This month, we sat down with Joe Sikking, Director at Raileasy, to ask the big question: Is rail travel really that easy?
From growing up inside the business to helping pioneer split ticketing, Joe has seen the industry evolve from every angle. In our conversation, he shares how Raileasy went from a small independent retailer to a major rail-tech innovator and rail retailer and why a level playing field and open data matter now more than ever.
He also gives us a glimpse into what needs to change, what the future of rail retail could look like, and the one thing he’d ask the Transport Secretary to prioritise.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and share a fun fact?
My name is Joe Sikking; I’m one of the directors at Raileasy. I’ve basically grown up in the business. I officially joined in 2004, but I was “shoehorned” into helping during school holidays from around the age of 15. George Sikking, one of the founders, is my father, so it was good pocket money for me at the time.
I’ve seen the company evolve from a small independent retailer into one of the UK’s leading rail-tech innovators. I like to joke that I know the business inside and out because for over 20 years, I’ve done a bit of everything, from customer service, marketing, to business development, amongst others.
Fun fact: I used to be a singer/ shouter in a punk band from around 2013 to 2017. We weren’t exactly successful, but we played at pretty cool little venues in London – it was a bit of fun, really!
For those who may not be familiar, who is Raileasy, and what services do you provide? Could you also share a bit about how it all started?
Raileasy’s been around for quite a while now, but before we were Raileasy, we were called Ferries, Trains, Planes back in the mid-90s. The idea was to be a one-stop shop for all forms of travel. But in the early 2000s, rail took over.
We started developing the Raileasy platform from around 2002/2003 and officially launched it in 2007 as the UK’s first independent rail retailer. In 2014, under our TrainSplit brand, we became the first site to launch split ticketing, which changed how people save money on rail travel. We followed that with mobile apps in 2017, and we like to think we helped make split ticketing mainstream, partly because it encouraged other retailers to adopt it too.
Today, we’re not just a booking site. We provide a range of tech solutions across the industry. We offer API integrations, for example, with Real Time Trains, as well as white-label solutions, widgets, and B2B2C products that let partners offer rail booking directly to their customers. So, we’ve gone from a small independent retailer to a company shaping the tech behind how people buy train tickets.
Our goal has always stayed the same: to make rail easier and cheaper for everyone!
What aspects of Raileasy do you think give it an edge over competitors in the rail retail space?
There’s a lot of good competition out there… But that keeps us on our toes!
First, our core focus has always been helping people save money. Our split-ticketing algorithm is among the most advanced in the industry, and we’re constantly refining it to uncover every possible saving.
Secondly, our customer service – we’re rated Excellent on Trustpilot, and we’re really proud of that. We worked really hard to earn that – we know rail travel can be stressful when things don’t go to plan, so having real, UK-based support from people who actually care makes a huge difference.
And thirdly, our team is a real strength. We’re a young group, but with deep rail knowledge. For many of us, trains are more than work; they’re a hobby, and that expertise flows directly into how we design our website, apps, tech, and a smoother experience for customers.
Finally, we’re not afraid to challenge industry norms. Since day one, we have pushed for better answers and better outcomes for customers. That mindset keeps us innovating and moving forward.
Raileasy has a history of innovation, from split ticketing to new travel solutions. Could you tell us more about your latest offering, TrainSplit Business?
So TrainSplit for Business really came about for two reasons.
We noticed that a lot of people were already using TrainSplit for business travel, and at the same time, we were getting loads of messages from customers saying things like “We love the savings, but can we open an account?” or “Could you add a cost code to my receipt?”
So, we built a dedicated platform. It delivers the same split-ticketing savings that outperform many corporate booking tools, packaged with business-friendly features: cost-code management, colleague booking, team seat selection, emissions savings, and our popular “book now, pay later by invoice” option that cuts down all the expense claims.
It only takes a few minutes to get started, and whether your team travels every day or just now and again, it’s designed to save money and make business travel less of a headache.
As an independent rail retailer focused on putting passengers first, what is most important for delivering a great passenger experience, and how does Raileasy use technology and innovation in journey planning to make travel easier and more seamless?
For us, passenger experience starts with value; passengers want fair prices, and that trust carries through the journey. But price alone isn’t enough. The whole passenger experience has to feel simple, from start to finish, and that means making our website and app simple, clean, and intuitive, removing unnecessary steps and using our rail knowledge to refine the process.
When it comes to journey planning, this is where tech jumps in; we don’t just plan the fastest route, we show smarter options. For example, on the London to Manchester route, we include alternatives that may take a little longer but can cost half the price, which makes a real difference for travellers. Also, when things go wrong, our automatic refund tech helps people get their money back quickly without any hassle.
