Trip.com expands global rail vision at ITB Berlin 2026 | Focus
Alvaro Ungurean, Commercial Director Europe – International Train, Trip.com Group
Bee ITB Berlin 2026, Trip.com Group highlighted its growing ambitions in the European rail sector Alvaro Ungurean, commercial director for Europe at the company’s international train divisionoutlining how the global travel platform is working to simplify cross-border train travel and seamlessly integrate train services into the wider digital travel ecosystem.
Speaking to Breaking Travel News at the event, Ungurean explained that rail is becoming an increasingly important pillar of Trip.com’s strategy as travelers look for convenient and sustainable alternatives to short-haul flights across Europe.
Trip.com’s international rail business focuses on connecting rail operators with travelers around the world through a single digital platform. By integrating train tickets with flights, accommodation and experiences, the company aims to offer travelers a more unified booking journey.
Ungurean said the company’s aim is to make international train travel easier to access and book through a single digital platform, integrating train services alongside flights, hotels and experiences.
Bridging the fragmented railway landscape in Europe
The European rail sector is highly decentralized, with multiple national operators, ticketing systems and distribution channels. For travelers, this fragmentation often makes it difficult to compare routes, access international connections or book tickets through a single interface.
Trip.com’s strategy is to simplify this process by collecting trail content and integrating it into its global travel platform.
Ungurean noted that the company is working closely with rail operators, technology partners and distribution platforms to improve connectivity and scale up international rail distribution. His role focuses on building partnerships and expanding rail availability in Trip.com’s international markets.
By bringing rail inventory to a global digital marketplace, the platform offers travelers – especially those from Asia and other long-haul markets – access to European rail travel that would otherwise be difficult to book.
The railway as part of the integrated travel journey
Ungurean emphasized that rail should not be seen as a standalone product, but as part of a broader travel journey.
Trip.com’s platform integrates rail alongside flights, hotels, attractions and local transportation, allowing travelers to create complete itineraries in one ecosystem. This integrated approach reflects a broader shift in the travel industry towards end-to-end booking platforms that combine multiple modes of transport.
Trip.com Group operates several global travel brands, including Trip.com, Ctrip, Skyscanner And Qunar—connecting millions of travelers to travel services around the world through a digital marketplace of travel products and partners.
By including rail in this ecosystem, the company hopes to improve the visibility and accessibility of train travel for international users.
Growing demand for train travel
Demand for train travel has grown significantly in recent years, driven by a combination of sustainability considerations, convenience and improvements in high-speed rail networks across Europe.
Ungurean noted that travelers are increasingly seeing rail as an attractive option for medium-distance travel, especially between major European cities, where trains can compete with air travel in terms of total travel time.
Digital platforms such as Trip.com also play an important role in promoting rail as part of multimodal travel itineraries, especially for international travelers unfamiliar with local rail networks.
Europe as a strategic growth market
Europe represents an important growth market for Trip.com’s international operations. The company continues to strengthen partnerships with transportation providers and tourism organizations across the region as it expands its presence.
For Ungurean, the focus is on improving distribution and making rail products globally accessible, allowing travelers from markets such as Asia Pacific and North America to plan complex multi-city trips across Europe with greater ease.
By connecting fragmented rail networks to global digital demand, Trip.com aims to position rail as a core component of future travel itineraries.
Looking ahead
As travel technology evolves, rail integration into global travel platforms is expected to accelerate. Digital distribution, improved data connectivity and partnerships between travel platforms and transport companies are all likely to change the way travelers plan their trips across multiple modes of transport.
Ungurean believes that simplifying train booking and integrating it into wider travel platforms will be key to unlocking the full potential of international rail travel.
For Trip.com, the long-term vision is clear: to create a seamless travel ecosystem where flights, trains, hotels and experiences can be effortlessly booked in one place, so travelers can move around the world with more flexibility and ease.
