the year under review.

Payments to past Directors

No payments were made to past Directors during the year under review.

Implementation of the Remuneration Policy in FY’21

Executive Director remuneration in FY’21

A summary of how the proposed 2020 Remuneration Policy will be applied to Executive Director remuneration for FY’21 is set 
out below.

Base salary

The Committee reviewed Executive Directors’ salaries in early 2020 and agreed that they should remain unchanged for 2020. 
In early April, in recognition of the uncertainty generated by COVID-19, the CEO volunteered to take a 50% salary reduction (to 
£287,500) and the CFO volunteered to take a 20% reduction (to £320,000). The reduced salaries will take effect from 20 April 
2020, for the foreseeable future.

Executive Director
CEO
CFO

1  Salary reduction took effect from 20 April 2020 and will apply for the foreseeable future.

Pension and benefits

Salary at Admission Salary from 1 Mar 2020 Salary from 20 Apr 2020
£287,5001
£320,0001

£575,000
£400,000

£575,000
£400,000

For FY’21, the CEO and the CFO will receive pension benefits by way of cash allowances in line with the 2020 Remuneration 
Policy. Pension provisions will continue to be based on salaries prior to the voluntary reductions that took effect from 20 April 
2020, in line with the treatment of pension contributions of the wider workforce.

Annual bonus

At the time of publication of this report, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic was uncertain. The intention is for the FY’21 
annual bonus to be based on the structure as detailed in the Remuneration Policy, with maximum opportunities of 200% and 
150% of normal salary for the CEO and the CFO, respectively, and with measures based on a range of financial and strategic 
metrics, and personal objectives. The Committee will ensure any payout of the FY’21 annual bonus is consistent with the 
stakeholder experience over this uncertain period, taking into account perspectives of shareholders, employees, and customers.

Trainline Annual Report 2019/2073

Long-term incentive

The intention is for the CEO and the CFO to receive awards under the PSP of 250% of salary. Vesting will continue to be based 
on EPS and relative TSR measured over three years, with 50% (out of 250%) of salary subject to exceptional EPS and TSR 
performance. The relative TSR targets will be based on the same performance range as for FY’20 awards. Given the 
unprecedented uncertainty created by COVID-19, the EPS performance targets will be determined as early as possible during 
FY’21 and will be disclosed no later than in the FY’21 Directors’ Remuneration Report. The number of shares under grant will be 
determined at the time of the grant, taking into consideration historical prices and more recent share price performance relative 
to sector peers and the broader market. As with the FY’21 annual bonus, the Committee will ensure that any vesting of the FY’21 
PSP cycle is consistent with the stakeholder experience over this uncertain period, taking into account perspectives of 
shareholders, employees and customers, as well as other factors such as the mitigation of any windfall gains.

Non-executive Director fees in FY’21

Non-executive Director fees are determined by the Board within the limit approved by shareholders in the Articles of Association, with the 
exception of the Chair of the Board, whose remuneration is determined by the Committee. In recognition of the uncertainty generated 
by COVID-19, effective 20 April 2020 and for the foreseeable future, the Chair and the Non-executive Directors’ fees have 
volunteered a 20% reduction to base fees are set out in the table below:

Basic fee

Company Chair
Non-executive Director
Additional fees

Senior Independent Director
Audit and Risk Committee Chair
Remuneration Committee Chair

FY’20

Fee from 1 Mar 2020 Fee from 20 Apr 2020

£265,0001
£60,000

£265,000
£60,000

 £212,0002
£48,0002

£10,000
£15,000
£15,000

£10,000
£15,000
£15,000

£10,000
£15,000
£15,000

1  Douglas McCallum was paid a Chair fee of £240,000 p.a. up to his stepping down from the Board on 5 November 2019. Brian McBride’s annual fee as Chair in FY’20 was £265,000.

2  Fee reduction took effect from 20 April 2020, and will apply for the foreseeable future.

Relative importance of spend on pay

The table below shows the change in total employee pay, as detailed in Note 4 of the financial statements. No dividends or share 
buybacks have occurred since Listing.

Total gross employee pay
Revenue
Group Adjusted EBITDA

% change
28%
24%
62%

FY’20 £m
£66
£261
£85

FY’19 £m
£52
£210
£53

Percentage change in CEO remuneration

This section is not applicable as the Company listed on 21 June 2019; as such, there is no prior year comparison that can be made. 

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20  
 
 
 
74

Annual Report on Remuneration continued

CEO pay ratio

The table below provides disclosure of the ratio between the CEO’s salary and total remuneration and that of the lower quartile, 
median and upper quartile UK-based employee.

Financial year

Calculation 
methodology

FY’20

A

Total remuneration ratio
Total remuneration (£000)
Salary ratio
Salary (£000)

P25 
(lower quartile)
32.1:1
£29
16.4:1
£24

P50 
(median)
19.6:1
£47
9.3:1
£42

P75 
(upper quartile)
14.3:1
£64
7.1:1
£56

CEO

£920

£392

The lower quartile, median and upper quartile employees were determined using calculation methodology A which involved 
calculating the actual full-time equivalent remuneration for all UK employees for the period from Admission to 29 February 2020. 
From this analysis, three employees were then identified as representing the 25th, 50th and 75th percentile of the UK employee 
population. Trainline chose this method as it is the preferred approach of the Government and that of shareholders, and the 
Company had the systems in place to undertake this method.

The Committee has considered the pay data for the three employees identified and believes that it fairly reflects pay at the relevant 
quartiles amongst our UK workforce. The three individuals identified were full-time employees during the year. None received an 
exceptional incentive award which would otherwise inflate their pay figures. Assumptions were made regarding taxable benefits 
for employees given some data was unavailable however the methodology used was consistent with the methodology used to 
calculate the single figure of the CEO.

As this is the first year of reporting the CEO pay ratio using the above methodology, there is no comparative data against which 
to compare the pay ratios above. The Committee will consider future pay ratios in the context of historical ratios.

The CEO pay ratio is based on comparing the CEO’s pay to that of Trainline’s UK-based workforce, the largest proportion of 
whom work in our technology teams developing and maintaining our platform. The Committee expects that the ratios will be 
largely driven by the CEO’s incentive pay outcomes, which will likely lead to greater variability in her pay than that observed at 
lower levels who, consistent with market practices, have a greater proportion of their pay linked to fixed components. 
The Committee takes into account these ratios when making decisions around the Executive Director pay packages, and 
Trainline takes seriously the need to ensure competitive pay packages across the organisation.

Historical TSR performance and remuneration outcomes for the CEO

The graph below compares the Company’s TSR against the FTSE250 Index excluding investment trusts, of which the Company is 
now a constituent. Performance, as required by legislation, is measured by TSR over the period from commencement of 
conditional dealing (21 June 2019) to 29 February 2020.

Trainline

FTSE250 Index

175

150

125

100

75

June 2019

July 2019

August 2019

September 2019

October 2019

November 2019

December 2019

January 2020

February 2020

The table below illustrates the CEO’s single figure of total remuneration over the same period.

Single figure (£000)
Annual bonus outcome (% of max)
PSP vesting (% of max)

FY’20
920
57.6%
n/a

Trainline Annual Report 2019/2075

External appointments

We recognise the opportunities and benefits to both the Company and to the Executive Directors of serving as Non-executive Directors 
of other companies. The Executive Directors are permitted to hold one external appointment and are entitled to retain the fees earned 
from such appointments. All Directors are required to seek approval from the Board prior to accepting external appointments.

Outstanding share awards (Audited)

Details of existing share awards in the Company’s share schemes granted to the Directors following the Company’s Listing, as at 
29 February 2020, are set out in the table below.

Director
CEO
CFO
Chair

Award type
PSP
PSP
RSU
RSU
RSU

Date of grant Number of shares granted Share price on date of grant Face value Award as % of salary/fee
31 Jul 2019
31 Jul 2019
26 Jun 2019
26 Jun 2019
26 Jun 2019

268,691
186,915
28,571
28,571
28,572

Vesting date
200%1 28 Feb 2022
200%1 28 Feb 2022
38% 26 Jun 20202
38% 26 Jun 20212
38% 26 Jun 20222

£1.15m
£0.8m
£0.1m
£0.1m
£0.1m

£4.28
£4.28
£3.50
£3.50
£3.50

1  Up to an additional 25% of the PSP award (50% of salary) is structured as a kicker based on exceptional EPS and relative TSR performance. 

2  Vesting subject to his continued appointment to the Board in equal tranches over the three years following Admission and required to hold the vested shares so long as he remains a director of 

the Company.

Statement of Directors’ shareholding and share interests (Audited)

The table below shows the beneficial interests of Directors on 29 February 2020 (including the beneficial interest of their 
spouses, civil partners, children, and stepchildren) in the Ordinary Shares of the Company, as well as unvested awards. 

Interests 

Ordinary Shares 
held at 21 Jun 
2019

Ordinary Shares 
held at 29 Feb 
2020

Subject 
to deferral/ 
holding period

Unvested and 
subject to 
performance 
conditions

Shareholding 
requirement as 
% of salary

Current 
Shareholding as 
% of salary

Shareholding 
requirement 
met?

8,513,397
2,612,879

8,513,397
2,612,879

8,513,397
2,612,879

268,691
186,915

200%
200%

7,087%
3,248%

Yes
Yes

0
0
0

28,571
28,571
2,142

85,714

Executive Directors
Clare Gilmartin
Shaun McCabe
Non-executive Directors
Brian McBride
Duncan Tatton-Brown
Kjersti Wiklund

Approved by the Board on 7 May 2020

Kjersti Wiklund
Chair of the Remuneration Committee
7 May 2020

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20  
 
76

Directors’ Report

The Directors present their report, together with the audited Financial Statements for the period ended 29 February 2020.

Compliance with the UK Corporate Governance Code 2018
This Annual Report has been prepared with reference to the UK Corporate Governance Code 2018 published by the UK Financial 
Reporting Council (FRC) in July 2018 (the ‘Governance Code’). The Company adopted the Code on 26 June 2019 on admission of 
its ordinary shares to the FCA’s Official List and to listing on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange. Prior to 26 June 
2019 the Company was not required to comply with the principles and provisions of the Code. The Company applied the Main 
Principles and complied with the relevant provisions set out in the Governance Code other than:

•  the implementation of the Board’s workforce engagement mechanism which, due to the time of year of the IPO and the 

ongoing search for a Senior Independent Non-executive Director, will begin in FY’21 (Provision 5);

•  Douglas S. McCallum, the former Chair of the Company, did not meet the independence criteria to be considered independent 

on his appointment as Chair of the Company (Provision 9);

•  the period from Admission to 12 November 2019 during which the Independent Non-executive Directors, excluding the Chair, 

represented just under half of the Board (Provision 11);

•  the period since the appointment of Brian McBride as Chair (5 November 2019 onwards) when the Company has not had a 

Senior Independent Non-executive Director. The search for the Senior Independent Non-executive Director is ongoing and the 
Board will introduce the appointee in due course (Provision 12); and

•  Brian McBride received a grant of restricted stock units with a grant date value of £300,000 which will vest subject to his 

continued appointment to the Board in equal tranches over three years following Admission and that he will be required to hold 
so long as he remains a director of the Company (Provision 34).

Details demonstrating how the main principles and relevant provisions of the Governance Code have been applied can be found 
below in the Directors’ Report and throughout the Corporate Governance Report, each of the Board Committee reports and the 
Strategic Report. The Corporate Governance Report, each of the Board Committee reports and the Strategic Report for their 
Corporate Governance disclosures all form part of the Directors’ Report. The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) is responsible for 
the publication and periodic review of the Governance Code, which can be found on the FRC website www.frc.org.uk

Diversity and Inclusion
Our Diversity and Inclusion policies support managers and employees in creating a diverse and inclusive culture where everyone 
is welcome. Our policies demonstrate our commitment to providing equal opportunities to all employees, irrespective of age, 
disability, gender, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

Disclosure of information to auditors
The Directors who held office at the date of approval of this Annual Report confirm that, so far as they are each aware, there is no 
relevant audit information of which the Company’s auditors are unaware; and each Director has taken all the steps that he or she 
ought to have taken as a Director to make himself or herself aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the 
Company’s auditors are aware of that information.

Insurance and indemnities
The Company maintained Directors’ and Officers’ Liability Insurance cover throughout the period. The Directors are also able to 
obtain independent legal advice at the expense of the Company, as necessary, in their capacity as Directors. The Company has 
entered into a deed of indemnity in favour of each Board member. These deeds of indemnity are still in force and provide that the 
Company shall indemnify the Directors to the fullest extent permitted by law and the Articles, in respect of all losses arising out 
of, or in connection with, the execution of their powers, duties and responsibilities as Directors of the Company or any of its 
subsidiaries. This is in line with current market practice and helps us attract and retain high-quality, skilled Directors.

Political donations
The Group did not make any political donations (FY’19 £nil) or incur any political expenditure during the year (FY’19 £nil).

Subsidiaries and principal activities
The Company is the holding Company for a Group of subsidiaries whose principal activities are described in this Annual Report. 
The Group’s subsidiaries and their locations are set out in Note 21 in the Financial Statements.

Branches
In accordance with the Companies Act 2006, the Board confirm that there were no branches of the Company or its subsidiaries 
during the financial year.

Share capital
Details of the Company’s share capital, including changes during the period are given in Note 17 to the Financial Statements.

Trainline Annual Report 2019/2077

Other than the IPO Lock Up Agreements in place for senior management which expire 365 days after the IPO, there are no restrictions on 
voting rights or the transfer of shares in the Company and the Company is not aware of agreements between holders of securities that 
result in such restrictions. No shareholder holds securities carrying special rights with regards to control of the Company.

The Company had been notified under Rule 5 of the FCA’s Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules of the following interests 
in voting rights in its shares. The latest information on major shareholders is available via the Regulatory Information Service or on 
the Company’s Investor Relations website.

The Capital Group Companies, Inc.

Baillie Gifford & Co

Blackrock, Inc.

T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc
Merian Global Investors

% of total voting rights  
as at 29 Feb 2020
10.04%

% of total voting rights as at 
the date of this report
11.29%

8.99%

8.28%

5.23%
below notification threshold

8.99%

6.20%

5.23%
5.02%

The Company was authorised by shareholders to purchase its own shares in the market up to a maximum of approximately 10% 
of its issued share capital. No shares were purchased under that authority during the financial year. The Company is seeking to 
renew the authority at the forthcoming AGM, within the limits set out in the notice of that meeting and inline with the 
recommendations of the Pre-emption Group. Shares held by the Company’s Employee Benefit Trust (the ‘Trust’) rank pari passu 
with the shares in issue and have no special rights. Voting rights and rights of acceptance of any offer relating to the shares held 
in the Trust rests with the trustees, who may take account of any recommendation from the Company. Voting rights are not 
exercisable by the colleagues on whose behalf the shares are held in trust.

Articles of Association and Powers of the Directors
The Company’s Articles of Association contain the rules relating to the powers of the Company’s directors and their appointment 
and replacement. The Company’s Articles of Association may only be amended by special resolution at a general meeting of the 
shareholders. Subject to the Company’s Articles of Association, the Companies Act and any directions given by special 
resolution, the business of the Company will be managed by the Board who may exercise all the powers of the Company, 
whether relating to the management of the business of the Company or not.

Events after the balance sheet date
On 30 January 2020, the spread of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) was declared a public health emergency by the World 
Health Organisation. Though the impact of COVID-19 did not materially impact the Group in the year ended 29 February 2020 it 
has not been considered a non-adjusting post balance sheet event, in line with IAS10 on the basis that it occurred during the 
financial year. As a result, the forecasts used for impairment analysis reflected the expected impact of COVID-19 on the Group at 
the balance sheet date together with further sensitivities reflecting the Directors’ views at the date of approval of the financial 
statements of the impact of COVID-19. The going concern assessment and viability statement have been updated to reflect the 
Directors assessment of the impact of COVID-19 at the date of approval of the financial statements. This has been reflected in 
the respective disclosures. Subsequent to the year end, the Group drew down an additional £85 million of its Revolving Credit 
Facility and reduced the portion of the Facility utilised through bank guarantees. Following these changes, the remaining 
headroom on the Revolving Credit Facility was £90.2 million. On 29 April 2020, the Group announced that its loan syndicate had 
waived the financial covenant in respect of its £350 million revolving credit facility until August 2021 to support the business 
through the COVID-19 pandemic and the related impact on trading.

Going concern
The Governance Code requires the Board to assess and report on the prospects of the Group and whether the business is a going 
concern. In considering this requirement, the Directors have taken into account the Group’s forecast cash flows, liquidity, 
borrowing facilities and relating covenant requirements and the expected operational activities of the Group. All of these 
forecasts included the waiving of the financial covenant in respect of the Group’s £350 million Revolving Credit Facility until 
August 2021 as announced by the Group on 29 April 2020 and the expected impact of COVID-19 on the Group’s performance. 

Though the scenario is considered to be very unlikely, as part of the going concern assessment the Group prepared a cash flow 
forecast which considered the Group’s ongoing cash outflows and assumed no revenue inflows. The analysis confirmed the 
Group’s current liquidity position would enable the Group to operate with no cash inflows for a period of at least 12 months from 
the date of signing these financial statements.

Having due regard to these matters and after making appropriate enquiries, the Directors have a reasonable expectation that the 
Group and the Company have adequate resources to remain in operation until at least 12 months after the approval of these 
Financial Statements. The Board have therefore continued to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the consolidated 
Financial Statements.

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20 78

Directors’ Report continued

Significant agreements
There are no significant agreements to which the Company is a party that take effect, alter, or terminate on a change of control 
of the Company following a takeover bid.