But even with great tech, you still need real people. Having knowledgeable, caring staff on hand can turn a stressful situation into a much better one; that’s why passengers trust us. It’s that mix of smart technology and genuine human support that creates a truly good passenger experience.
So, for us, a great passenger experience is the balance of three things: value, simplicity, and human support that you can trust.
We’ve talked about how important passenger experience is. What changes or improvements would you like to see from rail reform to better support passengers? Are there any gaps where the reform could make travel easier for both customers and independent rail retailers?
I know this is a hot topic at Raileasy and across the rail retail market, but it’s creating a genuine level playing field.
Train operating companies – or when Great British Railways (GBR) Retail comes into place – shouldn’t be able to give themselves special treatment with exclusive fares or hidden promotions. Everyone needs equal access to fares and data, because that’s what sparks innovation. When retailers can compete fairly, passengers get smarter tools, more choice, and better deals.
We’d also love to see reform that encourages more flexible, inspiring travel. Rail shouldn’t just be about getting from A to B. With the right data and real-time availability, we could help people discover new places, try different routes, and make rail feel like part of an adventure, not just transport.
But for that to happen, independent retailers need a proper seat at the table here. We see how passengers actually behave, what works in the real world, and sometimes what doesn’t. Reform should bring us into discussions early, on standards, data, and user experience, not just loop us in after decisions are already made.
Fares need to be digital by default and work properly across modes. Paper tickets and restrictions between operators are outdated. If rail’s going to be part of a modern, joined-up transport system, then tickets should work whether you’re on a train, a bus, or something else in between.
How do you see GBR Retail affecting independent retailers like Raileasy, and how could GBR help ensure continued growth in the retail space?
This is something we’re asked a lot by partners and clients. We think GBR will remove a lot of wasteful duplication across TOC websites, which is positive. It means less confusion for customers and cuts unnecessary public spending.
We’ve always believed competition is healthy; it’s what drives innovation. Independent retailers are why things like split ticketing and better customer tools exist today. So, we’re not worried about GBR; if anything, we welcome the challenge.
But for us, it’s imperative that when GBR Retail comes along that it operates on a level playing field. Independent retailers like us need fair access and fair terms. Government and gatekeepers must ensure that a level playing field through legislation is in place, then the retail market will continue to grow and deliver real benefits for passengers.
If you could ask the Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, to take one action to improve outcomes for both independent retailers and passengers, what would it be?
We’d ask her to prioritise the delivery of the Availability Distribution Service (ADS, also known as open data), the availability feed from RARS. We think it is the single most important step to unlocking better outcomes for both passengers and the retail market.
With ADS in place, rail could finally offer the kind of experience people now expect from other transport and travel sectors. Things like weekly or calendar fare views, surfacing cheaper options automatically, and “anywhere” or “anytime” search. It’s the foundation that would let us move beyond static, point-to-point tickets to something far more dynamic and user-friendly.
Our research with Jacobs shows that 61% of rail users are actively looking for new places to visit by train. With ADS and real-time availability, retailers could power that discovery and turn interest into bookings, positioning rail as a gateway to experiences, not just a way of getting from A to B – the impact could be huge.
The research suggests it could generate up to £500 million a year in extra revenue. That’s a quarter of the current funding gap. Independent retailers have even offered to fund the development. If the Secretary of State has any doubts, she could just look at what happened when TfL opened up Tube data…it sparked an explosion of apps, innovation and passenger benefit. ADS is the same opportunity for rail.
Looking ahead, what does the future of rail retail look like for you, and what would you like to see from the Bill?
For me, the future of rail retail is about being where people already are, easy to find, easy to book, and part of everyday digital journeys. Open APIs and fair access are key, so independent retailers can keep driving innovation. There’s already a great mix of innovative retailers doing this well; what we don’t need is a GBR version unless it’s genuinely fair and open.
We’re also moving towards a world of intelligent, “AI” search where people say things like “I want to go somewhere for the weekend,” and systems do the planning. Without ADS, rail won’t even appear in those results, which means we risk being invisible at the very moment people are deciding how to travel.
Even if we end up with a single GBR Retail website, comparisons will still matter. People want to see different routes, prices and trade-offs just like they do for flights or insurance. A trusted independent comparison tool builds confidence and helps passengers choose what’s right for them.
Finally, rail needs to embrace leisure and discovery: events, weekends away, day trips, not just commuting. If rail is affordable and visible at the moment people are planning, it can be the natural “how to get there” option.
And finally, to answer the question everyone is clearly waiting for, is rail travel really that easy?
Rail travel can be easy, give us open data, fair and equal access, and we’ll make it happen.
A big thank you to Joe Sikking for sharing his insights on passenger experience, technology and innovation. Learn more about Raileasy or try TrainSplit for Business yourself to find smarter, money-saving journeys.
