# Trainline Scraper — European Train Routes & Prices (`studio-amba/trainline-scraper`) Actor Scrape train routes, schedules, operators, and prices from Trainline (thetrainline.com). Covers European rail travel across 40+ countries. - **URL**: https://apify.com/studio-amba/trainline-scraper.md - **Developed by:** [Studio Amba](https://apify.com/studio-amba) (community) - **Categories:** Travel - **Stats:** 5 total users, 2 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 1 bookmarks - **User rating**: No ratings yet ## Pricing from $8.00 / 1,000 result scrapeds This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events. Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/platform/actors/running/actors-in-store#pay-per-event ## What's an Apify Actor? Actors are a software tools running on the Apify platform, for all kinds of web data extraction and automation use cases. In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours, and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store. In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server. Actors are written with capital "A". ## How to integrate an Actor? If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects. You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready. The best way to integrate Actors is as follows. In JavaScript/TypeScript projects, use official [JavaScript/TypeScript client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js.md): ```bash npm install apify-client ``` In Python projects, use official [Python client library](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python.md): ```bash pip install apify-client ``` In shell scripts, use [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md): ````bash # MacOS / Linux curl -fsSL https://apify.com/install-cli.sh | bash # Windows irm https://apify.com/install-cli.ps1 | iex ```bash In AI frameworks, you might use the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/platform/integrations/mcp.md). If your project is in a different language, use the [REST API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2.md). For usage examples, see the [API](#api) section below. For more details, see Apify documentation as [Markdown index](https://docs.apify.com/llms.txt) and [Markdown full-text](https://docs.apify.com/llms-full.txt). # README ## Trainline Scraper Scrapes train timetable and route information from Trainline (thetrainline.com). Returns departure/arrival times, duration, price, operator, and number of changes for European rail routes. No login or cookies required. ### Why use this actor? Trainline is Europe's leading train and coach booking platform, covering 270+ rail and coach operators across 45 countries. This scraper extracts timetable data, prices, and operator information -- perfect for travel comparison platforms, commuter tools, and market research into European rail pricing. ### How to scrape Trainline data 1. Create an Apify account (free tier available) 2. Open the Trainline Scraper actor page 3. Add one or more train route URLs (e.g. `https://www.thetrainline.com/en/train-times/london-to-paris`) 4. Click "Start" to begin scraping 5. Download results as JSON, CSV, or Excel when the run finishes You can also call the actor via the Apify API or schedule recurring runs for automated timetable monitoring. ### Input | Field | Type | Required | Description | |-------|------|----------|-------------| | `startUrls` | Array | No | Train times page URLs, e.g. `https://www.thetrainline.com/en/train-times/london-to-paris` | | `maxResults` | Integer | No | Maximum routes to return (default: 100) | | `proxyConfiguration` | Object | No | Proxy settings for large-scale scraping | Default: scrapes London to Paris route. ### Output Each result contains: | Field | Type | Example | |-------|------|---------| | `origin` | String | `"London"` | | `destination` | String | `"Paris"` | | `departureTime` | String | `"07:01"` | | `arrivalTime` | String | `"10:17"` | | `duration` | String | `"2h 16m"` | | `price` | Number | `49.00` | | `currency` | String | `"EUR"` | | `operator` | String | `"Eurostar"` | | `changes` | Number | `0` | | `url` | String | Full route page URL | | `scrapedAt` | String | ISO 8601 timestamp | ### Example output ```json { "origin": "London", "destination": "Paris", "departureTime": "07:01", "arrivalTime": "10:17", "duration": "2h 16m", "price": 49.00, "currency": "EUR", "operator": "Eurostar", "changes": 0, "url": "https://www.thetrainline.com/en/train-times/london-to-paris", "scrapedAt": "2026-03-16T10:00:00.000Z" } ```` ### Use cases - **Price monitoring** -- Track train ticket prices over time to find the cheapest days to travel - **Travel comparison** -- Feed Trainline data into your travel comparison platform - **Commuter tools** -- Build timetable applications for specific routes - **Market research** -- Analyze pricing patterns across European rail operators - **Deal alerts** -- Get notified when prices drop on specific routes ### Popular routes London to Paris, London to Amsterdam, Paris to Brussels, Berlin to Munich, Barcelona to Madrid, Amsterdam to Berlin, Rome to Florence, Zurich to Milan. ### Data sources The scraper tries three extraction strategies in order: 1. JSON-LD `ItemList` with TrainTrip items 2. HTML timetable rows (departure time, arrival time, duration columns) 3. Embedded `__NEXT_DATA__` JSON with journey objects It also discovers links to related routes on the page and can follow them. ### Integrations Connect Trainline Scraper results to your existing tools: - **Google Sheets** -- Automatic export after every run - **Slack / Email** -- Get notified when ticket prices drop - **Webhooks** -- Push timetable data to your own API endpoint - **Zapier / Make** -- Connect to 5,000+ apps without code ### Cost estimate HTTP-based scraper, no browser needed. Roughly **$0.20 per 100 routes**. ### Limitations - Trainline's results pages are heavily JavaScript-rendered. The HTTP scraper captures static timetable data from `/train-times/` pages, but real-time search results may require a browser-based approach. - Route names are parsed from the URL slug (e.g. `/london-to-paris`). - Data is scraped from the public website and may change without notice. ### Need this data on a schedule, or a custom version? We run this scraper as a managed service for businesses: scheduled runs, deduplication, delta detection, and delivery to your inbox, Google Sheets, or API — maintenance included. We can also build a custom version with your exact fields and filters, or combine multiple sources into one feed. See [studioamba.dev/services](https://studioamba.dev/services/) or email for a free data sample. We maintain 300+ European web scrapers and answer within one business day. # Actor input Schema ## `startUrls` (type: `array`): Trainline route pages to scrape. Example: https://www.thetrainline.com/en/train-times/london-to-paris ## `maxResults` (type: `integer`): Maximum number of routes/journeys to return. ## `proxyConfiguration` (type: `object`): Proxy