Global GHG emissions and energy use data

Emissions from activities which the Company own or control including combustion of fuel & 
operation of facilities (Scope 1)/tCO2e
Emissions from purchase of electricity, heat, steam, and cooling purchased for own use (Scope 2, 
location based)/tCO2e
Total gross Scope 1 & Scope 2 emissions/tCO2e
Energy consumption used to calculate above emissions: /kWh
Intensity ratio: tCO2e gross figure based from mandatory fields above/m² of office space
Intensity ratio: tCO2e gross figure based from mandatory fields above/FTE
Emissions from purchased goods and services (Scope 3)/tCO2e
Emissions from employee business travel (Scope 3)/tCO2e
Emissions from disposal of waste generated in operations (Scope 3)/tCO2e
Emissions from energy use in data centres (Scope 3)/tCO2e

Current reporting year 2019-20

UK and 
offshore 

Global (excluding 
UK and offshore) 

84.36

42.01

238.65
323.01
1,392,555
0.09
0.57
5.72
81.17
1.22
20.02

6.21
48.22
346,620
0.02
0.79
0.54
156.29
0.13
7.21

Methodology: The data detailed in this table represent emissions and energy use for which Trainline is responsible, including 
electricity use in our offices . We do not have any company vehicles for which we purchase fuel directly. We have used the main 
requirements of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol Corporate Standard to calculate our emissions, along with the UK Government 
GHG Conversion Factors for Company Reporting 2019. Any estimates included in our totals are derived from actual data 
extrapolated to cover missing periods. We have reported emissions from energy use from data centres for a minority of our 
outsourced data processing activities and are working to obtain activity data or a reasonable estimation methodology for the 
remainder of this emissions source. As this is Trainline’s first year of reporting, there is no comparison year to disclose.

Energy efficiency actions: In the period covered by the report, Trainline has worked with the landlords of its offices to introduce 
more efficient LED lighting where practicable. In addition, heating and ventilation services in our offices are carefully aligned 
with our working hours in order to maximise their efficiency. We recognise that the supply of data centres in our supply chain has 
an environmental impact and whilst our current supplier sources more than 50% of energy from renewable sources and has 
committed to 100% renewable energy by 2030 we will continue to monitor their environmental sustainability credentials.

Additional Disclosures
The relationship agreement disclosed in the IPO prospectus between the Company and certain shareholders (the ‘Principal 
Shareholder’), which was in place at admission, ended on 12 November 2019 following completion of a secondary placing of the 
Principal Shareholders shareholding in the Company.

Other information which is incorporated by reference into this report can be located as follows:
Other information relevant to the Directors’ Report
Likely future developments

Information required by Listing Rules 9.8.4R
s.172 and relationships with stakeholders

Page
2 to 30

Long-term incentive schemes

Director’s interests in shares

Statement of capitalised interest

105 to 109

Page
36 to 38

58 to 75

75

Research and development

Group’s Employees

Directors of the Company

16 to 17

31 to 35

46 to 47

Financial instruments and financial risk management

122 to 124

The Directors’ Report, which has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006, has been 
approved by the Board and signed on its behalf by

Neil Murrin
Company Secretary
7 May 2020

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20Statement of Directors’ Responsibilities

79

Statement of Directors’ responsibilities in respect of the Annual Report, Strategic Report, 
The Directors’ Report and the Financial Statements 
The directors are responsible for preparing the Annual Report, Strategic Report, the Directors’ Report and the Group and Parent 
Company Financial Statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations. 

Company law requires the Directors to prepare Group and Parent Company Financial Statements for each financial year. 
Under that law they have elected to prepare the Group Financial Statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting 
Standards as adopted by the European Union (IFRSs as adopted by the EU) and applicable law and have elected to prepare the 
Parent Company Financial Statements in accordance with UK accounting standards and applicable law (UK Generally Accepted 
Accounting Practice), including FRS 101 Reduced Disclosure Framework. 

Under company law the Directors must not approve the Financial Statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and 
fair view of the state of affairs of the Group and Parent Company and of their profit or loss for that period. In preparing each of 
the Group and Parent Company Financial Statements, the directors are required to: 

•  select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;

•  make judgements and estimates that are reasonable, relevant, reliable and prudent; 

•  for the Group Financial Statements, state whether they have been prepared in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the EU; 

•  for the Parent Company Financial Statements, state whether applicable UK accounting standards have been followed, subject 

to any material departures disclosed and explained in the Financial Statements;

•  assess the Group and Parent Company’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to 

going concern; and 

•  use the going concern basis of accounting unless they either intend to liquidate the Group or the Parent Company or to cease 

operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

The Directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the Parent 
Company’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Parent Company and 
enable them to ensure that its Financial Statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are responsible for such internal 
control as they determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, 
whether due to fraud or error, and have general responsibility for taking such steps as are reasonably open to them to safeguard 
the assets of the Group and to prevent and detect fraud and other irregularities. 

The Directors are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the 
Company’s website. Legislation in the UK governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from 
legislation in other jurisdictions.

Responsibility statement of the Directors in respect of The Annual Financial Report
We confirm that to the best of our knowledge:

•  the Financial Statements, prepared in accordance with the applicable set of accounting standards, give a true and fair view of 
the assets, liabilities, financial position and profit or loss of the Company and the undertakings included in the consolidation 
taken as a whole; and

•  the Strategic Report includes a fair review of the development and performance of the business and the position of the Group 

and the undertakings included in the consolidation taken as a whole, together with a description of the principal risks 
and uncertainties.

We consider the Annual Report and Accounts, taken as a whole, is fair, balanced and understandable and provides the 
information necessary for shareholders to assess the Group’s position and performance, business model and strategy.

Shaun McCabe
Chief Financial Officer
7 May 2020

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20 80

Trainline Annual Report 2019/2081

Financial 
Statements

In this section

Independent Auditors’ Report 
Consolidated Income Statement 
Consolidated Statement of Other 
Comprehensive Income 
Consolidated Statement of 
Financial Position 
Consolidated Statement of 
Changes in Equity 
Consolidated Cash Flow Statement 
Notes forming part of the Group  
Financial Statements 
Parent Company statement of 
Financial Position 
Parent Company Statement of Changes  
in Equity 
Notes to the Parent Company  
Financial Statements 
Alternative Performance Measures 

82
90

91

92

93
94

95

128

129

130
132

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20  
82

Independent Auditor’s Report to the members of Trainline plc

1. Our opinion is unmodified

We have audited the financial statements of Trainline plc (‘the 
Company’) for the year ended 29 February 2020 which 
comprise the consolidated income statement, consolidated 
statement of other comprehensive income, consolidated 
statement of financial position, consolidated statement of 
changes in equity, consolidated statement of cash flows, 
Parent Company statement of financial position and Parent 
Company statement of changes in equity, and the related 
notes, including the accounting policies.

In our opinion:

•  the financial statements give a true and fair view of the state 

of the Group’s and of the parent Company’s affairs as at 
29 February 2020 and of the Group’s loss for the year 
then ended;

•  the Group financial statements have been properly prepared 

in accordance with International Financial Reporting 
Standards as adopted by the European Union (IFRSs as 
adopted by the EU);

We were first appointed as auditor by the Board of Directors 
on 31 May 2019 which was prior to the Parent Company’s 
becoming a public interest entity. The period of total 
uninterrupted engagement is for the first financial year ended 
29 February 2020. Prior to that we were also auditor to the 
Group’s previous UK Parent Company, but which, being 
unlisted, was not a public-interest entity. The period of total 
uninterrupted engagement for that previous UK Parent 
Company is for the 19 financial years ended 29 February 2020. 
We have fulfilled our ethical responsibilities under, and we 
remain independent of the Group in accordance with, UK 
ethical requirements including the FRC Ethical Standard as 
applied to listed public interest entities. No non-audit services 
prohibited by that standard were provided.

Overview

Materiality:  
Group Financial  
Statements as a whole

£2.0 million

0.8% of Group Revenue

Coverage

91.5% of Group Revenue

•  the parent Company financial statements have been 
properly prepared in accordance with UK accounting 
standards, including FRS 101 Reduced Disclosure 
Framework; and

Key Audit Matters

Group’s specific risks

•  the financial statements have been prepared in accordance 
with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 and, as 
regards the Group financial statements, Article 4 of the 
IAS Regulation.

Basis for opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with International 
Standards on Auditing (UK) (‘ISAs (UK)’) and applicable law. 
Our responsibilities are described below. We believe that the 
audit evidence we have obtained is a sufficient and appropriate 
basis for our opinion. Our audit opinion is consistent with our 
report to the Audit and Risk Committee.

Parent Company  
specific risk

Disclosures relating to 
going concern

Recoverable amount of goodwill 
(International business) 

Financial statement and annual 
report disclosures 

Commission revenue 

Recoverability of Parent 
Company’s investment 
in subsidiaries 

Trainline Annual Report 2019/2083

2. Key audit matters: including our assessment of risks of material misstatement

Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional judgement, were of most significance in the audit of the financial 
statements and include the most significant assessed risks of material misstatement (whether or not due to fraud) identified by 
us, including those which had the greatest effect on: the overall audit strategy; the allocation of resources in the audit; and 
directing the efforts of the engagement team.

We summarise below the key audit matters, in arriving at our audit opinion above, together with our key audit procedures to 
address those matters and, as required for public interest entities, our results from those procedures. These matters were 
addressed, and our results are based on procedures undertaken, in the context of, and solely for the purpose of, our audit of the 
financial statements as a whole, and in forming our opinion thereon, and consequently are incidental to that opinion, and we do 
not provide a separate opinion on these matters.

Disclosures related to 
Going concern

Refer to page 55 (Report of the 
Audit and Risk Committee), 
page 77 (Directors’ report) and 
note 1 (e) on page 95 
(financial disclosures)

The risk

Our response

Disclosure quality
Note 1 (e) to the financial statements explains how 
the Directors have formed a judgement that use of 
the going concern basis is appropriate in preparing 
the financial statements of the Group and the 
parent Company.

Our procedures included:
•  Benchmarking assumptions: We challenged the appropriateness of key 
assumptions in the cash flow projections, applying our sector knowledge 
and experience based on our historical knowledge of the Group and the 
markets in which the subsidiaries operate, together with market and other 
externally available information.

•  Sensitivity analysis: We considered sensitivities over the level of available 
financial resources indicated by the Group’s financial forecasts taking 
account of reasonably possible (but not unrealistic) adverse effects that 
could arise from these risks individually and collectively.

•  Mathematical accuracy: We checked the mathematical accuracy of the 
cash flow projections and recalculated the forecast covenant calculations 
based on the terms of the Group’s borrowing facilities.

•  Funding assessment: We examined correspondence and supporting 

documentation with third party funding providers, assessing the Group’s 
existing lending RCF arrangements, credit rating and existing loan and 
covenant terms (including covenant waiver).

•  Assessing transparency: We considered the appropriateness of relevant 

disclosures, including both the going concern disclosure in note 1 (e) of the 
financial statements and also the commentary elsewhere in the annual 
report on the impact of COVID-19.

Our results
We found the going concern disclosure without any material uncertainty to 
be acceptable. 

That judgement is based on an evaluation of the 
inherent risks to the Group’s and the parent 
Company’s business model and how those risks 
might affect the Group’s and the parent Company’s 
financial resources or ability to continue operations 
over a period of at least a year from the date of 
approval of the financial statements.

The risks most likely to adversely affect the Group’s 
and the parent Company’s available financial 
resources over this period were:

•  COVID-19: The pandemic affecting the global 
economy leading to significant economic 
uncertainty and a significant reduction in the use 
of rail transport;

•  Uncertainty due to the UK exiting the European 

Union; and 

•  In addition, there is inherent estimation 

uncertainty in the assumptions used in the 
Group and Company’s business model, 
particularly in respect of COVID-19 including the 
length of the period that the reduction in the use 
of rail transport will continue.

The risk for our audit was whether or not those 
risks were such that they amounted to a material 
uncertainty that may have cast significant doubt 
about the ability to continue as a going concern. 
Had they been such, then that fact would have 
been required to have been disclosed.

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20 84

Independent Auditor’s Report continued

Recoverable amount 
of goodwill (International 
business)

Refer to page 55 (Report of 
the Audit and Risk Committee), 
note 1(h) on page 96 
(accounting policy) and note 9 
on pages 105 to 108 (financial 
disclosures). 

The risk

Our response

Forecast based valuation
The carrying value of goodwill for the international 
business is £92 million. It arose on the acquisitions 
of subsidiaries including Trainline.com and Trainline 
SAS (formerly CapitaineTrain SAS).

The recoverability of goodwill is dependent on 
achieving future trading forecasts and the 
generation of cash flows. Due to the inherent 
uncertainty involved in forecasting future cash 
flows and selection of an appropriate discount rate, 
which are the basis of the assessment of 
recoverability, this is a significant area of 
audit focus.

The effect of these matters is that, as part of our 
risk assessment, we determined that the 
recoverability of goodwill for the international 
business had a high degree of estimation 
uncertainty, with a potential range of reasonable 
outcomes greater than our materiality for the 
financial statements as a whole, and possibly 
many times that amount. The financial statements 
(note 9) disclose the sensitivity estimated by 
the Directors.

Our procedures included:
•  Benchmarking assumptions: We challenged the appropriateness of key 

assumptions underlying the discounted cash flows (including growth rates 
and discount rates, and the impact of COVID-19 on these assumptions), by 
comparing to externally derived data in relation to key inputs and applying 
our sector knowledge and historical knowledge of the Group.

•  Our valuation expertise: Our own valuation specialists assisted us by 
providing external input to assess the appropriateness of the discount 
rates used.

•  Sensitivity analysis: We evaluated the sensitivity of the outcomes to 

reasonably possible changes to the key assumptions, primarily the impact 
of lower growth rates, and a higher discount rate.

•  Challenge of management: We challenged the Directors’ forecasting 

accuracy by comparing the accuracy of previous estimates of revenue and 
cost to the actual results of the international operations.

•  Assessing transparency: We assessed whether the Group’s disclosures 
about the sensitivity of the outcome of the impairment assessment to 
changes in key assumptions reflected the risks inherent in the recoverable 
amount of goodwill for the international business.

Our results
We found the recoverable amount of goodwill for the international business 
to be acceptable.

Financial statement and 
annual report disclosures 

Refer to page 55 (Report of the 
Audit and Risk Committee). 

As a result of listing on the UK Stock Exchange, the 
Group is subject to an increasing number of laws 
and regulations and new disclosure requirements, 
and enhanced oversight by the Financial 
Reporting Council.

There is a risk that the financial statement 
disclosures and other disclosures to the market 
(including the front-half narrative) are not in line 
with these new requirements.

We have assessed the adequacy of the Group’s disclosures with reference to 
the requirements of IFRS, the UK Companies Act 2006 and the Listing Rules 
and the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules that now apply.

Our procedures included:
•  Fair, balanced and understandability: We performed a detailed 

assessment of the Annual Report. Through this work we have challenged 
the Directors’ understandability, fairness and balance of the financial 
statement disclosures.

•  APMs: For each APM we have assessed whether the requirements of the 

ESMA guidelines have been met by challenging the Directors and critically 
assessing disconfirming evidence (e.g. around these measures 
being balanced and presenting equally positive and negative results).
•  IFRS 8 disclosures: We have assessed whether the segments bifurcated 
and disclosed in the financial statements are in line with the information 
used by the Chief Operating Decision Maker to make strategic decisions, 
allocate resource and monitor performance.

•  IFRS 7 disclosures: We have assessed whether the Company’s objectives, 
policies and risk management functions/processes for the management of 
credit, liquidity, market and operational risk provide sufficient information 
to the users of financial statements.

•  Directors’ remuneration report disclosures: We have assessed whether 

the disclosures included in this report met all the detailed requirements of 
UK Companies Act 2006 considering the various aspects of their directors’ 
remuneration including both their pre and post listing arrangements. 

Our results
We found the Group’s disclosures with reference to the requirements of IFRS, 
the UK Companies Act 2006 and the Listing Rules and the Disclosure 
Guidance and Transparency Rules to be acceptable.

Trainline Annual Report 2019/2085

The risk

Our response

Commission revenue 

Refer note 1 (f) on page 96 
(Accounting policy).

Revenue recognition
The Group generated revenue of £261 million. 
Per the auditing standards there is a rebuttable 
presumed risk of fraud over revenue recognition. 
Given the significance of the commission revenue 
amount to the financial statements as a whole, we 
consider a specific risk of fraud in relation to 
commission revenue. We rebut the fraud risk for 
the other revenue streams.

Parent Company risk: 
recoverability of parent 
Company’s investment 
in subsidiaries

Note 2 to parent Company 
financial statements on 
page 130 (financial 
disclosures). 

Low risk, high value
The Parent Company has significant investments in 
subsidiary companies totalling £1,759 million as at 
29 February 2020.

Whilst the risk is not considered significant, the 
carrying value of investments is a significant driver 
of the parent Company’s total asset value. 
Incorrect valuations or impairments could have a 
material impact on the total assets of the Company.

The effect of these matters is that, as part of our 
risk assessment, we determined that the 
recoverability of parent Company’s investment in 
subsidiaries had a high degree of estimation 
uncertainty, with a potential range of reasonable 
outcomes greater than our materiality for the 
financial statements as a whole, and possibly many 
times that amount. 

Our procedures included:
•  Test of operating effectiveness: On a sample basis we have inspected the 

Group’s cash reconciliations (reconciling third party revenue to 
cash received).

•  Test of operating effectiveness: We have obtained the ISAE 3402 report 
for the period January 2019 to December 2019 together with a bridging 
letter for the remaining period to 29 February 2020 issued on the control 
environment at Rail Delivery Group (‘RDG’). We have examined the ISAE 
3402 report and assessed the competency of the auditor issuing that 
report and the controls tested.

•  Test of details: 

 – We have inspected the 12 monthly RDG reports and compared these 

reports to the Group’s underlying accounting records; and

 – We have tested unusual manual journal entry transactions posted in 

revenue commission related accounts.

Our results
The results of our testing were satisfactory and we consider the amount of 
commission revenue recognised to be acceptable. 

