Global technology and distribution solution provider, Amadeus, has signed a partnership deal with Fujitsu Services to develop a new rail distribution service for the UK market.
Elgar is the current system used by travel agents and travel management companies to book Eurostar and UK domestic rail tickets. However, the joint Eurostar and ATOC (Association of Train Operating Companies) venture is to be decommissioned by the end of the year, as ATOC will no longer support the provision the product.
”There is a need in the market for an alternative solution before the Elgar booking platform is phased out,” Amadeus UK director of marketing Elaine Seeto (pictured) told ABTN. ”Through our partnership with Fujitsu, we are developing a UK rail booking and ticketing fully integrated solution which will be fully integrated into the GDS for the benefit of Amadeus agency customers.
”We are also looking into creating different flavours of the solution, such as rail web services that enable travel management companies (TMCs) to tailor make and build their own rail booking service, and adding UK domestic rail content to self-booking tools.
”In addition, we are working with Fujitsu to provide a stand alone rail booking solution that non-Amadeus agency customers can adopt and integrate into their own systems.”
Fujitsu currently supplies the Rail Journey Information Service (RJIS) and STAR ticket issuing system to train operating companies, and the new rail distribution solution is due for completion in the first quarter of 2008.