OnRail / Commuter Guides
The Best iPhone Apps for UK Rail Travel in 2027
The right train app depends on what you need: buying a ticket, checking the official departure picture, following a live journey, or finding your way across town after you arrive. Here is how the main iPhone options fit together.
Quick picks
- For live journey tracking: OnRail keeps a specific National Rail journey close on iPhone, including Live Activities.
- For official network information: National Rail combines departure boards, journey planning, disruption details, and ticket information.
- For buying tickets: Trainline is built around searching and booking train and coach travel.
- For the whole city journey: Citymapper helps connect rail with local public transport and walking.
Compare the apps
| App | Best for |
|---|---|
| OnRail (official app information, opens in a new tab) | Following a specific UK train journey on iPhone |
| National Rail (official app information, opens in a new tab) | Official journey, departure, disruption, and ticket information |
| Trainline (official app information, opens in a new tab) | Comparing and booking train and coach tickets |
| Citymapper (official app information, opens in a new tab) | Combining rail with local public transport and walking |
OnRail: best for following a UK train journey
OnRail focuses on the travel day rather than ticket sales. Search for a UK rail journey, check service details, and follow an active trip through the app and supported Apple surfaces such as Live Activities, Apple Watch, and CarPlay. Its journey tools include active journeys, favourite regular trips, and journey statistics.
Platform information appears in OnRail when the official National Rail departure information makes it available. It is not a way to see a platform before the official source has published it. If you want a glanceable companion for an already-planned trip, that focused approach can be useful.
National Rail: best for official rail information
The National Rail app brings together journey planning, live departures, disruption information, stations, and ticket options. It is a sensible starting point when you need the network-wide picture or want to check service information at a particular station. See the official National Rail app guide for its current feature details.
Trainline: best for ticket search and booking
Trainline is designed to compare and book rail and coach journeys, with digital tickets and travel updates alongside booking tools. It is a natural choice when you are deciding which fare to buy. For a closer look at how a booking app and a dedicated journey tracker differ, read our OnRail and Trainline comparison.
Citymapper: best for local connections
Citymapper is useful when your rail trip is one part of a multi-mode route through a city. It compares local public transport and walking options, which can help with the first or last leg of a journey. For national rail ticket purchases or detailed service information, pair it with a rail-focused app.
Which UK train app should you choose?
You do not have to pick one app for every job. Use Trainline when you want to compare or buy a ticket, National Rail for official service and network information, and Citymapper when you need local transport directions. Choose OnRail when you want to follow a specific UK train journey on your iPhone and keep its updates close at hand.
App features change. This guide was checked on 13 October 2026; confirm current availability and details in each app’s official listing before you travel.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best iPhone app for UK train travel in 2027?
It depends on the job. Trainline is useful for comparing and booking tickets, National Rail for official network information, Citymapper for local multi-modal journeys, and OnRail for following a UK rail journey on iPhone.
Which iPhone app shows UK train platforms?
National Rail and OnRail show platform information from official rail data when it is available. Platform details can change, so check current departure information before travelling.
Can one train app handle tickets, live updates, and city transport?
Some apps combine several travel tools, but each has a different strength. Many passengers use a ticket app to buy a fare, an official rail source for network information, and a journey tracker or city navigation app for travel-day updates.