National Rail
The official UK rail information site for timetables, live departures and journey planning.
National Rail at a glance
National Rail is a travel website and one of the most visited sites in United Kingdom, currently ranked #169 in the country. It was founded in 1996 by UK rail industry and is headquartered in London, UK. Today National Rail is owned by Rail Delivery Group. Our estimates put its audience at ≈ 70 million visits per month. The business earns money mainly through industry funding, referral fees. Its closest rivals include trainline.com, thetrainline.com, tfl.gov.uk.
Traffic statistics
Traffic history
| Period | Visits | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | ≈ 65.8 million / month | +2% |
| Q2 | ≈ 67.9 million / month | +3% |
| Q3 | ≈ 70 million / month | +3% |
| Q4 | ≈ 74.2 million / month | +6% |
Traffic sources
- Direct43%
- Organic search32%
- Paid search16%
- Metasearch referral6%
- Social3%
Audience & demographics
- Men52%
- Women48%
- Age 25-3431%
- Age 35-4426%
- Age 45-5420%
The audience is concentrated in United Kingdom, skewing urban and mobile, with usage peaks in the evening hours.
Geographic reach
- United Kingdom86%
Home market
- Diaspora and neighbouring markets7%
- Europe3%
- North America2%
- Rest of world2%
SEO profile
- Estimated organic traffic
- ≈ 21 million visits / month
- Branded share of search
- High — brand terms lead the keyword profile
- Indexed pages
- Large — category, listing or article level
- Primary search market
- United Kingdom
Top organic keywords
| Keyword | Position | Volume | Traffic share |
|---|---|---|---|
| national rail | 1 | Very high | Dominant |
| cheap flights | Top 10 | High | — |
| hotel booking | Top 10 | High | — |
| train tickets | Top 10 | High | — |
Backlink profile
- Referring domains
- Tens of thousands
- Link profile
- News coverage, directories, blogs and partner sites
- Authority
- High within the United Kingdom web
Top referral sources
- News and media31%
- Directories and aggregators24%
- Blogs and forums20%
- Partner sites14%
- Other11%
Technology stack
Website technologies
Advertising & analytics technologies
Stack details are inferred from public front-end signals and engineering communications; internal systems may differ.
Mobile app statistics
Available in the local store
Available in the local store
- App share of traffic
- ≈ 71% mobile
- Position in country
- Among the leading travel apps in United Kingdom
Company information
- Website
- nationalrail.co.uk
- Sector
- Travel
- Owner
- Rail Delivery Group
- Owner type
- Industry body
- Founders
- UK rail industry
- Founded
- 1996
- Headquarters
- London, UK
- Employees
- 200+
- Ownership
- Rail Delivery Group controls the platform. Ownership details are based on public filings and press reporting.
- Revenue
- ≈ $100 million annual revenue (est.)
- Languages
- English
- Top traffic sources
- direct, organic search, paid search
Financials
- Revenue
- ≈ $100 million annual revenue (est.)
- Ownership
- Industry body
- Reporting
- Figures based on public filings, press reports and market estimates
Business model & revenue
National Rail operates a travel booking platform focused on United Kingdom. The official UK rail information site for timetables, live departures and journey planning. Revenue comes mainly from industry funding, supported by the other lines listed below.
- Industry funding
- Referral fees
Products & services
International presence
- Primary market
- United Kingdom
- Expansion
- Regional and diaspora audiences beyond the home market
Employee statistics
Customer statistics
Website rankings
- Country rank (United Kingdom)
- #169 in this index
- Sector rank
- Leading travel site in United Kingdom
- Global rank
- 1200
Main competitors
Website comparisons
| Website | Monthly visits | Rank | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| trainline.com | ≈ 42 million / month | #170 class competitor | — |
| thetrainline.com | ≈ 31.5 million / month | #171 class competitor | — |
| tfl.gov.uk | ≈ 21 million / month | #172 class competitor | — |
What is National Rail?
National Rail (nationalrail.co.uk) is a travel booking platform serving users in United Kingdom. The official UK rail information site for timetables, live departures and journey planning. It ranks #169 among the most visited websites in the country in this index, within the travel category.
Who owns National Rail?
The site is operated by Rail Delivery Group, founded by UK rail industry. The company was established in 1996 and is headquartered in London, UK. It employs around 200+.
Traffic and audience
Traffic estimates place National Rail at roughly 70 million visits per month, about 2.3 million per day. Around 71% mobile of sessions come from mobile devices, and visitors view about 7.8 pages per visit with an average session of 7 min.
How National Rail makes money
Revenue comes primarily from industry funding, alongside referral fees.
Competitors in United Kingdom
Its closest rivals include trainline.com, thetrainline.com, tfl.gov.uk.
Data and accuracy
Company facts are drawn from public sources. Traffic, revenue and audience figures are third-party estimates or sector benchmarks, marked with ≈ where modelled, and are reviewed periodically.
Company history & milestones
- 1996
National Rail is founded in London, UK.
- Growth phase
Expands its travel offering and moves to a mobile-first product.
- Today
Ranks #169 among the most visited websites in United Kingdom.
User reviews & ratings
| Source | Score | Reviews | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Play | ≈ 4.3 / 5 | — | Ratings from the local store listing |
| App Store | ≈ 4.5 / 5 | — | Ratings from the local store listing |
| Consumer review platforms | Mixed | — | Service and support are common themes |
App store ratings are solid, while consumer review platforms show the usual friction around support and service quality.
Pros & cons
Pros
- Broad inventory of routes, hotels or tickets
- Transparent price comparison across dates
- Local payment and installment support
- Mobile check-in and booking management
Cons
- Prices fluctuate quickly during peak seasons
- Change and cancellation rules are restrictive
- Add-on fees appear late in the funnel
- Support pressure during disruptions
Key statistics
Frequently asked questions
Who owns National Rail?
National Rail is operated by Rail Delivery Group. Industry body structure, based on public filings and press reporting.
Where is National Rail headquartered?
National Rail is headquartered in London, UK.
When was National Rail founded?
National Rail was founded in 1996 by UK rail industry.
How many employees does National Rail have?
National Rail employs approximately 200+ people.
What is National Rail's revenue?
National Rail's revenue: ≈ $100 million annual revenue (est.).
Who are National Rail's competitors?
Main competitors in United Kingdom include trainline.com, thetrainline.com, tfl.gov.uk.
How does National Rail make money?
Mainly industry funding, referral fees.
Is National Rail publicly traded?
No — National Rail is not listed as an independent public company; it is operated by Rail Delivery Group.
How many visitors does National Rail get?
Third-party estimates place National Rail at roughly 70 million visits per month, mostly from United Kingdom, with 71% mobile traffic.
Is National Rail safe?
National Rail is an established travel site founded in 1996 and ranked #169 in United Kingdom; use the official domain nationalrail.co.uk and HTTPS.
Popular searches
Data sources & confidence
- Company website and public announcementsnationalrail.co.uk
- Third-party traffic estimation providersSimilarweb-class estimates
Visit figures are modelled, not measured
- App store listingsApple App Store, Google Play
- Press and market coverageUnited Kingdom and international business media
- Data confidence
- Medium for company facts, medium-low for traffic and financial estimates. All modelled figures are rounded and marked with ≈.
- Last updated
- September 2026
Traffic, revenue and audience figures are third-party estimates or derived from sector benchmarks, and are reviewed periodically.
Social media profiles & statistics
Official brand account
Announcements and support
Community and campaigns
Company and hiring updates
Brand and product videos