1. Expense receipts (proof of payment/travel)
You can download an expense receipt from the Trainline app or website.
This receipt includes your booking details, payment information, and any VAT charged on booking fees.
Using the Trainline app
Open My Tickets and select your trip.
Tap Manage My Booking.
Choose Expense Receipt.
Your receipt will be ready to download.
Using the Trainline website
Log in to your Trainline account and go to My Bookings.
Find your booking under the Upcoming or Past tab.
Click Manage My Booking.
Select Expense Receipt.
Your receipt will be generated and ready to print.
Note: You’ll need a Trainline account to access My Bookings. If you booked as a guest, you can create an account using the same email address to import your booking.
2. VAT invoices for ticket fares
VAT invoices for the fare component of your ticket are issued directly by the train operator (not by Trainline). This is because Trainline sells tickets on behalf of rail and coach providers and does not charge VAT on travel fares.
Below are the rules for each operator:
All UK trains
Trainline does not charge VAT on UK rail or coach travel. VAT invoices are not issued for these tickets.
SNCF
VAT on transport services is not deductible.
SNCF does not issue VAT invoices with a VAT number.
Deutsche Bahn (DB)
You can request your invoice during the booking process, before payment.
After purchasing, you can download the invoice from My Bookings in your Trainline account.
If you booked as a guest:
Create a Trainline account using the same email address → your booking will appear automatically.
If you use a different email, the invoice will not be available in your account.
ÖBB
ÖBB does not issue invoices, but the VAT details are printed directly on the ticket.
Trenitalia
The invoice for Trenitalia tickets can be requested during the booking process only if you are purchasing via the website, by selecting “Request receipt from Trenitalia” while completing the purchase on Trainline’s website.
If you forgot to request the invoice during booking, or if you booked through the app, you can still request it until midnight of the day of purchase directly on Trenitalia’s website.
The requested invoice will be generated by the Agenzia delle Entrate (Italian Revenue Agency) up to seven days after the purchase, so it will not be available in the confirmation email nor in the “My Bookings” section.
Italo
Invoices are issued directly by Italo from midnight on the day of purchase.
Retrieve them on Italo’s website using your name and ticket reference.
Renfe
Request your invoice via the form available on Renfe’s website.
Ouigo Spain
Invoices can be downloaded from the My Bookings section on the Ouigo Spain website (Spanish only).
3. VAT on Trainline booking fees
Trainline charges VAT on booking fees.
This:
appears in your email confirmation, and
on the expense receipt (from the app or website).
These can be used as VAT receipts for the booking fee.
4. Additional VAT information
Why am I paying different VAT rates?
VAT on booking fees depends on the country where the service is used.
Example: UK VAT on rail travel is 0%.
Why are the ticket and VAT shown in different currencies?
You can choose the currency you pay in, but VAT is calculated based on where the travel occurs, so VAT may display in a different currency.
Why does my confirmation email list Trainline Group companies?
Trainline operates companies in the UK and France to facilitate bookings across the UK, EU, and rest of the world.
To avoid sending multiple receipts, all relevant company details are grouped in one confirmation email.