New partnership offers GTM customers greater flexibility and efficiency in rail travel

Focus Travel Partnership’s new collaboration with International Rail enhances Global Travel Management’s corporate rail travel offerings by providing seamless global rail bookings.

Focus has entered a strategic partnership with International Rail – a leading distributor of worldwide rail tickets and passes – making International Rail the preferred global rail technology provider for Focus Travel Partnership’s TMC Partners. This collaboration will grant Focus TMC Partners seamless access to comprehensive global rail bookings through International Rail’s 1track platform.

Focus Travel Partnership, an alliance of fifty-three independent travel management companies, is renowned for its innovative technology platforms, extensive service offerings and vast network of global travel suppliers. The partnership’s ability to offer cutting-edge travel solutions and substantial buying power makes the collaboration with International Rail an invaluable addition to its impressive technology ecosystem available to Global Travel Management.

International Rail provides tickets for over 66,000 point-to-point routes in Europe, alongside extensive rail coverage in North America, Japan, Asia, Australia, New Zealand and domestic UK travel. The company’s technology concentrates on speed and simplicity, to benefit rail operators, travel management companies and, crucially, Global Travel Management’s customers alike.

Paul Baker, Global Travel Management Sales Director said,

Global Travel Management customers demand and deserve the best possible service and the widest available range of travel options.  And many are increasing their requirements for rail travel, both at home and overseas.  

The agreement between Focus and International Rail offers means we can offer more services and more options to an already huge range of train services. 

So now, when a customer wants to include rail within a business trip, we’re in the best possible space to make that trip happen, smoothly, simply and at the best price

Tony Edge, Focus Travel Partnership’s award-winning Business Solutions Manager, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership,

We are delighted to bring this new solution to our TMC Partners. Through International Rail, [Focus] TMCs will now have access to seamlessly arranging rail travel across all key global areas. Through International Rail, all Focus TMC Partners can now offer a cost-effective, low time-consuming solution to their clients. Through the extensive content available, our Partners can now grow their rail offering overseas as well as being able to offer a more sustainable alternative to domestic flights internationally. After impressing both the Rail Steering Group and Focus Innovation Group, we felt International Rail was the right fit for our Partnership in line with our overall strategy.”

Caitlin Cornish, Commercial Director of International Rail, shared her excitement about the collaboration:

Joining the collaborative voice of the Focus Travel Partnership will be invaluable in making sure we shape the future of global business travel together. Smart innovation, responsive digital technology that is coupled with simplicity are at the forefront of our business and are the future of rail travel. Sharing insights, ideas, and feedback will provide the best possible experience for TMCs, tour operators, travel agents and their travellers, and the industry as a whole. Next year we celebrate three decades in the industry. We want to share the expertise we’ve developed over this time with our fellow Focus Travel partners while learning from their valuable experience too.

International Rail will explore how technology can facilitate the simplest, most efficient, and most cost-effective ways of managing rail travel requirements.

For further information on rail travel at home or overseas, please contact your Global Travel Management Account Manager.