Trainline's net annual sales leapt by 72% over the past year to £4.3 billion, despite the waves of rail strikes that hit Britain by up to £6 million a day.

The FTSE 250 rail ticketing business made £327 million of revenue for the year to the end of February, with a profit of £85 million in line with market expectations, The Times reported.

Ticket sales to foreign travellers visiting Europe, especially from North America,boosted numbers.

UK ticket sales were up by 55% to £2.8 billion, up from £1.8 billion a year ago, as journeys continued to increase after pandemic lockdowns were eased.

Trainline sells train and coach tickets in 45 countries, covering 270 operators.

Trainline was founded by Virgin Group in 1997 and was acquired by private equity group KKR in 2015. It floated in 2019 with a valuation close to £2 billion.

The Times quoted Jody Ford, chief executive of Trainline, as saying: "We have a core purpose to encourage more people to take the train, including by simplifying the retail experience and helping customers to navigate the complexities of rail travel."