Amadeus is continuing its interest in the rail sector by acquiring a specialist IT company in the field.

The Madrid-based technology partner has bought a controlling interest in Onerail, which provides a range of travel industry solutions and whose purchase will allow greater air/train combinations.

Improving rail connections across most of Europe for example – and particularly those with high-speed links – are increasingly driving companies to look at air/rail combinations and Onerail adds a fully-integrated pricing, reservation and distribution system that can also be used with road transport.

Of particular interest is the way in which rail connections can bring passengers to hub airports without the need for short-haul flights, although this will clearly depend to a large amount on train frequency and whether access is direct.

Amadeus will now be able to include a reservation system that allows rail companies to sell tickets through travel agencies, direct on the internet and from kiosks in trains. The system already exists in the UK and Australia.

“This [system] allows us to offer massive value to rail companies and, by developing deeper relationships with these vital providers, improve our offer to travel agencies and management companies too,” said Amadeus senior vice president corporate strategy Philippe Chereque.

European rail is increasingly competing on business routes that have traditionally been thought of as the domain of airlines and with the possibility of foreign train companies running international services, a combination of both surface and air transport looks attractive.