Omio Group to acquire Rail Europe, creating rail distribution giant
Berlin-based travel technology company Omio Group has agreed to acquire Rail Europe, a French rail distribution platform founded over 90 years ago. The deal combines Omio's multimodal booking platform with Rail Europe's extensive B2B network, aiming to create a global leader in rail distribution.
Omio Group, the Berlin-based multimodal travel scale-up, has announced an agreement to acquire Rail Europe, a French rail distribution platform founded over 90 years ago. Upon completion, Rail Europe will become part of Omio Group, joining Omio's B2C booking platform, its B2B distribution business, and its travel discovery brand, Rome2Rio.
Jean-Francois Bessiron, Chief B2B Officer at Omio Group, said: “This deal marks a transformative moment for the future of global 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. The sector has been constrained by outdated systems and controlled by dominant players for far too long.”
The proposed acquisition comes amid notable investment in European TravelTech and rail mobility during 2026. EU-Startups has reported a €2 million pre-Seed round for Berlin-based night-train operator Nox Mobility, €64 million in Seed financing for London travel-booking platform Vuelo, a €47 million Series B for Trentino-based hospitality software provider Smartness, a €49 million Series C for Italian group-travel company WeRoad and a €6.5 million Series A for Offenburg-based happyhotel, representing approximately €168.5 million across these selected comparable rounds. Germany is represented by both Nox Mobility and happyhotel, providing same-country context for Berlin-based Omio.
EU-Startups has also previously covered Omio's acquisition of Rome2Rio in 2019 and its €83.7 million investment round in 2020, with the Rail Europe agreement continuing its established strategy of bringing travel discovery, multimodal inventory and ticket distribution into a broader group.
Björn Bender, CEO and Executive Chairman of Rail Europe, added: “The past few years have been transformational for Rail Europe. 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 travellers, partners and the rail industry than either company could achieve on its own.”
Founded in 2013, Omio Group is a global innovator in transportation, connecting travellers, transport operators and travel agents across rail, air, bus and ferry. Its portfolio includes Omio, Omio B2B, Rome2Rio, and, upon completion of the proposed acquisition, Rail Europe. Rail Europe’s technology, customer care services, and rail expertise support more than 25,000 partners across 70+ countries. The company connects travellers to around 250 rail providers – including SNCF, Eurostar, Trenitalia, DB, Renfe, SBB, and ÖBB – as well as leading rail passes such as Eurail and the Swiss Travel Pass. Every year, around 5 million train tickets are sold through its platform.
Together, the Omio Group will employ 680 people from more than 50 countries, operating offices in Berlin, Paris, Singapore, Prague, Mumbai, Shanghai, Melbourne and Bangalore. Omio Group estimates they will sell 22 million train tickets per year, work with over 28,000 transport operators and travel sellers – offering the world’s most comprehensive ground transportation proposition.
Rail Europe will continue operating under its established brand, serving both B2B partners and travellers, while benefiting from all areas of Omio Group’s technology stack, platform capabilities, and multimodal inventory. The proposed acquisition has the potential to create a new industry leader in rail distribution at a pivotal moment for rail travel. The global rail market is projected to exceed €261 billion ($300 billion) by 2032, as governments across Europe commit hundreds of billions of euros to rail infrastructure projects to increase capacity and shift more journeys away from road and air travel.
The proposed acquisition is subject to a consultation process with the 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.
