Booking train tickets across global borders, just like securing airline flights
European Railways Aim to Streamline Ticket Purchasing with Open Sales and Distribution Model
Berlin — The European rail transportation market is set to experience a significant change from autumn 2025, as the German Railways (DB) plans to adopt the Open Sales and Distribution Model (OSDM).This initiative aims to consolidate the fragmented European rail system by facilitating a unified ticketing platform that allows customers to purchase tickets for cross-border journeys seamlessly. By the end of 2026, the DB plans to sell tickets from major railways of neighboring countries through their official website, bahn.de, and the DB Navigator app.
Michael Peterson, a board member of DB Long-Distance, shared that the international long-distance traffic is booming, with the year 2024 being the strongest in terms of growth in this area, recording a growth of 22% compared to the pre-COVID year of 2019. The state-owned company is constantly expanding its connections, such as the recent ICE direct connection between Berlin and Paris.
Currently, the system faces numerous issues when traveling by train in Europe. Matthias Gastel, a Green Party politician who has extensive experience dealing with railways, highlighted the lack of a truly integrated European rail network as a major problem. One of the primary concerns associated with the current system is the requirement for multiple separate tickets for cross-border journeys, which not only causes inconvenience but also makes it difficult for passengers to assert their rights in the event of missed connecting trains or other disruptions.
Additionally, there are technical challenges when crossing national borders which can affect power supply, signaling and safety technology, track width, and the language skills of train drivers.
The implementation of OSDM is expected to address many of these concerns by providing a standardized interface for European railways and ticket vendors to exchange their data. This will allow the DB to access the complete ticket portfolios of participating railways and vice versa. Initially, this will be applicable for the Austrian and Swiss federal railways (ÖBB and SBB) from autumn 2025, with more partners joining over time. The company anticipates that most of Europe will be covered by the end of next year, moving towards a more integrated and accessible railway system.
Despite these advancements, various challenges remain, such as infrastructure and coordination hurdles that could pose difficulties for new entrants and competitors like Flix. Additionally, the European Commission has also proposed legislation for standardized digital booking and ticketing services, which could potentially create additional regulatory hurdles for new entrants to navigate, especially if they need to comply with both OSDM and the new legislative standards.
At the same time, there is some concern about the European Commission introducing a different standard than OSDM, given the years of investment and effort that have gone into implementing the OSDM system. As a result, it remains crucial for the various stakeholders involved, including the DB and Flix, to collaborate and ensure a seamless transition towards a more integrated and efficient European railway network.
With the implementation of initiatives like OSDM, there is optimism that the European rail sector will move closer to offering travelers an easier and more convenient way to book complex journeys across multiple countries.
Technology plays a vital role in the streamlining of the European rail system, as the Open Sales and Distribution Model relies on it to facilitate a unified ticketing platform. The standardized interface for European railways and ticket vendors, enabled by technology, allows for the exchange of data, access to complete ticket portfolios, and a more integrated and accessible railway system.
