Interrail, the company – based in Utrecht in the Netherlands – behind the well-known pass that grants travellers flexible access to 33 European countries by rail, has formed a strategic partnership with Distribusion, the global leader in ground transportation technology. The collaboration is set to revolutionise the way passengers book seat reservations and access passholder fares across Europe’s extensive rail and ferry networks.
This partnership marks a significant step in Interrail’s ongoing mission to enhance the reservation experience, a critical aspect of any passholder’s journey. By strengthening its technical ecosystem and deepening integration with key reservation providers, Interrail aims to make rail travel more seamless and convenient for passengers.
Through this alliance, Distribusion’s reservation and passholder fare content will be made available via Interrail’s channels. This integration will enable travellers to effortlessly discover and book necessary reservations across a growing range of carriers. The first carrier integration is already operational, with additional operators scheduled to follow in the coming months.
Beyond improving access, the partnership reflects a shared commitment to broadening coverage across Europe’s diverse rail landscape. Interrail and Distribusion will actively pursue integrations with major operators while also unlocking access to lesser-known, regional carriers. This initiative ensures a more inclusive and comprehensive network for passholders, allowing them to explore hidden gems across the continent.
Wouter Wolff, members and associates manager at Interrail, commented on the significance of the partnership: “Interrail is rooted in its unique hop-on, hop-off legacy, which we continue to cherish. However, we also recognise the evolving industry context, including the reality of mandatory seat reservations. Our ambition is to transform this legacy into a new form of convenience, delivering a seamless and high-quality travel experience.”
He added, “Our partnership with Distribusion is the result of a strong, long-term collaboration to build a more connected and scalable reservation ecosystem. By working closely together, we are expanding coverage across Europe, including smaller and regional carriers, and moving closer to our ambition of a seamless, one-ticket travel experience.”
The partnership also reinforces Interrail’s broader strategy to modernise its backend infrastructure and collaborate with forward-thinking technology providers. By investing in integrations and supporting partners in connecting to its ecosystem, Interrail continues to drive progress in making European rail travel more accessible, transparent, and easy to book.
Romain Ventanas, head of rail partnerships at Distribusion Technologies, shared his perspective: “Interrail has been instrumental in making cross-border train travel in Europe more accessible and attractive for decades. This partnership is a natural next step in supporting the continued shift from air and car to more sustainable modes of transport.”
He continued, “By bringing seat reservation and passholder fare content into our global marketplace, we can jointly open new markets and distribution opportunities for European carriers. This collaboration will also help retailers offer a more complete and user-friendly booking experience.”
By combining Interrail’s extensive network and distribution reach with Distribusion’s advanced technology platform, the partnership enhances the credibility of both organisations. It also paves the way for further expansion of reservation coverage across Europe and lays the foundation for future collaboration in distribution and other areas aimed at simplifying the customer journey.
Eurail B.V., the parent company of Interrail, helps unite travellers from around the world with the opportunity to experience borderless train travel across Europe.
With a Eurail or Interrail pass, travellers of all ages can use an expansive network of train and ferry connections to explore up to 33 countries. Eurail B.V. is owned by over 35 European railway and ferry companies and is based in Utrecht, the Netherlands. Eurail and Interrail passes are available through the eurail.com and interrail.eu web shops, as well as via a network of distributors.
Distribusion Technologies is the leading global technology company powering ground transportation distribution. Present in more than 70 countries, Distribusion connects the world’s largest inventory of transport operators – including rail, bus, airport transfer, and ferry providers – with the biggest travel retailing platforms worldwide.
Through its business-to-business marketplace and retailing platform for transport operators, Distribusion enables seamless access to multimodal travel content, including schedules, pricing, and ticketing. It also provides retailing tools that empower operators to resell their inventory, including passes. With advanced journey planning and interlining capabilities, Distribusion helps partners deliver more connected, end-to-end travel experiences while unlocking new revenue opportunities.
More on cross-border trains
- TGV inOui Brussels – Strasbourg – Basel from July 2027.
- RAIL BALTICA | Tallinn – Valga / Valka – Riga – Vilnius by train.
- SPAIN | Renfe suspends Paris high-speed project amid certification deadlock.
- Finland and Sweden to be linked by rail this summer.
- European Parliament rubberstamps new regulation to upgrade cross-border railway capacity coordination.
- GoVolta launches daily Amsterdam to Paris day train via Antwerp and Ghent, with tickets from €19.
- EUROPEAN SLEEPER | Brussels to Milan night train now via Antwerp, Breda and Eindhoven instead of Liège and Aachen.
- ÖBB NIGHTJET | New generation carriages to debut on Amsterdam–Zurich route in December 2026.
- 8.7 billion rail trips in Europe in 2024 as Switzerland leads and Belgium’s data remain unavailable.
- PASSENGER PACKAGE | Why the European Union’s new rail passenger package is proving so controversial.
- Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies unhappy with European Commission’s Passenger Package.
- NS will not run EuroCity trains to and from Eindhoven to Brussels.
- Deutsche Bahn, DSB and Vy present direct Berlin to Oslo route, from summer 2028.
- European Rail Passengers Union: EU must act now to make cross-border rail travel seamless, fair, and green: passengers demand guaranteed rights and simpler ticketing.
