VIA Rail expands global reach with AccesRail agreement

VIA Rail Canada has established an international partnership with the passenger rail carrier alliance company AccesRail.

The agreement extends VIA’s distribution reach to over 120,000 travel agencies around the world through AccesRail’s airline connectivity to Global Distribution Systems, which enable the integration of rail services into travel agents’ booking systems.

AccesRail offers passenger rail carriers a way to sell tickets through IATA-certified travel agents, by using their established airline booking systems. The integration of rail suppliers in the Global Distribution Systems will improve VIA Rail’s international sales by encouraging inter-modal transport, said a release from VIA.

This partnership is aligned with VIA Rail’s inter-modal strategy, initiated in 2010, which aims to make transport more efficient by increasing interconnectivity with other passenger carriers and multiplying travel options for customers.