Rail Europe has launched a new strategy and technology to get more international passengers on to the tracks travelling across Europe by train, the most sustainable mode of travel.
Powered by e-voyageurs SNCF, Rail Europe will enhance the technological integration for its B2B customers with a simple booking experience that benefits from comprehensive and continuously updated offers on a new dedicated platform. Rail Europe also continues to be a supportive travel companion for its B2C customers by capitalizing on a single brand.
“By investing in state-of-the-art technology, Rail Europe’s goal is to always deliver a first-class user experience, making train travel easy to book for every customer, no matter where in the world they are,” says Dau-Khoi Nguyen, president & CEO of Rail Europe. “Our international strategy with the launching of a new platform will further strengthen our position as the number one worldwide distributor of European train tickets.”
Rail Europe, the international business unit of French group e-voyageurs SNCF, has played a key role in promoting and simplifying access to European train travel since the company was founded in the US in the 1930’s. Rail Europe sells approximately four million train tickets each year, two-thirds of which are booked and sold through international travel trade partners, and one-third through the consumer market making it the leading distributor of European train tickets in the world.
Rail Europe is launching a new dedicated technology platform for travel industry partners called Easy Rail Access (ERA). ERA is a one-stop-shop that makes the booking process easier and quicker than ever before for agencies and travel advisors that benefit from comprehensive, continuously updated offers and customer service support. Rail Europe is progressively deploying the Easy Rail Access platform worldwide until 2020.
“Rail Europe is working hard to make the user experience for its travel advisor partners easier and more productive,” says Nguyen. “ERA will allow them the ability to find rail choices and the information they need for their clients much more quickly, as well as complete the booking process faster.”
Nguyen also went on to remark that, “Europe maintains its status as the most attractive tourist destination worldwide and last year the European train travel market for passengers coming from outside Europe was estimated at €800 million to €1 billion (approx. CAD1.17 billion to CAD1.46 billion). It is estimated that this number could almost double by 2028, as consumers become more environmentally aware, realizing that the train remains the sustainable means of transport after cycling.”
Last month, Rail Europe announced its plans to rebrand the e-voyageurs SNCF-owned and award-winning train ticket booking platform Loco2. The rebrand will go live on Nov. 6. The Loco2 integration to the Rail Europe brand will enhance the overall consumer user experience for individual travellers.
“Rail Europe will continue to work collaboratively with Europe’s biggest train operators to ensure the interests of passengers are always the main priority,” says Nguyen. “Rail Europe’s overall ambition is to be the preferred travel company for anyone in the world wishing to enjoy Europe via train, and those who are booking on behalf of their customers.”
