To diversify the travel search engine’s offering to UK travellers, the Skyscanner app has launched the train bookings feature, now available on iOS and soon to follow on Android.

Skyscanner is the biggest travel distribution platform in the world with more than 60 million monthly visitors and over 40% year-on-year growth. And with the latest news about the search engine, it seems that it’s still building steam as it continues its journey to scan more than just the skies.

Aside from its flight, hotel, and car hire offerings, Skyscanner is introducing a new feature on the app will allow travellers in the UK to search for the cheapest rail tickets for UK journeys without booking and credit card fees.

In effect, travellers will benefit from the savings they’ll get, and they will also be able to use a railcard (including the brand new 26- to 30-year-old railcard currently on trial) and have the option to buy advanced, anytime, off-peak, standard, and return tickets.

So, how is Skyscanner doing it?

Behind this new rail feature is Trip.com, the new international travel booking service of Ctrip. Bookings will be facilitated by Trip.com, which will also provide round-the-clock service for customers.

In December 2016, Ctrip invested in Skyscanner in a deal worth a whopping GBP £1.4 billion. The sale has allowed Skyscanner to leverage Ctrip’s technology and database, which we’re now seeing in the new train bookings feature.

Bryan Dove, CTO at Skyscanner commented: “Being part of the Ctrip group allows us to take advantage of elements of Ctrip’s technology and experience and bring that value to Skyscanner’s travellers.

“The launch of our train booking product is one such example. Our focus has always been on making travel as easy as possible and our new train feature will do just that, with the benefit of no booking fees.”

“Our focus has always been on making travel as easy as possible and our new train feature will do just that”

This new development comes just a few months after Skyscanner announced its acquisition of London start-up Twizoo and the use of in-trip content through Ctrip’s acquisition of Trip.com.

Both have the goal of making Skyscanner a place where travellers can find everything they need for travel planning.