# Southern Railway — UK train times & tickets

> Official app for UK train times, tickets, and travel updates. (iPhone/iPad app by The Go-Ahead Group plc.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/southern-railway/id779618917 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [The Go-Ahead Group plc](https://appshunter.io/developer/566501475)
- Category: Travel, Utilities
- Price: Free
- Rating: 4.90/5 from 38 App Store ratings · 103 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 15.1 · 82 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2014-01-06
- Data updated: 2026-08-29
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/southern-railway/id779618917/reviews.md

## What is Southern Railway?

Looking for a hassle-free travel experience with no hidden fees? We’ve got an app for that! Download the official Southern Railway app to check train times and book tickets for any train line in Great Britain.  

With the Southern Railway app you can:

ENJOY ZERO BOOKING FEES: Buy any GB tickets directly through our app and pay no additional booking fees. 

FLEXIBLE TRAVEL OPTIONS: Sign up for keyGo and travel seamlessly with Smartcards. Tap & go without pre-buying tickets. Track your journeys and manage your account easily.

LIVE SERVICE UPDATES: Receive real-time updates on your regular services. Stay informed with personalised alerts from network experts.

MAKE A CLAIM: Set-up your Auto Delay Repay feature and easily claim compensation for delayed journeys.

ON-THE-GO ASSISTANCE: Request Passenger Assistance anytime you need it. Travel with confidence knowing support is just a tap away.

DIGITAL RAILCARDS: Save at least 1/3 on train fares with digital railcards. Easily renew online and never worry about losing your physical card.

## Key features

- Zero booking fees
- Flexible travel with keyGo
- Live service updates
- Auto Delay Repay claims
- On-the-go passenger assistance
- Digital railcards

## Recent user reviews (10 of 103)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/southern-railway/id779618917/reviews.md

### 5/5 — Updated new app

*2026-08-07*

SO SO much better user experience and a lot easier to search and find / buy tickets. Much quicker response times and genuinely a great upgrade on their previous app.

You can pin regular journeys and see the next train(s) on the home dashboard, which is intuitive. 

MUCH better going direct rather than using 3rd party apps (like TrainPal) where there are booking fees + admin fees when trying to get refunds.

**Developer response:** Thanks for the feedback!  We’re glad you’re enjoying the website and app. https://www.southernrailway.com/help-and-support/contact-us – Southern Digital Team

### 2/5 — No scroll back

*2026-07-10, version 5.0.19*

Used to be better. Can’t scroll backwards now. So if I want to go back and see what time the train I’m on was due to be in so I can do delay repay (which is a lot). It doesn’t let you go back anymore. It used to. Feels like they’re making it harder to do delay repay

### 4/5 — ‘Via/Avoid’ causes search to glitch

*2026-06-03*

App works smoothly still but since last update there’s a bug where if you add a ‘via/avoid’ option to your search, it comes up as no trains found. As soon as you remove the addition, it searches as normal. Had a heart attack when I thought all the trains had been cancelled 😅. 

Other than that, all good, Apple Pay is best addition to the app by far. Thank you!

**Developer response:** Thank you for your feedback. We’re sorry you’re experiencing issues. If you’d like help or can share more details, please contact us: https://www.southernrailway.com/help-and-support/contact-us – Southern Digital Team

### 1/5 — Awful

*2026-05-17, version 5.0.15*

Doesn’t let me buy a simple season ticket and upload onto the Key Smartcard. Customer service was a joke.

### 5/5 — Excellent

*2026-05-17, version 5.0.15*

Much more efficient than Trainline thank you

### 4/5 — Taffinator

*2026-05-07, version 5.0.15*

The service is really easy to use and any problems are easily resolved

### 1/5 — Does not do reservations

*2026-05-05, version 5.0.15*

May be all right for commuting although it’s fairly clunky  but do not use to book long journeys as Southern cannot deal with doing reservations on any other  train company. Really not good when you are old. Another aspect of broken Britain. Things broken into pieces that do not  communicate adding cost complexity and confusion for pretty much everyone.

### 1/5 — Fundamentally broken

*2026-02-24, version 5.0.11*

App on par with the train company that run the line. Cheaply engineered and poorly delivered AVOID.

### 4/5 — Railcards

*2026-02-03, version 5.0.11*

Great interface. Easy to use.
The option to add railcard should be on final page though, before payment is taken, to avoid going back to the front page

### 3/5 — Ok… but

*2026-02-01*

Much better than it used to be now tickets are on the app rather than emailed to you. 
However it has one flaw. 
Surely Return tickets should be the default setting. 
I would have thought this is what most people require. 
Returns and singles are so close in price it wouldn’t be a big deal if you mistakenly buy a return. 
However if you buy a single instead of a return it’s an expensive mistake. 
Twice now I have mistakenly purchased a single instead of a return. 
You have to pay £5 stupidity Tax to cancel the tickets. 
This is a rather steep charge for an automated process. 
Please make return the default and users beware.

**Developer response:** Thanks for the feedback, I'm glad to hear the in‑app tickets are working better for you now. If you have any further suggestions, please contact https://www.southernrailway.com/help-and-support/contact-us - Southern Digital Team

## Frequently asked questions about Southern Railway

### What does the Southern Railway app do?

The Southern Railway app allows users to check train times and book tickets for any train line in Great Britain. It provides real-time service updates, allows for hassle-free ticket purchasing with no hidden fees, and offers features for managing travel and claiming compensation.

### What are the key features of the Southern Railway app?

Key features include zero booking fees on all GB tickets, flexible travel options with the keyGo service, live service updates with personalized alerts, an Auto Delay Repay feature for compensation claims, on-the-go passenger assistance requests, and digital railcards for fare discounts.

### Is the Southern Railway app free to use?

Yes, the Southern Railway app is free to download and use. There are no additional booking fees when purchasing tickets through the app. While the app itself is free, the cost of train tickets and any associated services like keyGo would still apply.

### Who is the Southern Railway app for?

This app is designed for anyone who travels by train in Great Britain. It is particularly useful for regular commuters, leisure travelers, and those who want a convenient way to plan journeys, purchase tickets, and stay informed about service status without extra booking charges.

### Can I use this app for trains outside of Southern Railway's network?

Yes, the app allows you to book tickets for any train line in Great Britain, not just those operated by Southern Railway. You can also check train times and receive live updates for services across the entire GB rail network.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 5.0.23 — 2026-08-26

App enhancements and performance updates.

### 5.0.22 — 2026-08-11

App enhancements and performance updates.

### 5.0.21 — 2026-07-31

App enhancements and performance updates.

### 5.0.20 — 2026-07-14

App enhancements and performance updates.

### 5.0.19 — 2026-07-02

App enhancements and performance updates.

## Apps similar to Southern Railway

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| --- | --- | --- | --- |
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## More apps by The Go-Ahead Group plc

- [ThamesLink Railway](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thameslink-railway/id908805038)
- [Gatwick Express](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gatwick-express/id1134559254)
- [Southeastern: Train tickets](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/southeastern-train-tickets/id1544126349)
- [Go North East](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/go-north-east/id1556028079)
- [Southern Vectis](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/southern-vectis/id1556029040)

All apps by The Go-Ahead Group plc: https://appshunter.io/developer/566501475

## Related topics

[south western railway uk](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/south-western-railway-uk) · [southwestern railway](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/southwestern-railway) · [thameslink railway](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/thameslink-railway) · [thameslink](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/thameslink)

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-29.*
