Which train booking app is the cheapest in the UK?

In our test of 22 routes, Choo Choo offered the best or joint-best price on 68% of journeys, with 7 outright wins with the second best only having 3 outright wins. Click here to see the test.

Does Choo Choo charge booking fees?

We don't charge a booking fee. We do however apply a 15% split saving share, which only applies when we've actually found you a saving, so you're never paying more than you should.

What is Split Ticketing?

Split ticketing means buying two or more tickets for the same journey at separate fare points. It’s legal and can reduce the total price significantly. See the National Rails explanation here.

When can I claim delay compensation?

You’re usually entitled to compensation if your train arrives 15–30 minutes late but it varies by operator. This is why Choo Choo automatically alerts you when you’re eligible, so you never miss a refund.

Is Choo Choo a legitimate UK train booking app?

Yes. Choo Choo is National Rail accredited and processes tickets through the same national systems as all major UK ticketing retailers.

Tickets11 May 2026

Collecting physical tickets

Written by

Alfie Willis

Founder of Choo Choo

Collecting physical tickets What you will need How to collect your tickets If something goes wrong

Collecting physical tickets

For most bookings, Choo Choo issues an eTicket you can store on your phone. But for some routes, such as those involving the London Underground or certain ScotRail services, eTickets are not available. For these journeys, we use Ticket on Departure (ToD): you collect a physical ticket from a machine at the station before you travel.

Your booking confirmation will tell you if your tickets need to be collected this way.

What you will need

To collect your tickets you need two things:

Your booking reference/collection code: found in your confirmation email and in the My Tickets tab of the app.
A physical credit or debit card: to verify your booking at the machine. The machine will not charge you. It does not need to be the same card you paid with and sometimes the machine will not ask for a card to verify.

How to collect your tickets

Go to any station with a ticket machine. It does not have to be your departure station.
Select "Collect tickets" on the machine.
Insert your card if it asks. You will not be charged.
Enter your collection code.
Wait for your tickets to print and collect them. The machine may also print a receipt, which looks similar to a ticket but is not one. Count your tickets against your itinerary before walking away.

Allow at least 20 minutes before your departure to collect your tickets. Queues at busy stations can be longer than expected.

If something goes wrong

Lost or replaced your payment card? You can use any physical debit or credit card with a magnetic strip to collect your tickets. It does not need to be the card you paid with.

Tickets missing from the machine? Check the receipt to see how many coupons should have printed. Do not walk away from the machine. Call over a member of station staff immediately.

Machine not working? Go to the ticket office and explain the situation. Staff will assist you where they can. Note that ticket machines are managed by the train operators, not Choo Choo.

Lost a printed ticket? Printed tickets cannot be replaced. If you cannot locate a ticket before travel, you will need to purchase a new one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Choo Choo vs Trainline vs TrainPal vs Uber: Best Train Booking App in 2026

We tested Choo Choo, Trainline, TrainPal, and Uber across 22 UK train routes to find out which app offers the cheapest tickets. The result: Choo Choo offered the best or joint-best price on 68% of journeys, with 7 outright wins. Trainline had none. Here’s the full breakdown.