Eurostar and DB seek to solve through ticketing issue

EUROPE: Eurostar is working with Deutsche Bahn to resolve a ticketing system compatibility issue which will prevent the German national operator from selling through tickets between Germany and the UK.

Last year Eurostar awarded Dutch software company Sqills a contract to provide its S3 Passenger sales, distribution and reservation suite by early 2020.

On May 6 DB said the deployment of the new Eurostar ticketing system meant that through tickets would no longer be available from November 9, but it was working with Eurostar to develop a solution.

Eurostar confirmed to Railway Gazette International that it would unable to offer DB the ability to sell its London Spezial through fares while it transferred to the new sales system. However, a spokesman said ‘we are committed to this product range and are working with DB to resolve this’.

In the interim, the operator pointed out that passengers would be able to combine tickets from Eurostar and DB sales channels.