settings. Recommended for large runs to avoid blocking. ## Actor input object example ```json { "startUrls": [ { "url": "https://www.thetrainline.com/en/train-times/london-to-paris" } ], "maxResults": 100, "proxyConfiguration": { "useApifyProxy": true, "apifyProxyGroups": [ "RESIDENTIAL" ], "apifyProxyCountry": "GB" } } ``` # Actor output Schema ## `results` (type: `string`): No description # API You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup. ## JavaScript example ```javascript import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client'; // Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token // Replace the '' with your token const client = new ApifyClient({ token: '', }); // Prepare Actor input const input = { "startUrls": [ { "url": "https://www.thetrainline.com/en/train-times/london-to-paris" } ], "proxyConfiguration": { "useApifyProxy": true, "apifyProxyGroups": [ "RESIDENTIAL" ], "apifyProxyCountry": "GB" } }; // Run the Actor and wait for it to finish const run = await client.actor("studio-amba/trainline-scraper").call(input); // Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any) console.log('Results from dataset'); console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`); const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems(); items.forEach((item) => { console.dir(item); }); // 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs ``` ## Python example ```python from apify_client import ApifyClient # Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token # Replace '' with your token. client = ApifyClient("") # Prepare the Actor input run_input = { "startUrls": [{ "url": "https://www.thetrainline.com/en/train-times/london-to-paris" }], "proxyConfiguration": { "useApifyProxy": True, "apifyProxyGroups": ["RESIDENTIAL"], "apifyProxyCountry": "GB", }, } # Run the Actor and wait for it to finish run = client.actor("studio-amba/trainline-scraper").call(run_input=run_input) # Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any) print("💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/" + run["defaultDatasetId"]) for item in client.dataset(run["defaultDatasetId"]).iterate_items(): print(item) # 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start ``` ## CLI example ```bash echo '{ "startUrls": [ { "url": "https://www.thetrainline.com/en/train-times/london-to-paris" } ], "proxyConfiguration": { "useApifyProxy": true, "apifyProxyGroups": [ "RESIDENTIAL" ], "apifyProxyCountry": "GB" } }' | apify call studio-amba/trainline-scraper --silent --output-dataset ``` ## MCP server setup ```json { "mcpServers": { "apify": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "mcp-remote", "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=studio-amba/trainline-scraper", "--header", "Authorization: Bearer " ] } } } ``` ## OpenAPI specification ```json { "openapi": "3.0.1", "info": { "title": "Trainline Scraper — European Train Routes & Prices", "description": "Scrape train routes, schedules, operators, and prices from Trainline (thetrainline.com). Covers European rail travel across 40+ countries.", "version": "0.1", "x-build-id": "MdjXNUAtKDOiozKTZ" }, "servers": [ { "url": "https://api.apify.com/v2" } ], "paths": { "/acts/studio-amba~trainline-scraper/run-sync-get-dataset-items": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-get-dataset-items-studio-amba-trainline-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for its completion, and returns Actor's dataset items in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } }, "/acts/studio-amba~trainline-scraper/runs": { "post": { "operationId": "runs-sync-studio-amba-trainline-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor and returns information about the initiated run in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK", "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/runsResponseSchema" } } } } } } }, "/acts/studio-amba~trainline-scraper/run-sync": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-studio-amba-trainline-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for completion, and returns the OUTPUT from Key-value store in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } } }, "components": { "schemas": { "inputSchema": { "type": "object", "properties": { "startUrls": { "title": "Route URLs", "type": "array", "description": "Trainline route pages to scrape. Example: https://www.thetrainline.com/en/train-times/london-to-paris", "items": { "type": "object", "required": [ "url" ], "properties": { "url": { "type": "string", "title": "URL of a web page", "format": "uri" } } } }, "maxResults": { "title": "Max Results", "minimum": 1, "maximum": 10000, "type": "integer", "description": "Maximum number of routes/journeys to return.", "default": 100 }, "proxyConfiguration": { "title": "Proxy Configuration", "type": "object", "description": "Proxy settings. Recommended for large runs to avoid blocking." } } }, "runsResponseSchema": { "type": "object", "properties": { "data": { "type": "object", "properties": { "id": { "type": "string" }, "actId": { "type": "string" }, "userId": { "type": "string" }, "startedAt": { "type": "string", "format": "date-time", "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z" }, "finishedAt": { "type": "string", "format": "date-time", "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z" }, "status": { "type": "string", "example": "READY" }, "meta": { "type": "object", "properties": { "origin": { "type": "string", "example": "API" }, "userAgent": { "type": "string" } } }, "stats": { "type": "object", "properties": { "inputBodyLen": { "type": "integer", "example": 2000 }, "rebootCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "restartCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "resurrectCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "computeUnits": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } }, "options": { "type": "object", "properties": { "build": { "type": "string", "example": "latest" }, "timeoutSecs": { "type": "integer", "example": 300 }, "memoryMbytes": { "type": "integer", "example": 1024 }, "diskMbytes": { "type": "integer", "example": 2048 } } }, "buildId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultKeyValueStoreId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultDatasetId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultRequestQueueId": { "type": "string" }, "buildNumber": { "type": "string", "example": "1.0.0" }, "containerUrl": { "type": "string" }, "usage": { "type": "object", "properties": { "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 1 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_SERPS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } }, "usageTotalUsd": { "type": "number", "example": 0.00005 }, "usageUsd": { "type": "object", "properties": { "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": { "type": "number", "example": 0.00005 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_SERPS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } } } } } } } } } ```