SilverRail Technologies, the developer of the first global distribution platform specialising in passenger rail, has appointed Alain van West as Vice President Business Development. A specialist in international travel sales and distribution, van West was previously the Director of Large Market Sales at American Express.  His appointment comes at a time when SilverRail is undertaking a robust programme to sign on more train operating companies to its simplified rail ticketing system, SilverCore. 

SilverRail has already partnered with carriers in the UK, Germany, Spain, Sweden, Benelux, the US and Canada, allowing them to easily sell tickets via online travel agents and travel management companies. In his role, van West will forge commercial relationships with other carriers across the globe. “In the EU alone, the next 10 years will see more than $500 billion invested in the rail sector, making rail travel more and more attractive to consumers,” said van West. “To take advantage of this, rail carriers need to figure out how to make tickets easily available to passengers no matter where in the world they are, what language they speak and which currency they use. Purchasing rail tickets doesn’t need to be difficult and can be as easy as booking flights.”

SilverRail CEO, Aaron Gowell commented, “Alain has previous experience working on both sides of the supply and demand chain with prominent travel brands, including Eurostar, US Airways and British Airways as well as several Travel Management Companies including Carlson Wagonlit and BCD. These roles have given him a broad understanding of the travel market and put him in good stead to help SilverRail reach its goal of being the global rail ticketing platform.”

“With 60% of rail tickets still purchased at train stations, it is obvious that there has to be a simpler way for carriers to work with Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) and other rail networks to allow customers to purchase tickets alongside hotels and flights as well as arrange cross border travel,” added van West. “I’m really looking forward to signing up more rail companies and allowing them to have tickets available to passengers around the world.”