Trainline has surpassed £5 billion in ticket sales for the first time, as the aggregator enjoyed a recovery in rail travel in Britain and sharp growth across Europe. The London-listed company’s pre-tax profit more than doubled to £48 million in the year ending February 29, buoyed by an easing in rail strikes, which fell to 25 days from 30 in the previous 12 months. Trainline’s ticket sales grew 22% year-on-year, mainly driven by £3.5 billion in UK tickets. The overall British rail market recovered to an estimated £10.6 billion in passenger revenues during the reporting period, up from £8.9 billion in the prior year. The bumper year was further boosted by sales across Spain and Italy, which grew a combined 43%, as Trainline further penetrated both international markets. On the back of its European growth, Trainline also surpassed £1 billion in international ticket sales for the first time. The company has pursued an aggressive growth plan in both countries in recent years, where rail operator competition is stronger than in its other markets such as France and Germany, leading to more demand for its model as a price aggregator. Jody Ford, CEO of Trainline, said: “New entrant carrier competition is...