OMIO Group has announced an agreement to acquire rail distribution platform Rail Europe in a move that would significantly expand its presence in the global rail travel market.
Subject to completion, Rail Europe will join Omio Group’s portfolio alongside the Omio consumer booking platform, its B2B distribution business and travel discovery brand Rome2Rio. The combined business would sell more than 22 million rail tickets annually, work with over 28,000 transport operators, travel agents and partners, and operate across more than 70 countries.
Rail Europe will continue to operate under its existing brand, serving both travel agents and consumers while gaining access to Omio Group’s technology platform, multimodal inventory and digital capabilities. The acquisition would also provide Omio with Rail Europe’s global network of travel agents, established relationships with rail operators and more than 90 years of rail sector experience.
Omio says the transaction will create a new player in the rail distribution market at a time when demand for rail travel is expected to grow. The company cites forecasts that the global rail market will exceed $US 300bn by 2032, supported by continued government investment in rail infrastructure and policies encouraging a shift from road and air transport.
“This deal marks a transformative moment for the future of global ground transport,” says Jean-Francois Bessiron, chief B2B officer at Omio Group. “Omio and Rail Europe would give the industry a player with the technology and scale to make connected, accessible, and affordable train travel a reality for all.”
Björn Bender, chief executive and executive chairman of Rail Europe, says the businesses are “a natural fit," adding that together they would combine Omio’s technology and scale with Rail Europe’s rail expertise, international consumer brand and B2B distribution network.
The proposed acquisition remains subject to consultation with Rail Europe’s Social and Economic Committee, which must issue an advisory opinion before the transaction can be completed.
