Distribution systems Amadeus and Galileo are in talks with the world’s largest rail ticket wholesaler to create point-to-point rail reservations.
Rail Europe currently distributes its tickets via general sales agents (Rail Plus, Stella Rail Tickets, CIT and Infinity Rail) but it is in talks to get its segments available via reservation systems. Eurostar will become the first rail segment with its own global distribution system (GDS) code later this year, enabling it to compete directly with airlines.
Pierre Stéphane Austi, chief executive of Rail Europe, said the existing GDS model, under which the carrier pays commission, is unacceptable to European rail companies, who sell the majority of their tickets direct to European passengers. “There is a discussion to open bookings for overseas passengers through the GDS,” Austi said.
Talks were taking place “at the highest level” between Rail Europe, Travelport and Amadeus, over building software to link the Euronet rail reservation system and the major GDS software.
Austi predicted sales of rail passes would decline dramatically over the next few years as Australians follow Europeans in using high speed trains for specific city pairs
3 March 2008
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