Our procedures included:
•  Benchmarking assumptions: We challenged the appropriateness of key 

assumptions underlying the discounted cash flows (including growth rates 
and discount rates), by comparing to externally derived data in relation to 
key inputs and applying our sector knowledge and historical knowledge of 
the Group.

•  Our valuation expertise: Our own valuation specialists assisted us by 
providing external input to assess the appropriateness of the discount 
rates used.

•  Sensitivity analysis: We evaluated the sensitivity of the outcomes to 

reasonably possible changes to the key assumptions, primarily the impact 
of lower growth rates, and a higher discount rate. 

•  Challenge of management: We challenged the Group’s forecasting 

accuracy by comparing the accuracy of previous estimates of revenue and 
cost to the actual amounts realised.

•  Market capitalisation: We compared the investment balance to the 

market capitalisation value to allow us to consider the appropriateness of 
discount rates and impairment assessment.

Our results 
We found the Group’s assessment of the recoverability of the investment in 
subsidiaries to be acceptable.

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20 86

Independent Auditor’s Report continued

3. Our application of materiality and an overview of the scope of our audit

Materiality for the Group Financial Statements as a whole was set at £2.0 million (2019: £1.9 million), determined with reference 
to a benchmark of Group revenue of £260.8 million (2019: £209.5 million), of which it represents 0.8% (2019: 0.9%). We consider 
Group revenue to be the most appropriate benchmark as it provides a more stable measure year on year than Group profit or loss 
before tax.

Materiality for the parent Company Financial Statements as a whole was set at £1.2 million, determined with reference to 
component materiality set by the group audit team. This is lower than the materiality we would otherwise have determined by 
reference to total assets of £1,808 million, and represents 0.7% of the parent Company’s total assets.

We agreed to report to the Audit and Risk Committee any corrected or uncorrected identified misstatements exceeding 
£0.1 million (2019: £0.095 million), in addition to other identified misstatements that warranted reporting on qualitative grounds.

Of the Group’s 3 (2019: 3) reporting components, we subjected 2 (2019: 2) to full scope audits for group purposes and 1 (2019: 1) 
to specified analytical procedures.

The Group audit team performed work on all of the reporting components.

Coverage % of key metrics

Total Assets

Group’s profits 
and losses

Revenue

  Full scope audit

98.7%

89.6%

   Analytical procedures

Total coverage

Out of scope

1.1%

99.8%

0.2%

10.4%

100%

0%

91.5%

8.5%

100%

0%

Component description

S   Financially significant

X   Not in scope – subject to analytical procedures only

All work performed by the same KPMG engagement team.

Total audit coverage
(as a % of revenue)

France 
X

Full scope audit

Analytical procedures

UK audited entities 

S

Trainline Annual Report 2019/2087

4. We have nothing to report on going concern

The Directors have prepared the financial statements on the going concern basis as they do not intend to liquidate the parent 
Company or the Group or to cease their operations, and as they have concluded that the parent Company’s and the Group’s 
financial position means that this is realistic. They have also concluded that there are no material uncertainties that could have 
cast significant doubt over their ability to continue as a going concern for at least a year from the date of approval of the financial 
statements (‘the going concern period’).

Our responsibility is to conclude on the appropriateness of the Directors’ conclusions and, had there been a material uncertainty 
related to going concern, to make reference to that in this audit report.

However, as we cannot predict all future events or conditions and as subsequent events, including Brexit, may result in outcomes 
that are inconsistent with judgements that were reasonable at the time they were made, the absence of reference to a material 
uncertainty in this auditor’s report is not a guarantee that the Group and the parent Company will continue in operation.

We identified the disclosures relating to going concern as a key audit matter (see section 2 of this report). Based on the work 
described in our response to that key audit matter, we are required to report to you if:

•  we have anything material to add or draw attention to in relation to the Directors’ statement in note 1 (e) to the financial 

statements on the use of the going concern basis of accounting with no material uncertainties that may cast significant doubt 
over the Group’s and the parent Company’s use of that basis for a period of at least twelve months from the date of approval of 
the financial statements; or

•  the related statement under the Listing Rules set out on page 78 is materially inconsistent with our audit knowledge.

We have nothing to report in these respects.

5. We have nothing to report on the other information in the Annual Report 

The Directors are responsible for the other information presented in the Annual Report together with the financial statements. 
Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, accordingly, we do not express an audit 
opinion or, except as explicitly stated below, any form of assurance conclusion thereon.

Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether, based on our financial statements audit 
work, the information therein is materially misstated or inconsistent with the financial statements or our audit knowledge. 
Based solely on that work we have not identified material misstatements in the other information.

Strategic report and Directors’ report

Based solely on our work on the other information:

•  we have not identified material misstatements in the strategic report and the Directors’ report;

•  in our opinion the information given in those reports for the financial year is consistent with the financial statements; and

•  in our opinion those reports have been prepared in accordance with the Companies Act 2006.

Directors’ remuneration report

In our opinion the part of the Directors’ Remuneration Report to be audited has been properly prepared in accordance with the 
Companies Act 2006.

Disclosures of Principal Risks and longer-term viability

Based on the knowledge we acquired during our financial statements audit, we have nothing material to add or draw attention to 
in relation to:

•  the Directors’ confirmation within the strategic report (page 57) that they have carried out a robust assessment of the emerging and 
principal risks facing the Group, including those that would threaten its business model, future performance, solvency and liquidity;

•  the Principal Risks disclosures describing these risks and explaining how they are being managed and mitigated; and

•  the Directors’ explanation in the Directors viability statement of how they have assessed the prospects of the Group, over what 
period they have done so and why they considered that period to be appropriate, and their statement as to whether they have 
a reasonable expectation that the Group will be able to continue in operation and meet its liabilities as they fall due over the 
period of their assessment, including any related disclosures drawing attention to any necessary qualifications or assumptions.

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20 88

Independent Auditor’s Report continued

Under the Listing Rules we are required to review the Directors’ viability statement. We have nothing to report in this respect.

Our work is limited to assessing these matters in the context of only the knowledge acquired during our financial statements 
audit. As we cannot predict all future events or conditions and as subsequent events may result in outcomes that are inconsistent 
with judgments that were reasonable at the time they were made, the absence of anything to report on these statements is not a 
guarantee as to the Group’s and Company’s longer-term viability.

Corporate governance disclosures

We are required to report to you if:

•  we have identified material inconsistencies between the knowledge we acquired during our financial statements audit and the 
Directors’ statement that they consider that the annual report and financial statements taken as a whole is fair, balanced and 
understandable and provides the information necessary for shareholders to assess the Group’s position and performance, 
business model and strategy; or

•  the section of the annual report describing the work of the Audit Committee does not appropriately address matters 

communicated by us to the Audit Committee.

We are required to report to you if the Corporate Governance Statement does not properly disclose a departure from the eleven 
provisions of the UK Corporate Governance Code specified by the Listing Rules for our review.

We have nothing to report in these respects.

6. We have nothing to report on the other matters on which we are required to report by exception

Under the Companies Act 2006, we are required to report to you if, in our opinion:

•  adequate accounting records have not been kept by the parent Company, or returns adequate for our audit have not been 

received from branches not visited by us; or

•  the parent Company financial statements and the part of the Directors’ Remuneration Report to be audited are not in 

agreement with the accounting records and returns; or

•  certain disclosures of Directors’ remuneration specified by law are not made; or

•  we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.

We have nothing to report in these respects.

7. Respective responsibilities

Directors’ responsibilities

As explained more fully in their statement set out on page 79, the Directors are responsible for: the preparation of the financial 
statements including being satisfied that they give a true and fair view; such internal control as they determine is necessary to 
enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error; assessing 
the Group and parent Company’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going 
concern; and using the going concern basis of accounting unless they either intend to liquidate the Group or the parent 
Company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Auditor’s responsibilities

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material 
misstatement, whether due to fraud or other irregularities (see below), or error, and to issue our opinion in an auditor’s report. 
Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but does not guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) 
will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud, other irregularities or error and are 
considered material if, individually or in aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of 
users taken on the basis of the financial statements.

A fuller description of our responsibilities is provided on the FRC’s website at www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities.

Trainline Annual Report 2019/2089

Irregularities – ability to detect

We identified areas of laws and regulations that could reasonably be expected to have a material effect on the financial 
statements from our general commercial and sector experience, through discussion with the Directors and other management 
(as required by auditing standards), and discussed with the Directors and other management the policies and procedures 
regarding compliance with laws and regulations. We communicated identified laws and regulations throughout our team and 
remained alert to any indications of non-compliance throughout the audit. This included communication from the Group to 
component audit teams of relevant laws and regulations identified at Group level. 

The potential effect of these laws and regulations on the financial statements varies considerably.

Firstly, the Group is subject to laws and regulations that directly affect the financial statements including financial reporting 
legislation (including related companies legislation), distributable profits legislation, and taxation legislation. We assessed the 
extent of compliance with these laws and regulations as part of our procedures on the related financial statement items. 

Secondly, the Group is subject to many other laws and regulations where the consequences of non-compliance could have a 
material effect on amounts or disclosures in the financial statements, for instance through the imposition of fines or litigation. 
We identified the following areas as those most likely to have such an effect: health and safety, anti-bribery, employment law, and 
certain aspects of company legislation. Auditing standards limit the required audit procedures to identify non-compliance with 
these laws and regulations to enquiry of the directors and other management and inspection of regulatory and legal 
correspondence, if any. These limited procedures did not identify any actual or suspected non-compliance. 

Owing to the inherent limitations of an audit, there is an unavoidable risk that we may not have detected some material 
misstatements in the financial statements, even though we have properly planned and performed our audit in accordance with 
auditing standards. For example, the further removed non-compliance with laws and regulations (irregularities) is from the events 
and transactions reflected in the financial statements, the less likely the inherently limited procedures required by auditing 
standards would identify it. In addition, as with any audit, there remained a higher risk of non-detection of irregularities, as these 
may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal controls. We are not 
responsible for preventing non-compliance and cannot be expected to detect non-compliance with all laws and regulations. 

8. The purpose of our audit work and to whom we owe our responsibilities

This report is made solely to the company’s members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 
2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the company’s members those matters we are required to 
state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume 
responsibility to anyone other than the company and the company’s members, as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for 
the opinions we have formed. 

Sarah Styant
for and on behalf of KPMG LLP, Statutory Auditor
Chartered Accountants
15 Canada Square, London E14 5GL
7 May 2020

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20 90

Consolidated Income Statement

Continuing operations
Net ticket sales1
Revenue
Cost of sales
Gross profit

Administrative expenses

Adjusted EBITDA1
Depreciation and amortisation
Share-based payment charges
Exceptional items

Operating profit

Finance income
Finance costs
Net finance costs

Loss before tax

Income tax expense

Loss after tax

Earnings per share (pence)
Basic 
Diluted2

Notes

2
2

2020 
£’000
3,726,780
260,753
(59,602)
201,151

2019 
£’000
3,194,168
209,504
(54,059)
155,445

(198,890)

(144,932)

9, 10
15
5

85,201
(50,907)
(10,631)
(21,402)

52,628
(38,942)
(3,309)
136

2,261

10,513

692
(83,184)
(82,492)

1,100
(25,275)
(24,175)

(80,231)

(13,662)

(707)

(8)

(80,938)

(13,670)

(17.67)p
(17.67)p

(3.28)p
(3.28)p 

6
6
6

7

8
8

1  Non-GAAP measure - see alternative performance measures section on page 132.

2  As the Group has incurred a loss in FY’20 and FY’19 the impact of its potential dilutive ordinary shares have been excluded as they would be anti-dilutive.

Refer to note 1i for the application of new accounting policies. 

The notes on pages 95 to 127 form part of the Financial Statements.

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Statement of Other Comprehensive Income

91

Loss after tax

Other comprehensive income:

Re-measurements of defined benefit liability
Foreign exchange movement1
Other comprehensive (loss)/income, net of tax

Total comprehensive loss

1  May subsequently be reclassified to the income statement in a future period. 

The notes on pages 95 to 127 form part of the Financial Statements.

Notes

2020 
£’000
(80,938)

2019 
£’000
(13,670)

18

18
(214)
(196)

30
506
536

(81,134)

(13,134)

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
92

Consolidated Statement of Financial Position

Non-current assets
Intangible assets
Goodwill
Property, plant and equipment
Derivative assets

Current assets
Inventories
Trade and other receivables
Cash and cash equivalents

Current liabilities
Trade and other payables
Current tax payable
Loan and borrowings

Net current liabilities
Total assets less current liabilities

Non-current liabilities
Loan and borrowings
Other non-current liabilities
Share-based payment liabilities
Provisions 
Deferred tax liability

Net assets

Equity 
Share capital
Share premium
Preference shares
Foreign exchange reserve
Other reserves
Retained earnings
Total equity

Notes

2020 
£’000

2019 
£’000

9
9
10

11

12

13

13
14
15
16
7

17
17
17
17
17

93,555
443,357
20,184
6
557,102

26
52,078
92,120
144,224

(165,735)
(552)
(2,698)
(168,985)
(24,761)
532,341

(154,402)
–
–
(681)
(4,345)
(159,428)
372,913

114,770
443,271
5,462
460
563,963

25
47,196
94,477
141,698

(161,684)
(1,093)
(2,815)
(165,592)
(23,894)
540,069

(266,438)
(19,561)
(8,033)
(1,566)
(7,882)
(303,480)
236,589

4,807
1,198,703
50
1,972
(1,125,755)
293,136
372,913

422,555
1,055,683
50
2,186
(1,144,010)
(99,875)
236,589

Refer to note 1i for the application of new accounting policies. 

The notes on pages 95 to 127 form part of the Financial Statements.

These Financial Statements were approved by the Board of Directors of Trainline plc (registered number 11961132) on 7 May 2020 
and were signed on its behalf by

Clare Gilmartin 
Chief Executive Officer 
7 May 2020 

Shaun McCabe
Chief Financial Officer 
7 May 2020

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity
For the year ended 29 February 2020:

93

Balance as at 28 February 2019
IFRS 16 adjustment
Adjusted 1 March 2019
Loss after tax
OCI1
Interest on CPECs
Shares issued on listing net of fees
Issue of shares
Share issue to extinguish liabilities
Disposal of treasury shares
Share capital reduction
Share-based payments 
Balance as at 29 February 2020

For the year ended 28 February 2019:

Balance as at 1 March 20182
Loss after tax
OCI1
Other movements
Balance as at 28 February 2019

1  Other comprehensive income.

–

Share 
capital 
£’000

Share 
premium 
£’000
422,555 1,055,683
–
422,555 1,055,683
–
–
–
75,817
148
67,055
–
–
–
1,198,703

–
–
–
31,526
59
26,541
–
(475,874)
–
4,807

Share 
capital 
£’000

Share 
premium 
£’000
422,555 1,055,683
–
–
–
422,555 1,055,683

–
–
–

Preference 
shares 
£’000

–

Other 
reserves 
£’000
50 (1,144,010)
–
50 (1,144,010)
–
–
–
–
–
–
10,895
–
7,360
50 (1,125,755)

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

Preference 
shares 
£’000

Other 
reserves 
£’000
50 (1,143,601)
–
–
(409)
50 (1,144,010)

–
–
–

2  The Group has restated the balance as at 1 March 2018 to reflect the Group restructure as described in note 1j.

The notes on pages 95 to 127 form part of the Financial Statements.

Foreign 
exchange 
reserve 
£’000
2,186
–
2,186
–
(214)
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
1,972

Retained 
earnings 
£’000
(99,875)
1,223
(98,652)
(80,938)
18
(3,166)
–
–
–
–
475,874
–
293,136

Total 
equity 
£’000
236,589
1,223
237,812
(80,938)
(196)
(3,166)
107,343
207
93,596
10,895
–
7,360
372,913

Foreign 
exchange 
reserve 
£’000
1,680
–
506
–
2,186

Retained 
earnings 
£’000
(87,144)
(13,670)
30
909
(99,875)

Total 
equity 
£’000
249,223
(13,670)
536
500
236,589

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20 94

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flow

Cash flows from operating activities

Loss before tax
Adjustment for non-cash items:
Depreciation and amortisation
Net finance costs
Share-based payment charges

Changes in working capital
Inventories
Trade and other receivables
Trade and other payables
Cash generated from operating activities

Taxes paid
Net cash from operating activities

Cash flows from investing activities
Purchase of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets
Net cash flow used in investing activities 

Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from IPO share issue
Sale of treasury shares at IPO
Issue of shares
Repayment of pre-IPO borrowings
Proceeds from Revolving Credit Facility
Repayment of Revolving Credit Facility and other borrowings
Issue costs relating to loans and borrowings
Payments of lease liabilities
Payment of interest on lease liabilities
Interest paid
Interest on CPEC repayment
Redemption of other non-current liabilities
Net cash flows used in financing activities

Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the year
Effect of foreign exchange on cash
Closing cash and cash equivalents

Refer to note 1i for the application of new accounting policies. 

The notes on pages 95 to 127 form part of the Financial Statements.

Notes

2020 
£’000

2019 
£’000

9, 10
6
15

(80,231)

(13,662)

50,907
82,492
10,631
63,799

(1)
(7,805)
9,372
65,365

38,942
24,175
3,309
52,764

19
(13,604)
35,982
75,161

(5,198)
60,167

(2,986)
72,175

(28,358)
(28,358)

(32,562)
(32,562)

107,343
10,514
207
(276,763)
206,941
(60,223)
(6,832)
(2,247)
(828)
(9,711)
(3,166)
–
(34,765)

–
–
–
–
–
–
(925)
–
–
(11,385)
–
(2,003)
(14,313)

(2,956)

25,300

94,477
599
92,120

69,678
(501)
94,477

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20 
Notes (forming part of the Financial Statements)

95

1. Significant accounting policies

a) General information

Trainline plc (the ‘Company’) and subsidiaries controlled by the Company (together, the ‘Group’) are the leading independent rail 
and coach travel platform selling rail and coach tickets worldwide. The Company is public listed on the London Stock Exchange 
(‘LSE’) 
and is incorporated and domiciled in England and Wales. The Company’s registered address is 120 Holborn, London EC1N 2TD. 

The Financial Statements for the year ended 29 February 2020 were approved by the directors on 7 May 2020. 

The Consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) 
as adopted by the European Union. 

The comparative figures for the financial year ended 28 February 2019 are not the Company’s statutory accounts for that financial 
year. As disclosed in note 1(j), the Company is a newly formed entity. Accordingly, no statutory accounts for the Company have 
previously been delivered to the registrar and no previous audit report has been made in respect of the Company. 

b) Basis of consolidation

The Group Financial Statements consolidate those of the Company and its subsidiaries (together referred to as the ‘Group’). 

The Financial Statements presented herein is for the year from 1 March 2019 to 29 February 2020. 

Accounting policies have been applied to all periods presented except for the adoption of IFRS 16 Leases on 1 March 2019, the 
impact of which has been disclosed in note 1i. 

(i) Subsidiaries

Subsidiaries are entities controlled by the Group. The Group controls an entity when it is exposed to, or has rights to, variable 
returns from its involvement with the entity and has the ability to affect those returns through its power over the entity. 
The Financial Statements of subsidiaries are included in the Consolidated Financial Statements from the date on which control 
commences until the date on which control ceases. 

(ii) Transactions eliminated on consolidation

Intra-Group balances and transactions, and any unrealised income and expenses arising from intra-Group transactions, 
are eliminated.

c) Basis of measurement

The Financial Statements are prepared on the historical cost basis except for the following:

•  Non-current assets are stated at the lower of previous carrying amount and fair value less costs to sell

•  Derivative financial instruments are measured at fair value

•  Financial instruments at fair value through the income statement are measured at fair value

The accounting policies set out in the sections below have, unless otherwise stated, been applied consistently to all periods 
presented within the Financial Statements and have been applied consistently by all subsidiaries.

d) Functional and presentation currency 

This financial statements are presented in pound sterling. All amounts have been rounded to the nearest thousand, unless 
otherwise indicated. 

e) Going concern

Notwithstanding the Group’s net current liabilities, the Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared on a going 
concern basis, which assumes that the Group will be able to meet its liabilities as they fall due for at least 12 months from the 
date of signing these Financial Statements. 

The Governance Code requires the Board to assess and report on the prospects of the Group and whether the business is a 
going concern. In considering this requirement, the Directors have taken into account the Group’s forecast cash flows, liquidity, 
borrowing facilities and relating covenant requirements and the expected operational activities of the Group. All of these 
forecasts included the waiving of the financial covenant in respect of the Groups £350 million Revolving Credit Facility until 
August 2021 as announced by the Group on 29 April 2020 and the expected impact of COVID-19 on the Group’s performance. 

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20 96

Notes (forming part of the Financial Statements) continued

1. General information continued
Though the scenario is considered to be very unlikely, as part of the going concern assessment the Group prepared a cash flow 
forecast which considered the Group’s ongoing cash outflows and assumed no revenue inflows. The analysis confirmed the 
Group’s current liquidity position would enable the Group to operate with no cash inflows for a period of at least 12 months from 
the date of signing these Financial Statements.

Having due regard to these matters and after making appropriate enquiries, the Directors have a reasonable expectation that 
the Group and the Company have adequate resources to remain in operation until at least 12 months after the approval of these 
Financial Statements. The Board have therefore continued to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the consolidated 
Financial Statements, which assumes that the Group will be able to meet its liabilities as they fall due for at least 12 months from 
the date of signing these Financial Statements.

f) Revenue and cost of sales 

(i) Revenue

Consumer
Commission revenue earned from carriers on net ticket sales and service charges billed to customers. Each sales or refund 
transaction represents a separate performance obligation and the related revenue is recognised at the time of the sale or refund. 
The Group acts as an agent in these transactions, as it does not control the services prior to transferring them to its customers.

T4B
Revenue earned from branded travel portal platforms is recognised in three key elements represented by bespoke feature builds, 
monthly maintenance and contribution earned per transaction processed, each of these elements represent a separate 
performance obligation. Revenue is recognised over time for maintenance and connections to existing features and point in time 
for bespoke builds and contributions earned per transaction.

(ii) Cost of Sales

Costs of sales include costs in relation to the provision of rail tickets, ancillary services, settlement and fulfilment costs and are 
recognised at the point of sale. 

g) Foreign currency transactions 

Transactions in foreign currencies are translated to the respective functional currencies of Group companies at exchange rates 
applicable on the dates of the transactions. 

Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated to the functional currency at exchange rate at 
the reporting date. Non-monetary assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value in a foreign currency are translated to the 
functional currency at the exchange rate when the fair value was determined. Foreign currency differences arising on translation 
are generally recognised in the income statement. Non-monetary items that are measured based on historical cost in foreign 
currency are not re-translated.

For the purpose of presenting the Consolidated Financial Statements, the assets and liabilities of entities with a functional 
currency other than sterling are expressed in sterling using exchange rates prevailing at the reporting period date. Income and 
expense items and cash flows are translated at the average exchange rates for each month and exchange differences arising are 
recognised directly in other comprehensive income.

h) Use of judgements and estimates

In preparing these Financial Statements, management has made judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the 
application of the accounting policies and the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, income and expenses. Actual results may 
differ from these estimates. 

Estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revision to estimates is recognised prospectively.

Trainline Annual Report 2019/2097

1. General information continued
The areas of judgement which have the most significant effect on the amounts recognised in the Financial Statements are: 

•  Note 15 – Share-based payments 

Judgement is required to assess whether share-based payment arrangements are cash or equity settled. IFRS 2 Share-Based 
Payments requires that the Group’s share-based payment arrangements are initially measured and recorded as a liability or 
equity at the fair value of the equity instrument. For cash settled arrangements the fair value is remeasured at each balance 
sheet date with any changes recognised in finance costs. Equity settled arrangements are not revalued to fair value at each 
balance sheet date. When calculating the fair value of these arrangements a number of assumptions are applied in arriving at 
the fair value, including the expected financial results of the Group, the outcome of certain market-based performance 
measures and staff attrition rates. 

Management do not consider any of the estimates made in these Financial Statements are likely to lead to a material adjustment 
in the next financial year, as such none are deemed significant estimates, however there are a number of other estimates which 
involve estimation uncertainty as described below:

•  Note 9 – Goodwill impairment test: key assumptions underlying recoverable amounts;

An impairment review is performed annually of goodwill balances held by the Group on a ‘value in use’ basis, which requires 
judgement in estimating the future cash flows, the time period over which they will occur, and in arriving at an appropriate 
discount rate to apply to the cashflows as well as an appropriate long-term growth rate. As part of the impairment review for 
the year ended 29 February 2020 the expected outcome of COVID-19 has been taken into account in the forecasting. Each of 
these assumptions have an impact on the overall value of cashflows expected and therefore the headroom between the 
cashflows and carrying values of the cash generating units. 

•  Note 9 – Useful life of intangible assets, including related deferred tax liabilities; 

Intangible assets that are developed or acquired by the Group have finite useful lives and are measured at cost less 
accumulated amortisation and any accumulated impairment losses. The estimated useful lives which are used to calculate 
amortisation are based on length of time these assets are expected to generate income and be of benefit to the Group. 
Judgement is required when estimating the length of the useful life of assets, particularly in relation to software assets which 
can often have varying expected useful lives dependent on the type of asset and speed of technological development. 

i) New standards and interpretations

IFRS 16 Leases

IFRS 16 Leases was adopted on 1 March 2019, and has an impact on the consolidated income statement and consolidated 
statement of financial position for the year ended 29 February 2020. 

IFRS 16 Leases replaces the former standard IAS 17 Leases. IFRS 16 Leases requires lessees to recognise leases on the Group’s 
statement of financial position, unless the lease term is 12 months or less or the underlying asset has a low value. Under the new 
standard, leases held by the Group will be accounted for as ‘right-of-use’ assets and the distinction between operating and 
finance leases under IAS 17 no longer exists. In practice this results in a right-of-use asset and liability being recognised on the 
statement of financial position and a finance cost and depreciation charge are recognised through the consolidated income 
statement as the lease liability unwinds. 

The Group has applied the modified retrospective approach to restatement. Under this approach former periods are not restated, 
and the revised treatment is applied in the current period. At 1 March 2019, a right-of-use asset and equal liability was recognised 
for all of the Group’s leases. Going forward the asset will be depreciated evenly over the remaining asset life and the liability will 
be unwound in line with the Group’s underlying borrowing rate at 1 March 2019. The Group has used a practical expedient for the 
use of a single discount rate for the portfolio of leases as they are deemed to be reasonably similar in nature.

Within administrative expenses there will be no property rental expense from 1 March 2019, and instead a depreciation charge 
will be recognised. A finance charge is recognised in finance costs to reflect the perceived cost of financing the asset. In FY’20 
the rental expense is £nil (FY’19: £2.5 million), depreciation of leased assets is £2.7 million (FY’19: £nil) and the finance cost for 
leased assets is £0.8 million (FY’19: £nil). 

At 1 March 2019, a right-of-use asset of £17.7 million was recognised, which represented the future lease payments discounted to 
present value at 1 March 2019. The relating lease liability was £17.7 million. At 29 February 2020, the right-of-use assets totalled 
£15.0 million and the lease liability equalled £15.3 million. Within the cash flow statements the actual lease payments made have 
been reclassified from 1 March 2019, from operating activities to financing activities. 

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20 98

Notes (forming part of the Financial Statements) continued

1. General information continued
Total operating lease commitments were £21.6 million at 28 February 2019. The impact of discounting was £3.9 million, resulting 
in the £17.7 million lease liability being recognised at 1 March 2019. 

A number of other new standards are also effective from 1 March 2019 but they do not have a material effect on the Group’s 
financial statements. 

j) Summary of impact of Group restructure and initial public offering

On 26 June 2019, the Group listed its shares on the London Stock Exchange in an Initial Public Offering (‘IPO’). The restructure 
has impacted a number of the current period balances. The Group restructure has been accounted for as a reverse acquisition 
under IFRS 3 Business Combinations. The steps to restructure the Group had the effect of the newly formed entity Trainline plc 
(‘plc’) legally acquiring the former parent company of the pre-IPO Group Victoria Investments S.C.A. (‘SCA’). As part of this 
transaction the shareholders in SCA exchanged their SCA shares and CPECs for shares in plc. 

By applying reverse acquisition accounting under IFRS 3 Business Combinations, the Group is presented as if plc has always 
owned the pre-IPO Group at the point of the share for share exchange. The year ended 28 February 2019, prior to the restructure, 
is presented with the previously reported SCA results.

2. Operating segments

In accordance with IFRS 8 Operating Segments the Group determines and presents its operating segments based on internal 
information that is provided to the Board, who is the Group’s chief operating decision maker (‘CODM’). 

The Group has three operating and reportable segments which are considered:

•  UK consumer1 – Travel apps and websites for individual travellers for journeys within the UK;

•  UK T4B1 (Trainline for business) – Branded travel portal platforms for corporates and travel management companies and white 

label ecommerce platforms for Train Operating Companies within the UK; and 

•  International – Travel apps and websites for individual travellers for journeys outside the UK.

The Group’s global operating model means that investments in platform technology and central overheads are leveraged across 
the business, and it is not possible to meaningfully measure full income statement and statement of financial position results by 
operating segment. No single customer accounted for 10% or more of the Group’s sales. 

The CODM monitors:

•  The three operating segments results at the level of net ticket sales, revenue and gross margin;

•  Results split by UK and International at the level of net ticket sales, revenue, gross margin, and contribution (as shown in this 

disclosure); and

•  No results at a profit before/after tax or in relation to the statement of financial position are reported to the CODM at a lower 

level than the consolidated Group. 

1  UK Consumer and UK T4B are collectively referred to as the UK.

Trainline Annual Report 2019/202. Operating segment continued

Segmental analysis for the year ended 29 February 2020:

UK consumer 
£’000
2,046,178
177,993
(34,306)
143,687

UK T4B 
£’000
1,190,549
56,790
(16,629)
40,161

Total UK 
£’000
3,236,727
234,783
(50,935)
183,848
(40,039)
143,809

International 
£’000
490,053
25,970
(8,667)
17,303
(31,185)
(13,882)

UK consumer 
£’000
1,647,648
136,660
(29,703)
106,957

UK T4B 
£’000
1,198,006
58,366
(17,749)
40,617

Total UK 
£’000
2,845,654
195,026
(47,452)
147,574
(35,678)
111,896

International 
£’000
348,514
14,478
(6,607)
7,871
(25,884)
(18,013)

Net ticket sales
Revenue 
Cost of sales
Gross profit
Directly allocable administrative expenses
Contribution 
Central administrative expenses
Adjusted EBITDA 
Depreciation and amortisation
Share-based payment charges
Exceptional items

Operating profit
Net finance costs
Loss before tax
Tax
Loss after tax

Segmental analysis for the year ended 28 February 2019:

Net ticket sales
Revenue 
Cost of sales
Gross profit
Directly allocable administrative expenses
Contribution 
Central administrative expenses
Adjusted EBITDA 
Depreciation and amortisation
Share-based payment charges
Exceptional items

Operating profit
Net finance costs
Loss before tax
Tax
Loss after tax

99

Total Group 
£’000
3,726,780
260,753
(59,602)
201,151
(71,224)
129,927
(44,726)
85,201
(50,907)
(10,631)
(21,402)

2,261
(82,492)
(80,231)
(707)
(80,938)

Total Group 
£’000
3,194,168
209,504
(54,059)
155,445
(61,562)
93,883
(41,255)
52,628
(38,942)
(3,309)
136

10,513
(24,175)
(13,662)
(8)
(13,670)

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20 100

Notes (forming part of the Financial Statements) continued

3. Auditor remuneration 

This note details a breakdown of the auditor remuneration recognised across the Group.

During the year, the Group obtained the following services from its Auditor:

Audit of these Financial Statements
Audit of Financial Statements of subsidiaries pursuant to legislation
Audit related assurance services
Corporate finance services
Total auditor remuneration

4. Employee benefit expenses

2020
£’000
240
57
105
1,607
2,009

2019 
£’000
50
155

–
 205

Staff costs presented in this note reflect the total wage, tax, pension and share-based payment cost relating to employees of 
the Group. These costs are allocated between administrative expenses, cost of sales or capitalised where appropriate as part 
of software development intangible assets. The allocation between these areas is dependent on the area of business the 
employee works in and the activities they have undertaken. 

Average number of full-time equivalent employees

Sales and marketing
Operations
Technology and product
Management and administration 

Total number of employees

Employee benefits expense

Wages and salaries
Social security contributions
Contributions to defined contribution plans
Share-based payment expense
Total employee benefits

2020
Number of 
employees
115
120
279
116

2019 
Number of 
employees
107
111
258
107

630

583

2020
£’000
46,921
6,667
1,781
10,631
66,000

2019 
£’000
41,221
5,752
1,381
3,309
51,663

Details of Directors remuneration are disclosed in the Directors Remuneration Report for the period since Admission (i.e. 26 June 
2019 to 29 February 2020) are on pages 58 to 75.

5. Exceptional items 

Exceptional items are costs or credits that, by virtue of their nature and incidence, have been disclosed separately in order to 
improve a reader’s understanding of the Financial Statements. Exceptional items are one off in nature or are not considered 
to be part of the Group’s underlying trade. 

IPO transaction costs 
Fees and costs, including one off bonuses, in relation to the IPO process. 

Restructuring costs 
Restructuring costs incurred as part of a strategic/management reorganisation. 

Recoveries 
One-off credits received or receivable for an indemnity claim and VAT on historic acquisition costs. 

Trainline Annual Report 2019/205. Exceptional items continued

IPO transaction costs
Restructuring costs
Recoveries
Net exceptional costs/(credits)

6. Finance income and finance costs

101

2020
£’000
21,402
–
–
21,402

2019 
£’000
–
1,532
(1,668)
(136)

Net financing costs comprise bank interest income, interest expense on borrowings and lease liabilities, as well as foreign 
exchange gains/losses, fair value movements on the Group’s interest rate cap and fair value remeasurements in relation to 
share-based payments and put/call option liabilities. 

Accounting policy

Interest income and expense is recognised as it accrues in the income statement, using the effective interest method. 
Foreign exchange gains and losses are recognised in the income statement in accordance with the policy for foreign currency 
transactions set out in note 1g. The interest rate cap held by the Group is a derivative asset and is revalued to fair value at each 
period end, any fair value movement is booked through net finance costs.

Bank interest income
Fair value movements on share-based payment liabilities
Finance income

Interest on bank loans 
Interest on other long-term liabilities
Foreign exchange loss
Loss on interest rate swap
Fair value movements on put/call option liability
Interest on lease liability

Exceptional finance costs*
Derecognition of previously capitalised finance costs
Fair value change on share-based payments
Fair value change on put/call option
Finance costs

Net finance costs recognised in the income statement

2020
£’000
692
–
692

(10,900)
–
(558) 
(454)
–
(828)

2019 
£’000
290
810
1,100

(22,050)
(1,083)
(270)
(1,081)
(791)
–

(8,466)
(49,705)
(12,273)
(83,184)

–
–
–
(25,275)

(82,492)

(24,175)

*Exceptional finance costs – these costs are one-offs which occurred at the date of the IPO relating to the final fair value 
movement on the pre-IPO share-based payment arrangements (note 15) and the write off of previously capitalised financing costs 
due to the IPO refinancing. The put/call option relates to non-employee share related costs. All of these expenses are  
non-cash charges. 

Excluding exceptional finance costs the net finance cost in FY’20 would be £12.0 million. 

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20  
102

Notes (forming part of the Financial Statements) continued

7. Taxation

This note analyses the tax expense for this financial year, which includes both current and deferred tax. It also details tax 
accounting policies and presents a reconciliation between profit before tax in the income statement multiplied by the rate of 
corporation tax and the tax expense for the year.

The deferred tax section provides information on expected future tax charges and sets out the assets and liabilities held 
across the Group.

Accounting policy

Income tax expense comprises current and deferred tax. It is recognised in the income statement except to the extent that it 
relates to a business combination, or items recognised directly in equity or in other comprehensive income.

(i) Current tax

Current tax comprises the expected tax payable or receivable on the taxable income or loss for the period and any adjustment to 
tax payable or receivable in respect of previous years. It is measured using tax rates enacted or substantively enacted at the 
reporting date. 

(ii) Deferred tax

  Deferred tax is recognised in respect of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for 

financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for taxation purposes. Deferred tax is not recognised for:

•  temporary differences on the initial recognition of assets or liabilities in a transaction that is not a business combination and 

that affects neither accounting nor taxable profit or loss;

•  temporary differences related to investments in subsidiaries, to the extent that the Group can control the timing of the 

reversal of the temporary differences and it is probable that they will not reverse in the foreseeable future; and

•  taxable temporary differences arising on the initial recognition of goodwill.

  Deferred tax assets are recognised for unused tax losses, unused tax credits and deductible temporary differences to the 

extent that it is probable that future taxable profits will be available against which they can be used. Deferred tax assets are 
reviewed at each reporting date and are reduced to the extent that it is no longer probable that the related tax benefit will 
be realised.

  Deferred tax is measured at the tax rates that are expected to be applied to temporary differences when they reverse, using 

tax rates enacted or substantively enacted at the reporting date. The measurement of deferred tax reflects the tax 
consequences that would follow from the manner in which the Group expects, at the reporting date, to recover or settle the 
carrying amount of its assets and liabilities. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset only if certain criteria are met. 

Amounts recognised in the income statement

Current tax charge/(credit)

Current year
Adjustment in respect of prior years

Deferred tax (credit)/charge
Current year
Adjustment in respect of prior years
Effect of change in tax rates

Tax charge

2020
£’000

2019 
£’000

7,178
(2,978)
4,200

(5,601)
2,108
–
(3,493)
707

4,509
487
4,996

(4,526)
(433)
(29)
(4,988)
8

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20103

7. Taxation continued
Corporation tax was calculated at 19% (FY’19: 26%) of the taxable profit for the year. Taxation for territories outside of the UK was 
calculated at the rates prevailing in the respective jurisdictions. The total tax charge of £0.7 million (FY’19: £8k) is made up of a 
current corporation tax charge of £4.2 million (FY’19: £5.0 million) arising in the UK, and a deferred tax credit of £3.5 million 
(FY’19: £5.0 million) resulting from the unwind of deferred tax liabilities arising on acquired intangibles. The release of deferred 
tax liabilities is primarily an accounting unwind and does not impact the corporation tax payable in cash by the Group.

Loss before tax
Loss multiplied by standard rate of corporation tax of 19% (FY’19: 26%1)
Non-taxable expenses/(income)
Amounts not recognised2
Rate difference on deferred tax
Adjustment in respect of prior years
Other
Difference in overseas tax rates
Total tax charge
Effective tax rate

2020 
£’000
(80,231)
(15,244)
15,460
1,627
–
(870)
(266)
–
707
(1)%

2019 
£’000
(13,662)
(3,553)
(2,510)
3,102
(29)
53
155
2,790
8
(0.1)%

1  The FY’19 tax reconciliation is reconciled to the Victoria Investments SCA tax rate of 26.01%. Following the IPO, Trainline plc became the Group’s parent Company preparing the consolidated 

tax reconciliation at the UK tax rate of 19% for FY’20.

2  Primarily relates to unrecognised losses which are not expected to be recoverable and therefore not recognised as deferred tax assets.

The effective tax rate is lower than the UK corporation tax rate of 19% due to the Group making an accounting loss but a tax 
adjusted profit. The effective tax rate in FY’20 reflects the significant adjustments transitioning from a private company to a UK 
listed plc, including the IPO exceptional costs and the costs associated with the Group’s share-based incentive plans which were 
not fully deductible. From FY’22 we expect our tax rate on our profits before specific items to be around the UK rate of 
corporation tax (19%), as the majority of our business occurs in the UK. 

On 17 March 2020 the UK Government substantively enacted the corporation tax rate of 19% from 1 April 2020 which replaces 
the previously substantively enacted tax rate of 17%. As the enactment is after the financial year end our deferred tax for FY’20 is 
calculated at 17%. Had the rate been substantively enacted before the year end, the impact of the rate change to 19% is 
£0.5 million. 

Deferred tax liability as at 29 February 2020:

At 1 March 2019
Adjustment in respect of prior years
Adjustments posted through equity
Current year (credit)/charge to consolidated income statement
At 29 February 2020

Deferred tax liability as at 28 February 2019:

At 1 March 2018
Adjustment in respect of prior years
Adjustments posted through equity
Current year (credit)/charge to consolidated income statement
At 28 February 2019

Acquired  
intangible assets 
£’000
9,712
–
–
(4,414)
5,298

Tangible assets 
and other 
£’000
(1,830)
2,108
209
21
508

Share-based 
payments 
£’000
–
–
(253)
(1,208)
(1,461)

Acquired  
intangible assets 
£’000
14,515
1
–
(4,804)
9,712

Tangible assets 
and other
£’000
(1,645)
(434)
–
249
(1,830)

Share-based 
payments
£’000
–
–
–
–
–

Total 
£’000
7,882
2,108
(44)
(5,601)
4,345

Total 
£’000
12,870
(433)
–
(4,555)
7,882

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20  
 
104

Notes (forming part of the Financial Statements) continued

8. Earnings per share

This note sets out the accounting policy that applies to the calculation of earnings per share, and how the Group has 
calculated the shares to be included in basic and diluted earnings per share (‘EPS’) calculations. 

Accounting policy

The Group calculates earnings per share in accordance with the requirements of IAS 33 Earnings Per Share. 

Four types of earnings per share are reported:

(i) Basic earnings per share

Earnings attributable to ordinary equity holders of the Group for the period, divided by the weighted average number of ordinary 
shares outstanding during the period.

(ii) Diluted earnings per share

Earnings attributable to ordinary equity holders of the Group, divided by the weighted average number of shares outstanding 
used in the basic earnings per share calculation adjusted for the effects of all dilutive ‘potential ordinary shares’. 

(iii) Adjusted basic earnings per share

Earnings attributable to ordinary equity holders of the Group for the period, adjusted to remove the impact of exceptional items, 
share-based payment charges, amortisation of acquired intangibles and the tax impact of these items; divided by the weighted 
average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the period.

(iv) Adjusted diluted earnings per share

Earnings attributable to ordinary equity holders of the Group for the period, adjusted to remove the impact of exceptional items, 
share-based payment charges, amortisation of intangibles and the tax impact of these items; divided by the weighted average 
number of shares outstanding used in the basic earnings per share calculation adjusted for the effects of all dilutive ‘potential 
ordinary shares’.

Weighted average number of ordinary shares:
Ordinary shares
Treasury shares
Weighted number of ordinary shares1 

Loss after tax
Earnings attributable to equity holders 
Adjusted earnings2

(Loss)/earnings per share
Basic 
Diluted1
Adjusted earnings per share
Basic 
Diluted1

2020
No. shares

2019 
No. shares

462,099,526 422,555,384
(6,226,286)
457,991,040 416,329,098

(4,108,486)

2020
£’000
(80,938)
(80,938)
36,887

2020
pence

(17.67)p
(17.67)p

8.05p
8.05p

2019 
£’000
(13,670)
(13,670)
10,078

2019 
pence

(3.28)p
(3.28)p

2.42p
2.42p

1  As the Group has incurred a loss in FY’20 and FY’19 the impact of its potential dilutive ordinary shares have been excluded as they would be anti-dilutive. 

2  Refer to alternative performance measures for the calculation of adjusted earnings on page 132.

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20 
 
105

9. Intangible assets and goodwill 

The consolidated statement of financial position contains a significant goodwill carrying value which arose when the Group 
acquired subsidiaries and paid a higher amount than the fair value of the acquired net assets. Goodwill is not amortised but is 
subject to annual impairment reviews. Impairment reviews of goodwill make use of estimates (see note 1h).

Other intangible assets predominantly arise on acquisition of subsidiaries or are internally developed. These intangible 
assets are amortised and tested for impairment when an indicator of impairment exists. 

Accounting policy

(i) Goodwill

Goodwill is initially measured at cost, being the excess of the aggregate of the consideration transferred and the amount 
recognised for non-controlling interests, and any previous interest held, over the net identifiable assets acquired and liabilities 
assumed. If the fair value of the net assets acquired is in excess of the aggregate consideration transferred, the Group re-assesses 
whether it has correctly identified all of the assets acquired and all of the liabilities assumed and reviews the procedures used to 
measure the amounts to be recognised at the acquisition date. If the re-assessment still results in an excess of the fair value of net 
assets acquired over the aggregate consideration transferred, then the gain is recognised in the income statement. 

After initial recognition, goodwill is measured at cost less any accumulated impairment losses. For the purpose of impairment 
testing, goodwill acquired in a business combination is, from the acquisition date, allocated to each of the Group’s cash-
generating units that are expected to benefit from the combination, irrespective of whether other assets or liabilities of the 
acquired business are assigned to those units.

(ii) Software development costs

Expenditure on research activities is recognised in the income statement as incurred. 

External and internal development expenditure is capitalised only if the expenditure can be measured reliably, the product or 
process is technically, and commercially feasible, future economic benefits are probable, and the Group intends to and has 
sufficient resources to complete development and to use or sell the asset. Otherwise, it is recognised in the income statement as 
incurred. Subsequent to initial recognition, development expenditure is measured at cost less accumulated amortisation and any 
accumulated impairment losses. Internal development expenditure is managed by the development team and the amount 
capitalised is monitored through time charged to projects.

(iii) Brand and customer valuation

Brand and customer valuations that are acquired by the Group have finite useful lives and are measured at cost less accumulated 
amortisation and any accumulated impairment losses.

(iv) Subsequent expenditure

Subsequent expenditure is capitalised only when it increases the future economic benefits embodied in the asset to which it 
relates. All other expenditure, including expenditure on internally generated goodwill and brands, is recognised in the income 
statement as incurred.

(v) Amortisation

Amortisation is calculated to write off the cost of intangible assets less their estimated residual values using the straight-line 
method over their estimated useful lives and is recognised in the income statement. Goodwill is not amortised. 

The estimated useful lives are as follows:

Software development 

Brand valuation 

3–5 years

10 years

Customer lists/T4B contracts 

5–7 years

Amortisation methods, useful lives and residual values are reviewed at each reporting date and adjusted if appropriate. 

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20 106

Notes (forming part of the Financial Statements) continued

9. Intangible assets and goodwill continued

Intangible assets and goodwill as at 29 February 2020:

Cost:
At 1 March 2019
Additions1
Effects of foreign exchange rate changes
At 29 February 2020

Accumulated amortisation:
At 1 March 2019
Amortisation
At 29 February 2020

Carrying amounts:
At 29 February 2020

1  Total additions of £25.4 million include £1.0 million in relation to trade and asset acquisitions.

Intangible assets and goodwill as at 28 February 2019:

Cost:
At 1 March 2018
Additions
At 28 February 2019

Accumulated amortisation:
At 1 March 2018
Amortisation
At 28 February 2019

Carrying amounts:
At 28 February 2019

Software 
development
£’000

Brand  
valuation 
£’000

Customer 
valuation 
£’000

Goodwill 
£’000

Total 
£’000

83,262
25,359
–
108,621

51,738
–
–
51,738

92,690
–
–
92,690

443,271
–
86
443,357

670,961
25,359
86
696,406

(22,545)
(23,636)
(46,181)

(20,452)
(5,181)
(25,633)

(69,923)
(17,757)
(87,680)

–
–
–

(112,920)
(46,574)
(159,494)

62,440

26,105

5,010

443,357

536,912

Software 
development
£’000

Brand  
valuation 
£’000

Customer 
valuation 
£’000

Goodwill 
£’000

Total 
£’000

50,852
32,410
83,262

51,738
–
51,738

92,690
–
92,690

443,271
–
443,271

638,551
32,410
670,961

(8,118)
(14,427)
(22,545)

(15,285)
(5,167)
(20,452)

(52,214)
(17,709)
(69,923)

–
–
–

(75,617)
(37,303)
(112,920)

60,717

31,286

22,767

443,271

558,041

Additions in the year includes £nil (FY’19 £nil) of directly attributable borrowing costs. 

Of the amortisation charge for the year £22.9 million (FY’19: £24.3 million) related to the amortisation of intangible assets which 
were recognised on the Group’s acquisition of Trainline.com Limited and Trainline SAS, while £23.7 million (FY’19: £13.0 million) 
related to internally developed and purchased intangible assets recognised at historical cost. 

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20 
 
107

9. Intangible assets and goodwill continued

Goodwill Impairment
The Group tests goodwill annually for impairment by reviewing the carrying amount against the recoverable amount of the 
investment. The recoverable amount is the higher of fair value less costs to dispose and value in use. However, in line with IAS 36 
Impairment of Assets, fair value less costs to dispose is only determined where value in use would result in an impairment.

Goodwill acquired in a business combination is allocated on acquisition to the CGUs that are expected to benefit from that 
business combination. 

The Group has goodwill balances totalling £443.4 million which comprise:

i.  £336.4 million from the FY’16 acquisition of Trainline.com

ii. £107.0 million from the FY’17 acquisition of Trainline SAS (formerly Capitaine Train SAS)

The majority of goodwill arising from the acquisition of Trainline.com was attributed to UK Consumer with a small proportion 
allocated to International. The goodwill related to the Capitaine Train SAS acquisition was mostly attributed to the International 
CGU, with the remainder allocated to UK Consumer. The carrying amount of goodwill has been allocated as follows:

CGU
UK Consumer
UK T4B
International
Total goodwill

2020 
£’000
351,271
–
92,086
443,357

2019 
£’000
351,271
–
92,000
443,271

For the year ended 29 February 2020 no impairment charge has arisen. For all CGUs the recoverable amount was determined by 
measuring their value in use (‘VIU’).

Assumptions

The key value in use assumptions were:

Pre-tax discount rate
Terminal growth rate1
No. years before terminal growth rate applied

2020 
UK Consumer
10.7%2
2%
5

2019 
UK Consumer
14.5%
2%
5

2020 
UK T4B
N/A
N/A
N/A

2019 
UK T4B
N/A
N/A
N/A

2020 
International
16.7%
2%
5

2019 
International
18.5%
2%
5

1  Terminal growth rate is based on long-term inflationary rates in the region of operation.

2  The UK Consumer pre-tax discount rate has decreased year on year due to a reduction in risk associated with the CGU. 

There were no impairments in the years ended 29 February 2020 or 28 February 2019.

The Group prepares cash flow forecasts based on the most recent financial budgets and five-year projections approved by the 
Board. The forecasts have been used in the VIU calculation along with risk-adjusted discount rates. After this, a long-term growth 
rate is applied. The forecasts reflect management’s expectations and best estimates for each CGU.

For the impairment review for the year ended 29 February 2020, cash flow forecasts have been updated to include an estimate of 
the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, most notably this included forecasting significantly lower sales during FY’21. 
Sensitivities have been applied to the calculation after this update.

As the international CGU is currently loss making, the impairment calculation is more sensitive to a change in cashflow in the 
initial 5-year forecast period than the UK Consumer CGU. To reflect the higher level of uncertainty in the International forecasts a 
premium has been applied to the discount rate. 

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20 108

Notes (forming part of the Financial Statements) continued

9. Intangible assets and goodwill continued

Sensitivity analysis

The Group has conducted sensitivity analysis on each CGU’s value in use. This included either increasing the discount rates, 
reducing the terminal growth rate, or reducing the anticipated future cash flows through changes to revenue or costs in each of 
the years through to the terminal year. The sensitivity assumptions applied to the VIU calculations are set out in the table below. 
These are considered to be reasonably possible, but not likely.

Increase in discount rate
Reduction in long-term growth rate applied in 
terminal year
Decrease in forecast Adjusted EBITDA forecast 
in each year

2020 
UK Consumer
1pts
0.5pts

2019 
UK Consumer
1pts
0.5pts

2020 
UK T4B
N/A
N/A

2019 
UK T4B
N/A
N/A

2020 
International
1pts
0.5pts

2019 
International
1pts
0.5pts

10%

10%

N/A

N/A

20%

20%

None of the individual reasonably possible scenarios listed above resulted in an impairment in any of the CGU’s. 

10. Property plant and equipment

This note details the physical assets used by the Group in running its business.

Accounting policy

Items of property, plant and equipment are measured at cost less accumulated depreciation and any accumulated impairment 
losses. Any gain or loss on disposal of an item of property, plant and equipment is recognised in the income statement.

Depreciation is calculated to write off the cost of items of property, plant and equipment less their estimated residual values 
using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives and is generally recognised in the income statement. 
The estimated useful lives of property, plant and equipment are as follows:

Plant and equipment 

3–7 years

Leasehold improvements 

3–10 years/remaining lease length if shorter

Right-of-use asset 

Lease length

The Group tests the carrying value of assets including right-of-use assets for impairment if there is an indicator of impairment. 
There were no indicators of impairment for any of the Group’s assets during the year (FY’19 no indicators).

