Trainline launches 'decoy' covers for judged romantasy readers. Trainline has partnered with book influencer and content creator, Jack Edwards, in a new campaign that aims to tackle the stigma of reading romantasy in public. The booking platform for train and coach travel has launched a collection of limited-edition 'decoy covers' which are designed to disguise a reader's guilty pleasures while reading in public spaces, such as travelling on trains. After all, as readers, Forreadingaddicts has all tried to see what a fellow bookworm sat opposite Forreadingaddicts is reading, haven't Forreadingaddicts? Indeed, a third of respondents (33%) in research released by Trainline, admitted they make assumptions about strangers based on what they're reading. The campaign comes after new findings released by Trainline show that almost 1 in 4 Brits (23%) avoid reading 'spicier' novels openly due to the judgment they fear from strangers. Almost half of respondents (48%) also said that they felt there was still a level of stigma attached to reading romance and romantasy genres; despite the fact that these genres continue to dominate reading culture, going viral on BookTok and becoming bestsellers. Trainline's research found that 59% of Brits believe romantasy is often dismissed as less legitimate literature. 27% skip or skim romance scenes in public, 29% have abandoned a book entirely over fear of judgement, 51% would feel more confident holding a classic novel than a steamy romance on public transport, and 21% admit they've chosen books specifically to appear more intelligent during a journey. All of these stats are especially concerning when you also consider that roughly 24% of readers said that trains were one of their preferred places to read. Speaking on the campaign, Jack Edwards said: "Reading can help you explore new worlds or learn more about our own. So, whether you're reading a historical drama, a sizzling memoir, or a spicy romance, don't let anything get in your way." The tongue-in-cheek decoy covers from Trainline feature intentionally dull fake titles including: Dense Classics For The Performative Reader by Hugo Vaine, Beige: A History by Alotta Light-Brown, and Perfecting Paint Drying by Paige Turner-Smythe. The free book covers, which readers can simply slip over whatever their current read is, are available from 20th May at selected WHSmith station stores (London Paddington, London Bridge, London Victoria, London King's Cross, London Euston, Edinburgh Waverley, Leeds, Manchester Piccadilly, Liverpool Lime Street, and Newcastle Central) while stocks last. Digital versions of the covers are also available online for download.

Mobile pay-as-you-go wins bronze for ticketing technology of the year. FAIRTIQ and Trainline won bronze at the Transport Ticketing Global Awards in the 'Ticketing Technology of the Year' category. The award recognises the impact of mobile pay-as-you-go (MPAYG), a technology designed to simplify ticketing and make public transport easier to use. The technology is currently being tested in the United Kingdom as part of the government's Plan for Rail reform. The nine-month trial introduces mobile pay-as-you-go rail ticketing on the Sheffield to Doncaster corridor in South Yorkshire, allowing passengers to experience a simpler, mobile-first way of travelling. The trial forms part of a wider set of location-based, mobile pay-as-you-go ticketing pilots led by the UK government. Several technology providers are testing in parallel, including solutions delivered through platforms such as Trainline. Together, these initiatives aim to explore how digital ticketing models can make rail travel simpler and more flexible for passengers. When ticketing becomes the barrier For many passengers, buying the right ticket remains one of the most complicated parts of travelling by train. Fare structures can be difficult to navigate and ticket options are numerous. Travellers often need to decide on the correct ticket before boarding, even when plans change or routes are unclear. In a world where digital services are designed to be immediate and intuitive, traditional ticketing can still feel unnecessarily complex. A journey-first approach to ticketing Mobile pay-as-you-go changes this experience. Instead of selecting a ticket before travelling, passengers simply start and end their journey with one swipe in the app. The system automatically calculates the correct fare in the background, ensuring travellers pay the best available price for their trip. In the UK trial, the technology is available for journeys between stations such as Sheffield, Meadowhall, Rotherham Central and Doncaster. The system uses GPS-based journey detection and works across services operated by Northern, TransPennine Express and CrossCountry within the trial area. Shaping the future of ticketing The UK trial allows up to 1,000 passengers to test the technology while providing valuable feedback and journey insights. The goal is clear. Explore how mobile pay-as-you-go can make rail travel simpler, more transparent and more attractive for passengers. For transport authorities and operators, the potential goes further. If successful, the approach could support wider deployment across cities, regions or even nationwide networks. The bronze award for Ticketing Technology of the Year recognises how mobile pay-as-you-go is helping move ticketing from complex products to simple journeys. Because passengers should not need to understand ticketing systems. The system should understand the journey. Contact its sales team Don't miss out! Get the latest FAIRTIQ and public transport news