Omio Group, the world’s leading multimodal travel company, has announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire Rail Europe, the globally renowned rail distribution platform, in a deal that would create a new industry leader in rail distribution.
Upon completion, Rail Europe would become part of Omio Group, joining Omio‘s B2C booking platform, its B2B distribution business, and its travel discovery brand, Rome2Rio. With the addition of Rail Europe, Omio Group would sell 22 million train tickets per year, work with over 28,000 transport operators and travel sellers, and offer what the company describes as the world’s most comprehensive ground transportation proposition.
Rail Europe would continue operating under its established brand, serving both B2B partners and travelers, while benefiting from all areas of Omio Group‘s technology stack, platform capabilities, and multimodal inventory. The proposed acquisition gives Omio access to Rail Europe‘s global network of travel agents and operators across more than 70 countries, along with more than 90 years of rail expertise and its trusted international consumer brand, significantly expanding Omio‘s partner reach and strengthening its international customer base.
The proposed acquisition arrives at a pivotal moment for rail travel. The global rail market is projected to exceed 300 billion US dollars by 2032, as governments across Europe commit hundreds of billions of euros to rail infrastructure projects aimed at increasing capacity and shifting more journeys away from road and air travel.
“This deal marks a transformative moment for the future of global ground transport,” said 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. The sector has been constrained by outdated systems and controlled by dominant players for far too long.”
Björn Bender, CEO and Executive Chairman of Rail Europe, said the past few years have been transformational for the company. “With our teams and partners, we built an independent business and a unique position in the global rail industry. For the next chapter, Omio and Rail Europe are a natural fit. Omio brings significant scale and transformative technology. Rail Europe adds considerable rail experience, a trusted international consumer brand, and the strongest B2B distribution network. Together, we would offer more to our travelers, partners and the rail industry than either company could achieve on its own,” he said.
The proposed acquisition is subject to a consultation process with the Comité Social et Économique (CSE), the French works council, which will issue an advisory opinion on the transaction. The deal will not be completed until this process has concluded.
Omio Group by the numbers, following the proposed acquisition:
- 28,000+ travel sellers, partners and transport operators worldwide
- Active in more than 70 countries
- More than 22 million rail tickets sold annually
- Around 680 employees worldwide
Rail Europe by the numbers:
- 25,000 travel sellers and partners worldwide
- Active in 70 countries
- Around 5 million train tickets sold annually
- Around 205 employees