Property, plant, and equipment as at 29 February 2020

Cost:
At 28 February 2019
Recognition of right of use asset on initial application of IFRS 16
Adjusted balance at 1 March 2019
Additions

Disposals

At 29 February 2020

Accumulated depreciation and impairment:
At 1 March 2019
Depreciation
Disposals
At 29 February 2020

Carrying amounts:
At 29 February 2020

Plant and 
equipment 
£’000

Leasehold 
improvements 
£’000

Right–of–use 
assets 
£’000

Total 
£’000

11,415
17,692
29,107
1,365

(54)

4,448
–
4,448
–

–

–
17,692
17,692
–

–

4,448

17,692

30,418

(1,001)
(444)
–
(1,445)

–
(2,714)
–
(2,714)

(5,953)
(4,333)
52
(10,234)

6,967
–
6,967
1,365

(54)

8,278

(4,952)
(1,175)
52
(6,075)

2,203

3,003

14,978

20,184

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20 
 
 
 
 
109

10. Property, plant and equipment continued

Property, plant and equipment as at 28 February 2019

Cost:
At 1 March 2018
Additions
At 28 February 2019

Accumulated depreciation and impairment:
At 1 March 2018
Depreciation
At 28 February 2019

Carrying amounts:
At 28 February 2019

Plant and 
equipment 
£’000

Leasehold 
improvements 
£’000

Right-of-use 
assets 
£’000

5,969
998
6,967

(3,757)
(1,195)
(4,952)

4,389
59
4,448

(557)
(444)
(1,001)

2,015

3,447

–
–
–

–
–
–

–

Total 
£’000

10,358
1,057
11,415

(4,314)
(1,639)
(5,953)

5,462

Additions in the year included £nil (FY’19 £nil) of directly attributable borrowing costs. 

11. Trade and other receivables

Trade and other receivables include amounts due from credit card companies for consumer ticket sales and amounts due 
from business customers and Train Operating Companies on account.

Receivables are held with the objective to collect the contractual cash flows and are therefore recognised initially at fair 
value and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest rate method, less provision for impairment. 
A provision for the expected loss on trade receivables is established at inception. This is modified when there is a change in 
the credit risk. The amount of the expected loss is considered immaterial for the Group.

Trade receivables 
Other receivables
Prepayments and accrued income 
Total trade and other receivables

2020 
£’000
43,154
3,453
5,471
52,078

2019 
£’000
30,048
5,675
11,473
47,196

There is no material difference between the carrying value and fair value of trade and other receivables. See note 20 for more 
detail on the trade and other receivables accounting policy.

12. Trade and other payables

Trade and other payables include liabilities for ticket sale monies to be passed on to carriers, as well as accounts payable and 
accruals for general business expenditure and deferred revenue.

Trade payables
Accruals and deferred revenue
Total trade and other payables

2020 
£’000
136,355
29,380
165,735

2019 
£’000
132,703
28,981
161,684

There is no material difference between the carrying value and fair value of trade and other payables presented. See note 20 for 
more detail on the trade and other payables accounting policy.

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20  
 
 
 
110

Notes (forming part of the Financial Statements) continued

13. Loans and borrowings

This note details a breakdown of the various loans and borrowings of the Group. It also provides the terms and repayment 
dates of each of these. At the date of the Initial Public Offering (‘IPO’) the Group re-paid its existing debt and became party 
to a new Revolving Credit Facility, part drawn in cash and part drawn in bank guarantees.

Accounting policy

Borrowings are recognised initially at fair value less attributable transaction costs incurred. Subsequent to initial recognition, 
interest-bearing borrowings are stated at amortised cost using the effective interest method. At the date borrowings are repaid 
any attributable transaction costs are released as an exceptional finance cost. 

Non-current liabilities
Secured bank loan1
Revolving Credit Facility2
Unsecured PIK loan and accrued interest3
Other term debt
Lease liabilities
 Total non-current liabilities

Current liabilities
Accrued interest 
Lease liabilities
Total current liabilities

2020 
£’000

2019 
£’000

–
141,057
–
388
12,957
154,402

198,954
–
66,874
610
–
266,438

309
2,389
2,698

2,815
–
2,815

1 

Included within the secured bank loan is the principal amount of £nil (FY’19: £205 million) and directly attributable transaction costs of £nil (2018: £6.1 million). 

2 

Included within the Revolving Credit Facility is the principal amount of £146.9 million (FY’19: £nil) and directly attributable transaction costs of £5.8 million (FY’19: £nil).

3  The unsecured PIK loan was fully repaid during FY’20.

Terms and repayment schedule

Agreement
Revolving Credit Facility
Lease liabilities
Other term debt
Total borrowings

Interest  
rate
1.64%
5.01%
0.0%

Year of  
maturity
2024

Various
2022

Face value 
£’000
146,941
17,798
388
165,127

Carrying 
amount 
£’000
141,057
15,346
388
156,791

The following are the remaining contractual maturities of financial liabilities at the reporting date. The amounts are gross and 
undiscounted, and include estimated future interest payments, so will not necessarily reconcile to amounts disclosed on the 
statement of financial position. 

Revolving credit facility
Other term debt
Lease liabilities 
Total cash flows

Total 
contractual 
cash flows 
£’000
146,941
388
17,798
165,127

Less than 
1 year 
£’000
–
180
3,135
3,315

Between 
1 and 2 years 
£’000
–
180
2,922
3,102

Between 
2 and 5 years 
£’000
146,941
28
8,767
155,736

Over 
5 years  
£’000
–
–
2,974
2,974

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20111

13. Loans and borrowings continued

Revolving Credit Facility

The new Revolving Credit Facility became effective on 26 June 2019, the total facility amount is £350.0 million. The facility allows 
draw downs in cash or non-cash to cover bank guarantees. At 29 February 2020 the cash drawn amount is £146.9 million, the 
non-cash bank guarantee drawn amount is £113.8 million and the undrawn amount on the facility is £89.3 million. 

The Group’s new Revolving Credit Facility is secured by a fixed and floating charge over certain assets of the Group. Interest is 
payable on a margin of 1.0% to 2.0% above LIBOR. The Group is subject to certain bank covenants under the new facility, all of 
which have been met during the year.

14. Other non-current liabilities

As part of the Group’s acquisition of Capitaine Train SAS, the Group issued non-cash consideration in the form of Tracker 
Shares and Tracker CPECs to certain employee-shareholder and venture capital sellers. These Tracker Shares and Tracker 
CPECs entitled the holders to cash returns, payable on a liquidity event (sale or IPO), that mirrored the economics of the 
Company’s actual shares and CPECs. Where employee-shareholders of Capitaine Train SAS continued to provide services 
to the post-combination Group and had leaver conditions attached to their Tracker Shares, their Tracker Shares were 
accounted for as share-based payments under IFRS 2 Share-Based Payments (see note 15). All tracker securities were settled 
as part of the IPO funds flow. 

Accounting policy

Tracker shares are remeasured to fair value at each reporting date. Gains and losses on fair value remeasurement are recognised 
in net finance costs. 

At the date of the IPO, the difference between the fair value and carrying value has been recognised as an exceptional finance 
cost. At the date of the IPO the full liability was settled through the issue of ordinary shares in Trainline plc. 

The following amounts have been recognised in in the income statement in relation to these schemes: 

Finance costs
Total income statement impact

The carrying value of each instrument on the statement of financial position was: 

Put/call option over CPECs
Put/call option over tracker shares
Total statement of financial position

2020 
£’000

12,273
12,273

2020 
£’000
–
–
–

2019 
£’000

1,083
1,083

2019 
£’000
13,497
6,064
19,561

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20 112

Notes (forming part of the Financial Statements) continued

15. Share-based payments

During the year, the Group has operated a number of cash and equity settled share-based payment schemes. Before the IPO 
the Group had two cash settled schemes and one equity settled scheme which were settled in full as part of the IPO funds 
flow. Following the IPO, the Group established seven new equity settled schemes. 

Accounting policy

Equity-settled share-based payments to employees are initially measured at fair value at the grant date and recognised as a 
charge in the income statement over the vesting period based on the Group’s estimate of the share that will eventually vest and 
adjusted for the effect of non-market vesting conditions. A corresponding increase in reserves is also recognised in equity.

Cash-settled share-based payments to employees are initially measured and recorded as a liability at the fair value of the equity 
instruments. The initial fair value is then expensed in employee benefit expenses evenly over the vesting period. The fair value is 
remeasured at each balance sheet date with any changes recognised in net finance costs for the relevant period.

Share-based payment charges to 29 February 2020

Income statement
Pre IPO schemes
Post IPO schemes
Total income statement impact

Pre IPO schemes

Cash-settled schemes

Within 
administrative 
costs  
£’000

3,524
7,107
10,631

Within 
finance 
costs  
£’000

49,705
–
49,705

Total 
£’000

53,229
7,107
60,336

Before the IPO cash-settled schemes consisted of the following: 

Joint Share Ownership Plan (‘JSOP’)
The JSOP was a share ownership scheme under which the employee and Equity Trust (Jersey) Limited, the EBT Trustee, held a 
joint interest in class A shares. Interests under the JSOP took the form of restricted interests in class A shares in the former 
parent Company of the Group. An interest permitted a participant to benefit from the increase if any in the value of a number of 
class A shares over specified threshold amounts. In prior years the fair value of interests awarded was determined using a 
Monte-Carlo option pricing model. The final IPO value was based on the market value of the shares within the IPO funds flow.

Tracker shares
As part of the pre IPO Group’s consideration for the acquisition of Capitaine Train SAS on 16 April 2016, the Group issued tracker 
A, B and E in one of its subsidiaries shares to certain selling shareholder-employees of Capitaine Train SAS, who went on to 
become employees of the post-combination Group. These tracker shares and CPECs entitled the holders to cash proceeds in a 
liquidity event (sale or IPO) that were calculated as if the holders held shares and CPECs in the former parent Company of the 
Group. The Tracker shares were also subject to a put/call option that was exercisable by the pre IPO parent Company in the 
event that the holders leave the business. As a result of the link between the put/call option exercise pricing and the holders 
continued employment in the pre IPO Group, the arrangement was required to be accounted for under IFRS 2 Share-Based 
Payments as a cash-settled share-based payment. In prior years, the fair value of interests awarded was determined using a 
Monte- Carlo option pricing model. The final IPO value was based on the market value of the shares within the IPO funds flow.

The Group’s liabilities under the JSOP and tracker Share schemes were settled in the IPO.

As part of the Group’s reorganisation on IPO, the holders of Tracker shares exchanged their entitlements for newly issued shares 
in Trainline plc. The Group’s liability to JSOP holders was settled by the Group’s EBT through a combination of cash of 
£20.9 million, before deduction of transaction costs, and shares of £25.2 million in Trainline plc. The cash portion of the 
consideration was funded by the Group’s EBT selling down part of its shareholding in the Group IPO, which realised proceeds of 
£30.7 million, after the deduction of fees.

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20113

15. Share-based payments continued

Equity settled schemes
Certain employees held shares in the former parent Company of the Group. The underlying agreement in relation to these shares 
included employment conditions and therefore all such shares were accounted for as equity settled share-based payments. 
As these shares were purchased by employees at fair value, no associated share-based payment charge has been booked 
through the income statement.

As part of the Group’s reorganisation on IPO, all holders of shares in the former parent Company of the Group exchanged their 
interests for newly issued shares in Trainline plc.

The following amounts have been recognised in relation to the pre IPO schemes:

Income statement
Employee costs
Finance costs
Total income statement impact

Statement of financial position
JSOP 
Tracker shares
Total statement of financial position

2020 
£’000

2019 
£’000

3,524
49,705
53,229

–
–
–

3,309
(810)
2,499

3,961
4,072
8,033

All costs of the pre IPO share-based payment schemes in the year ended 29 February 2020, were funded by the IPO funds flow 
and do not represent a cash outflow to the trading business of the Group.

The movements in these share awards can be summarised as follows: 

Outstanding
At 1 March 2018
Granted
Forfeited
At 28 February 2019
Granted
Forfeited
Exercised
At 29 February 2020

Post IPO schemes

JSOP  
interests 
Number
45,214
35,537
(22,643)
58,108
–
–
(58,108)
–

Tracker  
Shares 
Number
36,009
–
(1,691)
34,318
–
–
(34,318)
–

Following the IPO the Group operates seven equity settled share-based payment schemes with a £nil exercise price.

1,000 RSU IPO Award

The 1,000 restrictive stock unit (RSU) IPO award is offered to all Company staff employed at both 26 June 2019 and 31 July 2019, 
being the IPO date, and grant date, respectively. The awards will vest on 31 July 2020, all employees that have not opted out or 
left the business between 26 June 2019 and 31 July 2020 will be entitled to 1,000 RSUs which each represent the right to receive 
one ordinary share in Trainline plc.

Share incentive plan

The share incentive plan (SIP) is offered to all UK Company staff employed at both 26 June 2019 and 31 July 2019, being the IPO 
date and grant date respectively. The awards will vest on 31 July 2022, all employees that have not opted out or left the business 
between 26 June 2019 and 31 July 2022 will be entitled to shares in Trainline plc worth £3,600 at vesting date.

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20 114

Notes (forming part of the Financial Statements) continued

15. Share-based payments continued

International share incentive plan

The share incentive plan (SIP) is offered to all non-UK Company staff employed at both 26 June 2019 and 31 July 2019, being the 
IPO date and grant date respectively. The awards will vest on 31 July 2022, all employees that have not opted out or left the 
business between 26 June 2019 and 31 July 2022 will be entitled to shares in Trainline plc worth £3,600 at vesting date.

12-month RSU IPO award

The 12-month RSU IPO award is offered to certain members of the executive team and senior management. The awards will vest 
on 26 June 2020, all participants that have not left the business at this date will be entitled to RSUs which each represent the 
right to receive one ordinary share in Trainline plc.

Annual RSU award

The annual RSU Award is offered to certain members of the executive team and senior management. The annual RSU award 
– 2019 will vest in three tranches: 20% on 29 February 2020, 40% on 28 February 2021, and 40% on 28 February 2022, all 
participants that have not left the business on these dates will be entitled to RSUs which each represent the right to receive one 
ordinary share in Trainline plc. Future RSU awards will vest in three equal tranches over three years.

Annual performance share plan award

The annual performance share plan (PSP) award is offered to certain members of the board and executive team. The annual PSP 
award – 2019 will vest on 28 February 2022. Subject to the Company meeting specified performance conditions relating to 
earnings per share and total shareholder returns, all participants that have not left the business at the vesting date will be entitled 
to PSPs which each represent the right to receive one ordinary share in Trainline plc.

Specific RSU award

In addition to the above schemes and as detailed in the prospectus, one member of the board will receive a grant of RSUs with a 
grant date value of £300,000 (calculated by reference to the offer price) vesting subject to continued appointment to the Board 
in equal tranches over the three years following admission.

Key assumptions used in valuing the share-based payments were as follows:

Exit date
Attrition rate
Weighted average fair value

1,000  
RSU IPO  
award
31 July 
2020
24%
£4.28

Share 
incentive  
plan
31 July 
2022
24%
£4.20

International 
share incentive 
plan
31 July  
2022
24%
£4.20

12-month  
RSU IPO  
award
26 June 
2020
25%
£3.50

Annual  
RSU  
award
28 Feb 
2022
14%
£4.28

Annual  
PSP  
award
28 Feb 
2022
10%
£4.01

Specific  
RSU  
award 
26 June 
20201
18%
£3.50

1  Exit date for first tranche and then annually for following 2 years’ awards.

Carrying value and fair value of share-based payment liabilities

The carrying value and fair value of the Group’s equity-settled share-based payment arrangements were determined using option 
pricing models. The expense recognised in the year for post-IPO scheme share-based payments is £7.1 million (FY’19: £nil), 
including the relevant employer’s social security contributions.

1,000 RSU IPO award
Share incentive plan
International share incentive plan
12-month RSU IPO award
Annual RSU award
Annual PSP award
Specific RSU award
Total income statement impact

2020 
£’000
1,268
281
31
3,839
816
756
116
7,107

2019 
£’000
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20115

15. Share-based payments continued
The movements in share awards are summarised as follows:

Outstanding
At 1 March 2019
Granted
Lapsed
Exercised
At 29 February 2020
Exercisable at 29 February 2020

16. Provisions

1,000 RSU  
IPO award 
number
–
589,000
(64,000)
–
525,000
–

Share 
incentive  
plan number
–
454,210
(46,278)
–
407,932
–

International 
share incentive 
plan
–
50,563
(6,856)
–
43,707
–

12-month RSU 
IPO award 
number
–
1,904,732
(403,977)
–
1,500,755
–

Annual RSU 
award  
number
–
444,570
(22,077) 
–
422,493
84,498

Annual PSP 
award  
number
–
1,757,249
(215,324)
–
1,541,925
–

Specific RSU 
award  
number 
–
85,714
–
–
85,714
–

The Group holds provisions in relation to dilapidations and historically held provisions in relation to VAT.

Accounting policy

Provisions are determined by discounting the expected future cash flows at a pre-tax rate that reflects current market 
assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the liability. The unwinding of the discount is recognised as a 
finance cost. 

The Group provides for the cost of dilapidations in relation to the London, Edinburgh and Paris offices over the minimum term of 
the leases.

Provisions at 29 February 2020:

As at 1 March 2019
Created
Released
Utilised
As at 29 February 2020

Provisions at 28 February 2019:

As at 1 March 2018
Created
Utilised
As at 28 February 2019

Dilapidation 
£’000
655
26
–
–
681

Dilapidation 
£’000
602
53
–
655

VAT 
£’000
911
–
(253)
(658)
–

VAT 
£’000
891
20
–
911

Total 
£’000
1,566
26
(253)
(658)
681

Total 
£’000
1,493
73
–
1,566

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20 116

Notes (forming part of the Financial Statements) continued

17. Capital and reserves

Share capital 

Share capital represents the number of shares in issue at their nominal value. In the current year, the share capital of the former 
Group has been replaced with the newly issued listed shares following the IPO. 

Ordinary shares in the Group post IPO are issued, allotted and fully paid up. The holders of ordinary shares are entitled to receive 
dividends as declared from time to time and are entitled to one vote per share at meetings of the Company. 

Following a reduction in capital during FY’20 the nominal value of ordinary shares was reduced from £1.00 to £0.01 each. 
The reduction in capital had no effect on the net asset position of the Group. 

