Thetrainline awards Propaganda ad work

Thetrainline.com has appointed Propaganda to handle its £1m advertising account. The agency has won the business without a pitch.

The agency is working on a campaign that will focus on the ease and benefits of booking online in the run-up to Christmas. It is expected to break early next month across radio and press.

The website’s advertising has been handled in house although it has used Rainey Kelly Campbell Roalfe/Y&R in the past for some of its advertising.

Thetrainline.com was set up in 1999 and claimed to be the first impartial rail retailer to sell train tickets online. It says it has over 8 million registered users and handles over 150 million journey enquiries a year.

It was bought by private equity group Exponent for £163m last year. The company was previously a joint venture between Virgin Rail, National Express and Stagecoach.

Its profile has benefited from its relationships with corporate companies, like BT, which undertakes its business travel arrangements via the site.

Propaganda also recently won the £1m UK advertising account for Silvelox, the Italian premium door brand. The agency won the business following a five-way pitch handled by the Haystack Group.

Its other clients include Seabrook Crisps and Gregg’s, the bakery retailer.