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{{cleanup|reason=Large part of the text is based on press-releases and company data|date=March 2018}}
{{notability|Org|web portal/travel agency, what is the relevance to the encyclopedia?|date=June 2015}}

{{Infobox company
{{Infobox company
| name = Trainline EU
| name = Trainline Europe
⚫
| native_name =
⚫
| romanized_name =
⚫
| trading_name =
| logo =
| logo =
| logo_caption = Trainline EU Logo
| logo_caption =
| image =Trainline_EU_Logo.jpg
| image =
| image_caption =
| image_caption =
⚫
| trading_name =
⚫
| native_name =
⚫
| romanized_name =
| former_name = Capitaine Train<br/>Captain Train
| type =
| type =
| traded_as =
| traded_as =
⚫
| industry =
⚫
| genre = <!-- Only used with media and publishing companies -->
⚫
| fate =
| predecessor =
| predecessor =
| successor =
| successor =
| founder = Jean-Daniel Guyot, Martin Ottenwaelter, Valentin Surrel
| founder = Jean-Daniel Guyot, Martin Ottenwaelter, Valentin Surrel
| defunct = <!-- {{End date|YYYY|MM|DD}} -->
| defunct = <!-- {{End date|YYYY|MM|DD}} -->
⚫
| fate =
| area_served = Europe
| area_served = Europe
| key_people = Jean-Daniel Guyot (CEO); Daniel Beutler (COO)
| key_people = Matthias Mahr (President)
⚫
| industry =
⚫
| genre = <!-- Only used with media and publishing companies -->
| products = Train tickets
| products = Train tickets
| brands =
| brands = Trainline
| production =
| production =
| services = Online Travel Agency
| services = Online Travel Agency
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| assets =
| assets =
| equity =
| equity =
| owner =
| owner = [[Trainline]]
| num_employees = 60 (2016)
| num_employees =
| parent =
| parent =
| divisions =
| divisions =
| subsid =
| subsid =
⚫
| homepage = [https://www.trainline.eu www.trainline.eu]
| footnotes =
| footnotes =
| intl =
| intl =
⚫
| homepage = [https://www.thetrainline.com www.thetrainline.com]
| former_name =
| former type =
| former type =
| foundation = {{Start date|2009|05}}
| foundation = {{Start date|2009|05}}
| location_city = [[Paris]]
| location_city = Paris
| location_country = France
| location_country = France
| locations = <!-- Number of -->
| locations = <!-- Number of -->
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}}
}}


'''Trainline EU''' (previously ''Captain Train, Capitaine Train''<ref>“[https://blog.captaintrain.com/9306-deux-belles-annonces ''Notre nom prend l’Eurostar'']” on Captain Train’s blog</ref>) is a [[France|French]] [[online travel agency]] which provides a booking platform for purchasing train tickets in Europe. Through either its web interface or [[mobile app]]s, customers can purchase tickets for a variety of European rail operators: [[SNCF]] (including its subsidiaries [[Ouigo]], [[iDTGV]] and [[OUIBUS]]), [[Deutsche Bahn]] (except for [[CityNightLine]] trains), [[Renfe Operadora|Renfe]], [[Eurostar]], [[Thalys]], [[TGV Lyria|Lyria]], [[Trenitalia]], [[Nuovo Trasporto Viaggiatori|Italo]], [[Thello]], [[Trenord]] and [[HKX]], at the same price as if bought from the official website of each party, including recognition of applicable [[Loyalty program|loyalty card]]s or [[voucher]]s and with [[Electronic ticket|e-ticket]] support.
'''Trainline Europe''' (previously '''Captain Train''', '''Capitaine Train''') is the European arm of [[Trainline]], Europe's leading train and coach app.{{citation needed|date=March 2018}} Through either its web interface or [[mobile app]]s, customers can purchase tickets for a variety of European rail operators. It also has [[Loyalty program|loyalty card]]s or [[voucher]]s and with [[Electronic ticket|e-ticket]] support. In 2016, Captain Train was acquired by Trainline.

⚫
The company was founded in May 2009, after the SNCF's online service, [[Voyages-sncf.com]], was opened to resellers, with the purpose of providing the simplest possible interface, primarily for the purchase of train tickets, and without any advertising. For the first two years it was private and then invitation-only during [[beta testing]].<ref name="April 2011 communication">[http://www.captaintrain.com/media/cp/capitaine-train-02-04-2011-capitaine-train-beta.pdf Capitaine Train, la start-up qui révolutionne la vente de billets de train sur Internet], press communication of Captain Train, April 2nd, 2011</ref> The service was made publicly available in October 2012.<ref name=public>[http://blog.captaintrain.com/1765-ouverture Le site ouvre ses portes au public], on the [[blog]] of Captain Train, 8 October 2012</ref> At first it was accessible only through the [[web application]]; an app for [[iOS (Apple)|iOS]] became available in late October 2013,<ref name=Apple>[http://blog.captaintrain.com/3787-application-ios-iphone-capitaine-train-app-store L’application iPhone Capitaine Train est disponible sur l’App Store], On the company's blog, 30 October 30 2013</ref> and an [[Android (operating system)|Android]] app in March 2014.<ref name=Android>[http://blog.captaintrain.com/5885-capitaine-train-debarque-sur-android Capitaine Train débarque sur Android !], Captain Train's blog, 25 March 2014</ref><ref name="Gizmodo-Android">[http://www.gizmodo.fr/2014/03/25/capitaine-train-android.html L’application Capitaine Train est disponible sur Android], Gizmodo, 25 March 2014</ref> In 2015, the service reached approximately 1.3 million users.<ref>[https://blog.captaintrain.com/10947-a-look-back-2015-in-numbers A Look Back - 2015 in Numbers] on [https://blog.captaintrain.com/en/ Captain Train blog], 19 January 2016.</ref> In April 2016, the number reached 1.6 million.