Shareholding at 29 February 2020

Ordinary shares – £0.01

Share premium

Number
480,680,508
480,680,508

£’000
4,807
4,807

Share premium represents the amount over the nominal value which was received by the Group upon the sale of the ordinary 
shares. Upon the date of listing the nominal value of shares were £1.00 but the initial offering price was £3.50. 

Share premium is stated net of any direct costs relating to the issue of shares. 

Preference shares

Preference shares represents 50,000 redeemable preference shares of £1.00 each, redeemable at the option of the Group. 

Retained earnings

Retained earnings represents the profit the Group makes that is not distributed as dividends. No dividends have been paid in 
any period. 

Foreign exchange 

The foreign exchange reserve represents the net difference on the translation of the statement of financial position and income 
statements of foreign operations from functional currency into reporting currency over the period such operations have been 
owned by the Group.

Other reserves

At 1 March 2018
Group restructure
Other movements
At 28 February 2019
Disposal of treasury shares
SBP1 charge
At 29 February 2020

1  SBP – Share-based payment.

Merger 
reserve 
£’000
–
(1,121,809)
(409)
(1,122,218)
–
–
(1,122,218)

Treasury 
reserve 
£’000
(2,486)
(19,306)
–
(21,792)
10,895
–
(10,897)

SBP1 reserve 
£’000
–
–
–
–
–
7,360
7,360

Total other 
reserves 
£’000
(2,486)
(1,141,115)
(409)
(1,144,010)
10,895
7,360
(1,125,755)

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20 
117

17. Capital and reserves continued

Merger reserve

Prior to the IPO the ordinary shares of the pre IPO top company, Victoria Investments S.C.A., were acquired by Trainline plc. 
As the ultimate shareholders and their relating rights did not change as part of this transaction, this was treated as a common 
control transaction under IFRS (note 1j). The balance of the merger reserve represents the difference between the nominal value 
of the reserves in the Victoria Investments S.C.A. Group and the value of reserves in Trainline plc prior to the restructure.

Treasury reserve

Treasury shares reflect the value of shares held by the Group’s Employee Benefit Trust (‘EBT’). At 29 February 2020 the Group’s 
EBT held 3.1 million shares which have a historical cost of £10.9 million. 

Share-based payment reserve

The share-based payment reserve is built up of charges in relation to equity settled share-based payment arrangements which 
have been recognised within the profit and loss account.

18. Other employee benefits

This note explains the accounting policies governing the Group’s pension schemes and details the calculations and actuarial 
assumptions related to these.

The majority of the Group’s employees are members of a defined contribution pension scheme. Additionally, the Group operates 
one defined benefit pension plan which is closed to new entrants.

For defined contribution schemes, the Group pays contributions into separate funds on behalf of the employee and has no 
further obligations to employees. The risks associated with this type of plan are assumed by the member. Contributions paid by 
the Group in respect of the current year are included within note 4.

The defined benefit scheme is a pension arrangement under which participating members receive a pension benefit at retirement 
determined by the scheme rules, salary and length of pensionable service. The income statement charge for the defined benefit 
scheme is the current/past service cost and the net interest cost which is the change in the net defined benefit liability that arises 
from the passage of time. The Group underwrites both financial and demographic risks associated with this type of plan.

Accounting policy

(i)  Short-term employee benefits

Short-term employee benefits are expensed as the related service is provided. A liability is recognised for the amount 
expected to be paid if there is a present legal or constructive obligation to pay this amount as a result of past service 
provided by the employee and the obligation can be estimated reliably.

(ii)  Defined contribution plans

Obligations for contributions to defined contribution plans are expensed as the related service is provided. 
Prepaid contribution is recognised as an asset to the extent that a cash refund or a reduction in future payments is available. 

(iii)  Defined benefit plans

The Group participates in a defined benefit scheme which is closed to new members. The assets of the scheme are held 
separately from those of the Group. Pension scheme assets are measured using market values. 

The Group’s net obligation in respect of defined benefit plans is calculated separately by estimating the amount of future 
benefit that employees have earned in the current and prior periods, discounting that amount and deducting the fair value of 
any plan assets. 

The calculation of defined benefit obligations is performed every period end by a qualified actuary using the projected unit 
credit method and discounted at the current rate of return on a high-quality corporate bond of equivalent term and currency 
to the liability. When the calculation results in a potential asset for the Group, the recognised asset is limited to the present 
value of economic benefits available in the form of any future refunds from the plan or reductions in future contributions to 
the plan. To calculate the present value of economic benefits, consideration is given to any applicable minimum 
funding requirements.

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20 118

Notes (forming part of the Financial Statements) continued

18. Other employee benefits continued

The scheme is subject to an asset ceiling, meaning when the scheme is remeasured and shows a net asset position an ‘asset 
ceiling’ is applied equal to this amount, meaning the Group recognises no asset on its statement of financial position. This is 
because the Group does not have an irrevocable right to the surplus of the scheme. If the scheme is in a net deficit the Group 
would recognise the liability. 

Remeasurement of the net defined benefit liability, which comprise actuarial gains and losses, the return on plan assets 
(excluding interest) and the effect of the asset ceiling (if any, excluding interest), are recognised immediately in other 
comprehensive income. The Group determines the net interest expense (income) on the net defined benefit liability (asset) 
for the period by applying the discount rate used to measure the defined benefit obligation at the beginning of the annual 
period to the then-net defined benefit liability (asset), taking into account any changes in the net defined benefit liability 
(asset) during the period as a result of contributions and benefit payments. Net interest expense and other expenses related 
to defined benefit plans are recognised in the income statement. 

When the benefits of a plan are changed or when a plan is curtailed, the resulting change in benefit that relates to past 
service or the gain or loss on curtailment is recognised immediately in the income statement. The Group recognises gains 
and losses on the settlement of a defined benefit plan when the settlement occurs.

(iv)  Termination benefits

Termination benefits are expensed at the earlier of when the Group can no longer withdraw the offer of those benefits and 
when the Group recognises costs for a restructuring. If benefits are not expected to be settled wholly within 12 months of the 
end of the reporting period, then they are discounted. 

Defined benefit pension plan

(a)  The Scheme

Qjump Limited, a subsidiary of the Group, operates a defined benefit pension scheme which is closed to new entrants. 
The Qjump Shared Cost Section of the Railways Pension Scheme (‘the Scheme’) is a funded scheme and provides benefits 
based on final pensionable pay. The assets of the Scheme are held separately from those of the Company and are managed 
by RPMI. As the scheme is currently in an asset position no contributions are expected from the Group in the coming year, 
apart from to cover the scheme administration costs. 

Triennial valuation 
The most recent published actuarial valuation was carried out by the Scheme Actuary as at 31 December 2016. 
The 31 December 2019 actuarial valuation in respect of the Section is in progress and negotiations and agreement between 
the Company and Trustee is expected to follow later in the year but are not yet available.

IAS 19 Employee benefits valuation 
The IAS 19 valuations of the defined benefit pension scheme have been updated at each period end, the latest being 
29 February 2020, by qualified independent actuaries Willis Towers Watson Ltd. The main financial assumptions applied in 
the valuations and an analysis of schemes’ assets are as follows:

(i)  Actuarial assumptions

The following were the principal actuarial assumptions at the reporting date (expressed as weighted averages). 

Discount rate
Price inflation (RPI measure)
Increases to deferred pensions (CPI measure)
Pension increase (CPI measure)
Salary increase

2020 
% pa
1.9
2.8
2.1
2.1
n/a

2019 
% pa
2.7
3.2
2.2
2.2
n/a

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20119

18. Other employee benefits continued
Assumptions regarding future mortality have been based on published statistics and mortality tables. The current longevities 
underlying the values of the defined benefit obligation at the reporting date were as follows:

Longevity at age 65 for current pensioners
Males 
Females 
Longevity at age 65 for current members aged 45
Males 
Females

2020 
Years

20.2
22.8

21.9
24.7

2019 
Years

20.7
23.2

22.7
25.1

Assumptions used are best estimates from a range of possible actuarial assumptions, which may not necessarily be borne out 
in practice. 

Given the net position is not significant, changes in assumptions are not likely to impact the valuation significantly. 

When defined benefit funds have an IAS 19 surplus, they are recorded at the lower of that surplus and the future economic 
benefits available in the form of a cash refund or a reduction in future contributions. Any adjustment to the surplus is recorded in 
other comprehensive income.

Liability
Deferred members
Pensioner members (Including dependants)
Total

Value of assets at end of year
Funded Status at end of year

Adj. for the members share of surplus
Effect of asset ceiling
Net defined benefit (liability)/asset at end of year

Employer’s share of administration cost
Past service cost adjustment
Total employer’s share of service cost
Employer’s share of net interest on net defined benefit
Employer’s share of pension expense

(ii) Other comprehensive income (OCI)

Loss due to the liability expense
Loss/(gain) due to the liability assumption changes
Adjustment for the members’ share
Return on plan assets (greater)/less than discount rate
Change in effect of the asset ceiling
Total gain recognised in OCI

2020 
£’000

2019 
£’000

(4,061)
(572)
(4,633)

4,689
56

(3,468)
(610)
(4,078)

4,491
413

(22)
(34)
–

2020 
£’000
24
–
24
(6)
18

2020 
£’000
7
532
(124)
(212)
(221)
(18)

(165)
(248)
–

2019 
£’000
23
7
30
–
30

2019 
£’000
34
(143)
37
20
22
(30)

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20  
120

Notes (forming part of the Financial Statements) continued

18. Other employee benefits continued

(b) Movements in net defined benefit asset/liability

The following table shows the reconciliation from the opening balances to the closing balances for net defined benefit  
liability/asset and its components. 

Defined benefit obligation 
Opening balance
Interest cost
Defined benefit obligation 

Actuarial gain arising from:
Financial assumptions
Experience adjustment
Demographic adjustment

Other
Benefits paid
Section amendment
Closing balance

Reconciliation of value of assets:

Opening value of scheme assets
Interest income on assets
Return on plan assets greater than discount rate
Employer and employee contributions
Actual benefit payments
Administration costs
Closing value of scheme assets

(c) Plan assets

Plan assets comprise:

Growth assets
Government bonds
Non-Government bonds
Other assets
Closing value of scheme assets

All equity securities and government bonds have quoted prices in active markets.

2020 
£’000

2019 
£’000

4,078
107
4,185

626
7
(94)
4,724

(91)
–
4,633

2020 
£’000
4,491
117
212
–
(91)
(40)
4,689

2020 
£’000
2,872
1,311
500
6
4,689

4,239
104
4,343

(143)
34
–
4,234

(168)
12
4,078

2019 
£’000
4,605
113
(20)
–
(168)
(39)
4,491

2019 
£’000
2,703
1,383
398
7
4,491

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20 
121

19. Changes in liabilities arising from financing activities

The table below details changes in liabilities arising from financing activities, including both cash and non-cash changes.

Balance at 1 March 2019

Changes from cash flows
Interest paid
Issue costs relating to loans and borrowings
Settlement of other non-current liabilities
Repayment of pre IPO borrowings
Proceeds from Revolving Credit Facility
Repayment of Revolving Credit Facility and other borrowings
Repayment of lease liability
Total changes from financing cash flows

Changes in fair value

Other changes
Capitalised borrowing costs
Interest expense

Foreign exchange revaluation

Balance at 29 February 2020

Balance at 1 March 2018

Changes from cash flows

Interest paid
Issue costs relating to loans and borrowings
Redemption of other non-current liabilities
Total changes from financing cash flows

Changes in fair value

Other changes
Capitalised borrowing costs
Interest expense

Balance at 28 February 2019

Loans & 
borrowings 
(current &  
non-current) 
£’000
269,253

Other non 
current 
liabilities 
£’000
19,561

Lease 
liabilities 
£’000
17,692

Total 
£’000
306,506

(9,711)
(6,832)
–
(276,763)
206,941
(60,223)
–
(146,588)

–

9,318
9,771

–

141,754

–
–
(19,561)
–
–
–
–
(19,561)

–

–
–

–

–

–
–
–
–
–
–
(3,075)
(3,075)

(9,711)
(6,832)
(19,561)
(276,763)
206,941
(60,223)
(3,075)
(169,224)

–

–

–
828

(99)

9,318
10,599

(99)

15,346

157,100

Loans & 
borrowings 
(current &  
non-current) 
£’000
259,044

Other non 
current 
liabilities 
£’000
18,641

Lease 
liabilities 
£’000
–

Total 
£’000
277,685

(11,385)
(925)
–
(12,310)

–
–
(2,003)
(2,003)

–

2,923

1,355
21,164

–
–

269,253

19,561

–
–
–
–

–

–
–

–

(11,385)
(925)
(2,003)
(14,313)

2,923

1,355
21,164

288,814

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20 122

Notes (forming part of the Financial Statements) continued

20. Financial Instruments 

Financial instruments comprise financial assets and financial liabilities. The fair values and carrying amounts are set out in 
the table below. 

Accounting policy 

Categorisation within the hierarchy, measured or disclosed at fair value, has been determined based on the lowest level of input 
that is significant to the fair value measurement as follows:

•  Level 1 – valued using quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities

•  Level 2 – valued by reference to valuation techniques using observable inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1

•  Level 3 – valued by reference to valuation techniques using inputs that are not based on observable market data

Cash and cash equivalents 
Trade and other receivables
Derivative assets
Total financial assets

Trade and other payables
Loans and borrowings
Other non-current liabilities
Lease liabilities
Total financial liabilities

Measurement level
1
1
2

2020
£’000
92,120
46,607
6
138,733

2019
£’000
94,477
35,723
460
130,660

1
2
3
2

(136,355)
(141,754)
–
(15,346)
(293,455)

(132,703)
(266,438)
(19,561)
–
(418,702)

All financial assets and financial liabilities shown above, except for derivative assets, loans and borrowings and lease liabilities are 
valued at carrying amount or at fair value using Level 1 measurements. The fair value of the derivative asset interest rate cap and 
loans and borrowings was determined using Level 2 inputs. There have been no transfers between levels in any of the years. 
Other non-current liabilities are valued using market established valuation techniques. For other non-current liabilities fair value 
assumptions please see note 14. 

Accounting definitions

Financial assets

The Group classifies its non-derivative financial assets into the following categories: cash and cash equivalents and trade and 
other receivables. The classification depends on the purpose for which the assets are held. The classification is first performed at 
initial recognition and then re-evaluated at every reporting date for financial assets other than those held at fair value through the 
income statement.

(i) Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash balances and call deposits. 

The carrying value of cash in the statement of financial position is valued at fair value.

(ii) Trade and other receivables
Trade and other receivables are initially recognised at fair value. Subsequent to initial recognition, they are measured at 
amortised cost using the effective interest method, less any impairment losses. Trade and other receivables are presented in 
current assets in the statement of financial position, except for those with maturities greater than one year after the 
reporting date.

Trade and other receivables, classified as financial assets, exclude prepayments.

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20123

20. Financial Instruments continued

(iii) Derivative assets
The Group’s only derivative asset is an interest rate cap, which is used according to the Group’s risk management policy relating 
to interest rate risk. 

Derivative financial instruments are initially recognised at fair value on the date on which a derivative contract is entered into and 
are subsequently remeasured at fair value through profit and loss. Derivatives are carried as assets when the fair value is positive 
and as liabilities when the fair value is negative. The fair value of the interest rate cap held at year end was valued based on 
broker quotes.

Financial liabilities

The Group classifies its financial liabilities into the following categories: trade and other payables, loans and borrowings, other 
non-current liabilities and lease liabilities. 

(i) Trade and other payables
Trade payables and accruals, which include amounts owed to carriers in respect of ticket sale monies that the Group has 
collected on their behalf and amounts due to other suppliers for general business expenditure, are initially recognised at fair 
value less any directly attributable transaction costs. Subsequent to initial recognition, these liabilities are measured at amortised 
cost using the effective interest method.

Trade and other payables are classified as financial liabilities, excluding deferred revenue and accruals.

(ii) Loans and borrowings
The financial liabilities recognised in this category include secured loan facilities and preference shares held by the Group and 
are presented in borrowings in both current and non-current liabilities in the statement of financial position.

Borrowings are recognised initially at fair value less attributable transaction costs incurred. Subsequent to initial recognition, 
interest-bearing borrowings are stated at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

(iii) Other non-current liabilities
The Company had issued tracker entitlements as disclosed in note 14. 

(iv) Lease liabilities
The Group recognises lease liabilities for leases within the scope of IFRS 16 Leases. 

Financial risk management

The Group’s activities expose it to a variety of financial risks: market risk (including interest rate risk), credit risk and liquidity risk. 
The Group’s overall risk management framework seeks to minimise potential adverse effects on the Group’s 
financial performance. 

(i) Risk management framework
The Group’s Directors have overall responsibility for the establishment and oversight of the Group’s risk management framework.

The Group’s risk management policies are established to identify and analyse the risks faced by the Group, to set appropriate risk 
limits and controls and to monitor risks and adherence to conditions and the Group’s activities. The Group, through its training 
and management standards and procedures, aims to maintain a disciplined and constructive control environment in which all 
employees understand their roles and obligations. 

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20 124

Notes (forming part of the Financial Statements) continued

20. Financial Instruments continued

(ii) Market risk
The Group is exposed to movements in LIBOR on its variable rate Revolving Credit Facility (see note 13) and the Group has 
transactional foreign currency exposures, which arise from sales and purchases by the relevant segment in currencies other than 
the Group’s functional currency. 

To manage the risk of LIBOR rate increases, the Group holds an interest rate cap which has the effect of limiting the Group’s 
exposure on £190 million of its borrowings to a maximum LIBOR of 1.0%. This cap expires January 2021. As a result, the Group 
does not anticipate any material movements that would impact the Group’s results in the next 12 months. 

(iii) Credit risk
Credit risk is the risk of financial loss to the Group if a customer or counterparty to a financial instrument fails to meet its 
contractual obligations and arises principally from the Group’s receivables from customers. Trade receivables are assessed for 
risk of default by customers on a periodic basis and terms of trade are adjusted accordingly. Trade receivables are insured on risk 
and cost grounds.