- NETHERLANDS | The Hague aims to become Europe’s gateway with direct links to Brussels, Berlin, and Paris.
- European Sleeper sets out vision for 40-route night train network across Europe, including London.
- RAIL BALTICA | Elron, Vivi, and LTG Link launch joint tender for regional trains.
- Trenitalia / FS Group advances Paris hub to power European high-speed expansion, looking at Belgium and the Netherlands in the long term.
- Train Charter Services replaces Keolis as operator for GoVolta trains.
- European Sleeper adds Aulnoye-Aymeries, Mons, and Liège-Guillemins to Paris-Brussels-Berlin night train service.
- DEUTSCHE BAHN | First ICE service to the Belgian North Sea coast, at Ostend, this summer.
- Brussels Airlines and Deutsche Bahn team up for Antwerp – Brussels Airport – Liège – Cologne ICE codeshare.
- Trenitalia unveils €2 billion investment plan and orders 74 new Frecciarossa high-speed trains.
- Belgium and the Netherlands work on Brussels to Eindhoven direct train, possibly via Antwerp.
- Belgian Mobility Minister wants to revive direct train service to Switzerland.
- NETHERLANDS | Arriva will not launch the Groningen to Paris service in 2026.
- Snälltåget to run Stockholm – Malmö – Copenhagen – Hamburg day trains from May 2026.
- Nox night trains: a smart new cabin concept or just an unachievable dream?.
- How firm are Eurostar and Deutsche Bahn’s “2030s” Germany to London train link plans?.
- Leo Express files plans for extraordinary 2026 Bratislava–Ostend and Venice–Northern Germany services.
- Rail should be functional, not fine art: EU leaders call for standardisation and lower costs.
- Subsidies for night trains? “You cannot fix this until someone builds more sleeper and couchette carriages”.
- Leo Express and Arenaways plan direct train between Prague and Venice.
- Italo targets the German high-speed rail market.
- Trenitalia eyes expansion into Germany’s high-speed trains market.
- European Commission wants to link all EU capitals by high-speed train by 2040… and that’s not going to happen.
- Travellers in Europe increasingly open to choosing trains over planes for short-haul journeys.
- REVIEW | European Sleeper night train.
- Paris Nightjet axed: France’s withdrawal threatens Europe’s night train revival.
- Iron Rhine gets renewed political attention in Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany.
- ÖBB prioritises Railjet over Nightjet: Is the night train revival a False Dawn?.
- EUROPEAN SLEEPER | Brussels to Barcelona night train to stop in Avignon, Montpellier, Narbonne, and Girona.
- Trenitalia, Deutsche Bahn and ÖBB launch Frecciarossa EuroCity trains linking Berlin, Munich, Milan, Rome and Naples.
- EU train travel report sees increase in cross-border passenger trains and easier bookings.
- Brussels to Luxembourg by train under 2 hours by 2030?.
- Eurostar and five more train operators joined the European Agreement on Journey Continuation.
- ÖBB’s new Nightjet sleeper cars accommodate solo travellers with Mini Cabins.
- EUROCITY EC-8 | Basel to Cologne in SBB’s Panoramic Car.
- REVIEW | Trenitalia Frecciarossa 1000 Paris – Milan in Business Executive.
- RAIL TOUR OF EUROPE | How easy is touring Europe by train?.
- Eight train connections between the Netherlands and Belgium by 2030?.
- REVIEW | ÖBB Nightjet Amsterdam – Zurich night train.
- Nightjet Vienna/Innsbruck to Brussels, or how we got thrown off the train in Aachen.
- Why the expensive ÖBB Nightjet is really not that expensive.
- Ticket Distribution: the failure of railways to sell themselves.
- To use night trains in Portugal and Spain or not?.
- Night trains in Europe.
- Low-cost, long-haul trains to conquer Europe?.
- Fly now before it’s taxed and consider using the train instead.
Channel Tunnel updates
- Switzerland – United Kingdom direct train moves closer as SBB-CFF-FFS, SNCF Voyageurs and Eurostar sign memorandum of understanding.
- A London-bound Eurostar terminal at Antwerp-Central? Highly unlikely!.
- Trenitalia (FS Group) and Certares agree strategic partnership to expand international high-speed rail operations.
- #CROSSCHANNELRAIL | Expanding UK-Europe train links most realistically leading to Switzerland.
- CHANNEL TUNNEL | Virgin Trains gains access to Temple Mills, ORR snubs links to Germany and Switzerland.
- Eurostar unveils €2 billion Alstom ‘Celestia’ fleet of double-decker sustainable trains.
- Gemini Trains partners with Uber for Stratford to France Channel Tunnel route.
- Eurostar and St. Pancras Highspeed back major station expansion to double capacity amid growing international demand.
- EUROSTAR | London – Frankfurt, London – Geneva and Amsterdam – Antwerp – Brussels – Geneva from 2030?.
- Alstom wants its double-decker trains to ride through Channel Tunnel.
- London St. Pancras Highspeed pledges financial support for cross-Channel rail services.
- London St Pancras Highspeed and Getlink aspire to to triple train services to France, Belgium and the Netherlands and add services to Germany and Switzerland.
- Heuro wants to operate high speeds trains between Amsterdam, Antwerp, Brussels, Paris and London from 2028.