Amadeus to develop new UK rail booking system

A new UK rail distribution system is to be developed by Amadeus in partnership with Fujitsu Services.

Fujitsu operates the Rail Journey Information Service (RJIS) and the STAR ticket issuing system and the deal with Amadeus comes as the Elgar booking system ceases to be used as a distribution system for UK Rail.

Seven train operating companies out of 25 use the STAR integrated rail journey enquirer and ticket issuing system as their own in-house planning and ticketing system. Fujitsu also supports more than 4,000 terminals in stations, booking offices and call centres. 

Initially just including UK rail information, Amadeus says it will continue to work towards the development of a fully-integrated rail distribution platform for the future that will also provide European rail content.  

The new rail system will provide agents with a rail booking and ticketing solution, specifically designed to increase agency productivity, minimise training time and encourage the cross selling of products, according to the two companies. 

Agents will be able to make air, car, hotel, rail and other bookings in one PNR by being fully integrated into the Amadeus Selling Platform.

Amadeus UK & Ireland managing director Stephane Durand said: “We acknowledge the importance of rail travel – both UK domestic and high-speed international services – as a critical component of 21st century travel.

“As a technology partner, we understand the benefits of offering a fully integrated rail booking system to maximise agent productivity and reduce costs for travel management companies and other rail bookers. 

“Our partnership with Fujitsu will enable Amadeus to deliver a robust, integrated, productivity-oriented UK rail booking solution that will help travel management companies to effectively and efficiently service the needs of business travellers.”

Richard Dickson, Fujitsu account director rail, said: “Our partnership will help travel management companies and other retailers enhance the service that they provide to the business traveller – not only by improving the customer service experience but making it easier to choose to travel by rail.” 

In addition to the fully integrated GDS rail solution, Amadeus’ full scope of rail solutions will also include:

*Rail web services – which will enable TMCs to build their own tailored, rail booking solutions.

*Adding UK rail content within self-booking tools – enabling TMCs to offer corporate clients an online rail booking solution. Amadeus’ corporate self booking tool also benefits from being multi-modal, in that the traveller is able to make air, car, hotel and rail bookings from the one tool. 

*Development of a stand-alone rail solution – for TMCs that are not yet Amadeus users but that recognise the value of the GDS’s rail solution.

by Phil Davies