Under the terms of Group’s retail licenses, carriers require certain security arrangements with the Group in order to mitigate 
its credit risk under the payment and settlement procedures outlined in the licences. The Group satisfies these security 
arrangements through letters of credit from the Group’s lenders. The letters of credit are provided under the Group’s 
£350 million Revolving Credit Facility, details of which are included in Note 13.

(iv) Liquidity risk
Liquidity risk is the risk that the Group will encounter difficulty in meeting the obligations associated with its financial liabilities 
that are settled by delivering cash or another financial asset. The Group’s approach is to ensure, as far as possible, that it will have 
sufficient liquidity to meet its liabilities when they are due, under both normal and stressed conditions, without incurring 
unacceptable losses or risking damage to the Group’s reputation. 

The Group maintains a daily rolling cash forecast in order to ensure that it has sufficient liquidity to cover all expected cash flows 
including scheduled repayment of debt.

In addition, a Revolving Credit Facility under which the Group is able to draw down cash of up to £350 million is in place. Of the 
£350 million, £97.5 million was utilised by a guarantee provided to the Rail Settlement Plan Limited. A further £15.2 million was 
utilised by guarantees provided to European Train Operating Companies and £0.7 million for other guarantees. The remaining 
headroom on the Revolving Credit Facility at 29 February 2020 was £105.6 million.

Capital Management

The Group defines capital as equity, borrowings (note 13) and cash and cash equivalents. The Group’s policy is to maintain 
a strong capital base that ensures financial stability and provides a solid foundation for ongoing development of business 
operations and maintains investor and creditor confidence. The Group’s objectives when managing capital are to ensure the 
Group’s ability to continue as a going concern in order to provide returns for shareholders and benefits for stakeholders. 
The Group currently has sufficient capital for its needs.

The Group has externally imposed requirements for managing capital under the terms of its Revolving Credit Facility. 
These requirements limit the use of cash for items such as capital expenditure, investing activities and loans and credit. 

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20125

21. List of subsidiaries

The Group holds, directly or indirectly, share capital in the following companies:

Name of Company
Victoria Intermediate Topco Limited
Victoria Investments Finco Limited
Victoria Investments Intermediate Holdco Limited
Victoria Investments PIKCO Limited
Victoria Investments Midco Limited
Victoria Investments Bidco Limited
Victoria Investments Newco Limited1
Trainline Investments Holdings Limited
Trainline International Limited
Trainline France SAS
Trainline SAS
Trainline Group Investments Limited
Trainline Junior Mezz Limited
Trainline Holdings Limited
Trainline.com Limited
Qjump Limited
Trainline Rail Enquiry Services Limited
Trainline Short Breaks Limited
Trainline Italia S.R.L
Railguard Limited
Trainline Holdco Limited
Victoria Investments S.C.A.
Victoria Manager S.a.r.l

Country of Incorporation
Jersey
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Jersey
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
France
France
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Italy
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Luxembourg
Luxembourg

Ownership
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%

Registered Address
b
a
a
a
a
a
b
a
a
c
c
a
a
a
a
a
a
a
d
a
a
e
e

1  Victoria Investments Newco Limited and Victoria Intermediate Topco Limited are incorporated in Jersey but tax domiciled in UK.

Registered address key:

a  120 Holborn, London EC1N 2TD

b  47 Esplanade, St Hellier, Jersey JE1 0BD 

c  20 rue Saint Georges, 75009 Paris

d  Corso Vercelli, 40 20145 Milan, Italy

e  2, rue Edward Steichen, L-2540, Luxembourg

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20 126

Notes (forming part of the Financial Statements) continued

21. List of subsidiaries continued
The following subsidiaries are exempt from the Companies Act 2006 requirements relating to the audit of their individual 
accounts by virtue of Section 479A of the Act as this Company has guaranteed the subsidiary companies under Section 479C of 
the Act; 

Victoria Investments Finco Limited registered no. 09394939

Victoria Investments Intermediate Holdco Limited registered no. 09451259

Victoria Investments PIKCO Limited registered no. 09976070

Victoria Investment Midco Limited registered no. 09395061

Victoria Investments Bidco Limited registered no. 09395162

Trainline Investment Holdings Limited registered no. 05776685

Trainline International Limited registered no. 06881309

Trainline Junior Mezz Limited registered no. 05820853

Trainline Group Investments Limited registered no. 05822219

Trainline Holdings Limited registered no. 03886253

Qjump Limited registered no. 04124436

Trainline Rail Enquiry Services registered no. 04547908

Railguard Limited registered no. 09621101

Trainline Holdco Limited registered no. 12098773

22. Related parties

During the year, the Group entered into transactions in the ordinary course of business with related parties.

Transactions with the controlling shareholder

During the year fees of £5.4 million were paid to KKR and Co. Inc and its subsidiaries (FY’19 £1.5 million). None of these fees are 
expected to reoccur going forward.

Transactions with key management personnel of the Group

Key management personnel are defined as the board of Directors, including Non-executive Directors.

During the period key management personnel have received the following compensation; short-term employee benefits 
£5,192,600 (FY’19: £2,050,335), post employment benefits £127,160 (FY’19: £32,550) and ongoing share-based payment schemes 
£311,811 (FY’19: £732,199). No other long-term benefits or termination benefits were paid (FY’19: £Nil). The highest paid Director 
received: short term employee benefits £3,580,555 (FY’19: £596,131); post-employment benefits £37,438 (FY’19: £32,550); and 
ongoing share-based payment schemes £80,266 (FY’19 £732,199). There were two Directors to whom retirement benefits are 
accruing under defined contribution schemes (FY’19: 2). 

The IPO triggered the crystallisation of previous share schemes with key management personnel. £12.9 million of the exceptional 
finance charge related to cash settled share-based payment schemes with key management personnel (note 15). £64.6 million 
crystallised on equity settled share-based payment schemes in relation to key management personnel, for which there is no cash, 
income statement or statement of financial position impact.

All amounts relating to equity and cash schemes were settled as a combination of cash from the IPO funds flow and shares in 
Trainline plc and do not represent a cash outflow from the trading business of the Group. 

At 29 February 2020, key management personnel held 11,185,560 shares in Trainline plc.

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20127

23. Capital commitments

This note details any capital commitments in contracts that the Group has entered which have not been recognised as 
liabilities on the statement of financial position. 

The Group’s capital commitments at 29 February 2020 are £nil (FY’19: £nil).

24. Post balance sheet events

On 30 January 2020, the spread of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) was declared a public health emergency by the World 
Health Organisation. Though the impact of COVID-19 did not materially impact the Group in the year ended 29 February 2020, 
it has not been considered a non-adjusting post balance sheet event, in line with IAS10 on the basis that it occurred during the 
financial year.

As a result, the forecasts used for impairment analysis reflected the expected impact of COVID-19 on the Group at the balance 
sheet date together with further sensitivities reflecting the Directors’ views at the date of approval of the Financial Statements of 
the impact of COVID-19. The going concern assessment and viability statement have been updated to reflect the Directors 
assessment of the impact of COVID-19 at the date of approval of the Financial Statements. This has been reflected in the 
respective disclosures. 

Subsequent to the year-end, the Group drew down an additional £85 million of its Revolving Credit Facility and reduced the 
portion of the Facility utilised through bank guarantees. Following these changes, the remaining headroom on the Revolving 
Credit Facility was £90.2 million.

On 29 April 2020, the Group announced that its loan syndicate had waived the financial covenant in respect of its £350 million 
Revolving Credit Facility until August 2021 to support the business through the COVID-19 pandemic and the related impact 
on trading.

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20 128

Parent Company Statement of Financial Position

Non-current assets
Investments

Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents
Trade and other receivables
Amounts owing from subsidiaries

Current liabilities
Trade and other payables
Loan and borrowings

Net current assets

Total assets less current liabilities

Non-current liabilities
Loan and borrowings

Net assets

Equity 
Share capital
Share premium
Preference shares
Retained earnings
 Total equity

Notes

2020 
£’000

2

3

4

4

5
5
5
5

1,759,306
1,759,306

935
2,105
45,922
48,962

(697)
(270)
(967)

47,995

1,807,301

(141,057)
(141,057)

1,666,244

4,807
1,198,703
50
462,684
1,666,244

The accompanying notes on page 130 to 131 form part of these Financial Statements. 

These Financial Statements were approved by the board of directors of Trainline plc (registered number 11961132) on 7 May 2020 
and were signed on its behalf by:

Clare Gilmartin 
Chief Executive Officer 

7 May 2020 

Shaun McCabe
Chief Financial Officer

7 May 2020

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Parent Company Statement of Changes in Equity
For the year ended 29 February 2020:

129

On incorporation at 24 April 2019
Shares issued on Group restructure1
Shares issued on listing net of fees
Issue of shares
Loss after tax
Share capital reduction
Balance as at 29 February 2020

1  See note 5 for additional detail.

Share 
capital 
£’000
–
449,095
31,526
59
–
(475,873)
4,807

Share 
premium 
£’000
–
1,122,738
75,817
148
–
–
1,198,703

Preference 
shares 
£’000
50
–
–
–
–
–
50

Retained 
earnings 
£’000
–
–
–
–
(13,189)
475,873
462,684

Total 
equity 
£’000
50
1,571,833
107,343
207
(13,189)
–
1,666,244

The accompanying notes on page 130 to 131 form part of these Financial Statements. 

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20 130

Notes to the Parent Company Financial Statements

1. Basis of preparation 

The Financial Statements are presented in pound sterling, rounded to the nearest thousand, unless otherwise stated. They are 
prepared under the historical cost basis, except that derivative financial instruments are stated at their fair value, and in 
accordance with Financial Reporting Standard 101 Reduced Disclosure Framework (FRS 101) and the Companies Act 2006. 

As permitted by FRS 101, the Company has taken advantage of the disclosure exemptions available under that standard in 
relation to share-based payments, financial instruments, capital management, presentation of comparative information in 
respect of certain assets, presentation of a cash flow statement, standards not yet effective, impairment of assets and certain 
related party transactions. Where required, equivalent disclosures are given in the Consolidated Financial Statements. 

As permitted by section 408(4) of the Companies Act 2006, a separate income statement and statement of comprehensive 
income for the Company has not been included in these Financial Statements. The principal accounting policies adopted are 
described below. They have all been applied consistently to all years presented.

Amounts receivable by the Company’s auditor and its associates in respect of services to the Company and its associates, other 
than the audit of the Company’s Financial Statements, have not been disclosed as the information is required instead to be 
disclosed on a consolidated basis in the Consolidated Financial Statements.

2. Investment in subsidiaries

Investments in subsidiaries are stated at cost less any provision for impairment. The investment relates to the Company’s 
investments in Victoria Investments S.C.A (‘S.C.A.’), Victoria Manager S.a.r.l and Victoria Investments Intermediate 
Holdco Limited.

Additions on Group restructure1
Capital contribution
At 29 February 2020

1  See note 5 for additional detail.

3. Amounts owing from subsidiaries

 2020 
£’000
1,571,833
187,473
1,759,306

Amounts owing from subsidiaries is comprised of intercompany loans with companies within the Group. IFRS 9 expected credit 
losses have been assessed as immaterial in relation to these balances.

4. Loans and borrowings

Loans and borrowings relate to the Revolving Credit Facility. Please refer to note 13 of the Group Financial Statements for details. 

5. Capital and reserves

Share capital 

Share capital represents the number of shares in issue at their nominal value. 

Ordinary shares in the Company are issued, allotted and fully paid up. The holders of ordinary shares are entitled to receive 
dividends as declared from time to time and are entitled to one vote per share at meetings of the Company.

On incorporation on 24 April 2019, the Company issued 50,000 preference shares for a total consideration of £50,000, with 
1 ordinary share to be issued.

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20131

On 26 June 2019, the Company allotted 449,095,131 ordinary shares as part of a share for share exchange in consideration for; 
the transfer of the entire issued share capital of Victoria Investments S.C.A to the Company; the acquisition of the Convertible 
preferred equity certificates (‘CPECs’) and relating interest held by Victoria Investments S.C.A; and the acquisition and 
extinguishment of the liability relating to Tracker shares held by Victoria Investment S.C.A. The nominal value of these shares was 
£1.00 and the consideration per share was £3.50.

On 26 June 2019, the Company issued 31,526,093 ordinary shares in its primary listing. The nominal value of these shares was 
£1.00 and the consideration per share was £3.50. Share premium is stated net of directly attributable fees of £3.0 million. 

On 26 June 2019, the Company issued an additional 59,284 ordinary shares. The nominal value of these shares was £1.00 and the 
consideration per share was £3.50. 

Following a reduction in capital the nominal value of ordinary shares was reduced from £1.00 to £0.01 each. The reduction of 
capital had no effect on the net asset position of the Company.

Shareholding at 29 February 2020

Ordinary shares – £0.01

Share premium

Number
480,680,508
480,680,508

£’000
4,807
4,807

Share premium represents the amount over the nominal value which was received by the Company upon the sale of the ordinary 
shares. Upon the date of listing the nominal value of shares were £1.00 but the initial offering price was £3.50. 

Share premium is stated net of any direct costs relating to the issue of shares. 

Preference shares

Preference shares represent 50,000 redeemable preference shares of £1.00 each, redeemable at the option of the Company. 

Retained earnings

Retained earnings represents the profit the Company makes that is not distributed as dividends. No dividends have been paid in 
any period. 

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20  
132

Alternative Performance Measures

When assessing and discussing financial performance, certain alternative performance measures (‘APMs’) of historical or future 
financial performance, financial position or cash flows are used which are not defined or specified under IFRS. APMs are used to 
improve the comparability of information between reporting periods and operating segments.

APMs should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, or as superior to, measures reported in accordance with IFRS.

APMs are not uniformly defined by all companies. Accordingly, the APMs used may not be comparable with similarly titled 
measures and disclosures made by other companies. These measures are used on a supplemental basis as they are considered to 
be indicators of the underlying performance and success of the Group.

Net ticket sales

Net ticket sales represent the gross value of ticket sales to customers, less the value of refunds issued, during the accounting 
period. The Group acts as an agent in these transactions. Net ticket sales do not represent the Group’s revenue.

Management believe net ticket sales are a meaningful measure of the Group’s operating performance and size of operations.

Adjusted EBITDA 

The Group believe that adjusted EBITDA is a meaningful measure of the Group’s operating performance and debt servicing ability 
without regard to amortisation and depreciation methods which can differ significantly.

Adjusted EBITDA is calculated as profit/(loss) after tax before net financing income/(expense), tax, depreciation and 
amortisation, exceptional items and share-based payment charges. 

As a result of the transition to IFRS 16 Leases as described in note 1i, the year ending 29 February 2020 no longer includes the 
operating lease charge, which has been replaced with right-of-use asset depreciation and lease liability interest, both of which 
are excluded from adjusted EBITDA. 

Exceptional items are excluded as management believe their nature could distort trends in the Group’s underlying earnings. 
This is because they are often one off in nature or not related to underlying trade. Share-based payment charges are also 
excluded as they can fluctuate significantly year-on-year. 

A reconciliation of operating profit to adjusted EBITDA is as follows:

Operating profit
Adjusting items:
Depreciation and amortisation
Share-based payment charges
Exceptional items
Adjusted EBITDA

Adjusted earnings

Notes

9,10
15
5

2020 
£’000
2,261

50,907
10,631
21,402
85,201

2019 
£’000
10,513

38,942
3,309
(136)
52,628

Adjusted earnings is a measure used by the Group to monitor the underlying performance of the business, excluding certain 
non-cash and exceptional costs. 

Adjusted earnings is calculated as loss after tax with share-based payment charged in administrative expenses and finance costs, 
exceptional costs and amortisation of acquired intangibles added back, together with the tax impact of these adjustments also 
added back.

Exceptional items are excluded as management believe their nature could distort trends in the Group’s underlying earnings. 
This is because they are often one off in nature or not related to underlying trade. Share-based payment charges are also 
excluded as they can fluctuate significantly year on year and are a non-cash charge to the business. Amortisation of acquired 
intangibles is a non-cash accounting adjustment relating to previous acquisitions and is not linked to the ongoing trade of 
the Group. 

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20A reconciliation from the loss after tax to adjusted earnings is as follows:

Loss after tax
Earnings attributable to equity holders 
Adjusting items:
Exceptional items
Exceptional finance costs
Amortisation of acquired intangibles
Share-based payment charges
Ongoing share related charges in finance costs
Tax impact of the above adjustments
Adjusted earnings 

Net debt

133

Notes

5
6
9
15
6

2020 
£’000
(80,938)
(80,938)

21,402
70,444
23,634
10,631
–
(8,286)
36,887

2019 
£’000
(13,670)
(13,670)

(136)
–
24,316
3,309
1,064
(4,805)
10,078

Net debt is a measure used by the Group to measure the overall debt position after taking into account cash held by the Group.

The calculation of net debt is as follows:

Loan and borrowings
Other non-current borrowings
Cash and cash equivalents
Net debt

Operating free cash flow

Notes
13
14

2020 
£’000
(162,900)
–
92,120
(70,780)

2019 
£’000
(269,253)
(19,561)
94,477
(194,337)

The Group uses operating free cash flow as a supplementary measure of liquidity. 

The Group defines operating free cash flow as cash generated from operating activities adding back cash exceptional items and 
deducting cash flow in relation to purchase of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets, excluding those acquired 
through business combinations or trade and asset purchases. 

A calculation of operating free cash flow is as follows:

Cash generated from operations
Exceptional items
Purchase of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets
Operating free cash flow

2020 
£’000
65,365
20,928
(27,405)
58,888

2019 
£’000
75,161
(136)
(32,562)
42,463

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20 134

Notes

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20135

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20 136

Notes

Trainline Annual Report 2019/20Designed and produced by Radley Yeldar www.ry.com

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