More than 1.36 billion passengers are expected to use the long-distance rail network in 2020, according to the study "The Rail Journey to 2020" recently published by Amadeus. The growth in traffic - 21%, some 238 million more than in 2011 - would be linked to the dynamism of four key markets: the United Kingdom, France, Switzerland and Germany. This is due to a number of key factors, in particular the liberalisation of the rail sector, which has encouraged an increase in supply with the arrival of new players. Infrastructure improvements, both in terms of new high-speed lines and new hubs, also explain this boom in long-distance rail, to which Amadeux intends to contribute. The specialist in technological solutions dedicated to the world of travel has already signed a number of agreements with the main players in the European rail sector - including SNCF, Eurostar, Thalys, Lyria, Trenitalia and SJ - and is warning: "Other major European railway companies are set to join them", according to Thomas Drexler, Director of Amadeus Rail.
