Online travel agent ebookers has announced a partnership with SilverRail Technologies to offer domestic and international rail holiday ideas on its websites.

ebookers plans to offer stand-alone rail as well as packaged rail journeys including hotels and other travel products.

The service is due to go live on all 12 ebookers’ European websites in 2012.

ebookers’ rail search and booking will be powered by SilverCore, a global rail platform developed by SilverRail Technologies.

SilverCore removes the complexity of selling global rail, which has, until now, prevented travel agents from selling train tickets online.

SilverRail has built an integrated rail API that pulls in direct supplier connections, and standardises the search, booking and fulfilment process.

It enables access to global rail irrespective of operators, geographies and currencies.

“Rail is fast becoming a popular mode of travel and we are excited by the prospect of being able to offer it to our customers across Europe,” said Tamer Tamar, president, ebookers.

He added, “SilverRail has been able to solve issues around various complex rail ticketing systems, and the addition of rail to our product portfolio enhances our ‘book easier. travel happier’ value proposition.”

ebookers will have access to all of SilverRail’s global connections, which currently include the UK, US, Canada, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.

Additional rail operators across Europe will be added in time.

“Everyone is talking about rail as the way forward, yet none of the major online travel agents are able to sell it,” commented Aaron Gowell, chief executive and co-founder of SilverRail Technologies.

“There are a few one-off solutions that integrate a single rail operator, but this will be the first time multiple rail operators in multiple countries will be available through a single search.”