Ground transport consolidator Omio Group has agreed to acquire rail distribution platform Rail Europe for an undisclosed sum, the companies announced Thursday.
The proposed deal would see Paris-based Rail Europe join Omio's brand portfolio, which includes its flagship consumer travel booking platform, as well as Omio B2B and travel discovery brand Rome2Rio.
Rail Europe would continue to operate under its own brand, while users would gain access to Omio Group's platform capabilities and multimodal inventory across rail, air, bus and ferry, according to the companies.
With the addition of Rail Europe, Omio Group said it would sell 22 million train tickets per year through a network of more than 28,000 transport operators and travel sellers.
Jean-Francois Bessiron, chief B2B officer at Omio Group, in a statement said the deal marks "a transformative moment" for ground transport.
"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," he said. "The sector has been constrained by outdated systems and controlled by dominant players for far too long."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, in a statement added: "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 travellers, partners and the rail industry than either company could achieve on its own."
The proposed acquisition is subject to a consultation process with French workers' union CSE (Comité Social et Économique), which will issue an advisory opinion on the transaction. The transaction will not be completed until this process has concluded, the companies said.