== Service ==
== Service ==
The service requires the creation of a [[user account]], which allows tickets to be saved and pre-booked for a certain amount of time (without requiring payment).<ref>[http://faq.captaintrain.com/article/132-pre-book-tickets-and-pay-later Can I pre-book my tickets and pay later?], Captain Train Help Section, 20 January 2015</ref> It also stores applicable fare information (such as age and loyalty cards)<ref>[http://faq.captaintrain.com/article/34-can-i-use-my-rail-card How do I add my discount or rail card?], Captain Train Help Section, 12 March 2015</ref> in addition to preferences and patterns of travel (such as comfort class and frequently searched for destinations). The customer can then compare itineraries between any two stations served by the included railway services, and reserve, buy or cancel tickets. The service prefers e-tickets,<ref>[http://faq.captaintrain.com/article/134-receive-and-print-my-tickets How will I receive and print my tickets?] Captain Train Help Section, 7 May 2015</ref> where available, over traditional physical tickets. Any vouchers or [[coupon]]s offered by carriers are accepted for payment. Once a ticket is booked, it is saved in the user account which can be accessed via web interface or one of the service's respective apps.
The service does not require the creation of a [[user account]], but with an account, tickets can be saved and pre-booked for a certain amount of time (without requiring payment).<ref>[http://faq.captaintrain.com/article/132-pre-book-tickets-and-pay-later Can I pre-book my tickets and pay later?], Captain Train Help Section, 20 January 2015</ref> It also stores applicable fare information (such as age and loyalty cards)<ref>[http://faq.captaintrain.com/article/34-can-i-use-my-rail-card How do I add my discount or rail card?], Captain Train Help Section, 12 March 2015</ref> in addition to preferences and patterns of travel (such as comfort class and frequently searched for destinations). The customer can then compare itineraries between any two stations served by the included railway services, and reserve, buy or cancel tickets. The service prefers e-tickets,<ref>[http://faq.captaintrain.com/article/134-receive-and-print-my-tickets How will I receive and print my tickets?] Captain Train Help Section, 7 May 2015</ref> where available, over traditional physical tickets. Any vouchers or [[coupon]]s offered by carriers are accepted for payment. Once a ticket is booked, it is saved in the user account which can be accessed via web interface or one of the service's respective apps.


Captain Train can be accessed either via a web application, which is compatible with [[Tablet computer|tablet]] browsers (running either iOS or [[Android (operating system)|Android]]),<ref>[http://blog.captaintrain.com/2713-capitaine-train-ipad-tablettes-android Capitaine Train sur l’iPad et les tablettes Android], Captain Train blog, 30 April 2013</ref> or via apps for iOS or Android [[smartphone]]s.<ref name="Gizmodo-Android" />
Captain Train can be accessed either via a web application, which is compatible with [[Tablet computer|tablet]] browsers (running either iOS or [[Android (operating system)|Android]]),<ref>[http://blog.captaintrain.com/2713-capitaine-train-ipad-tablettes-android Capitaine Train sur l’iPad et les tablettes Android], Captain Train blog, 30 April 2013</ref> or via apps for iOS or Android [[smartphone]]s.<ref name="Gizmodo-Android" />


Captain Train covers the following railway companies: [[SNCF]] (including its subsidiaries [[Ouigo]], [[iDTGV]] and [[OUIBUS]]), [[Deutsche Bahn]], [[Renfe Operadora|Renfe]], [[Eurostar]], [[Thalys]], [[TGV Lyria|Lyria]], [[Trenitalia]], [[Nuovo Trasporto Viaggiatori|Italo]] and [[Thello]]. Its service therefore covers all of [[France]], [[Germany]], [[Italy]], [[Spain]] and extends into all neighbouring countries: [[the UK]], [[Belgium]], the [[Netherlands]], [[Luxembourg]], [[Denmark]], [[Sweden]], [[Poland]], the [[Czech Republic]], [[Hungary]], [[Austria]], [[Slovenia]], [[Switzerland]]. The service is available in French, English, German, Spanish and Italian.
Captain Train covers the following railway companies: [[SNCF]] (including its subsidiaries [[Ouigo]] and [[Ouibus]]), [[Deutsche Bahn]], [[Austrian Federal Railways|ÖBB]] including night trains under the [[Nightjet]] brand, [[Renfe Operadora|Renfe]], [[Eurostar]], [[Thalys]], [[TGV Lyria|Lyria]], [[Trenitalia]], [[Nuovo Trasporto Viaggiatori|Italo]], [[Thello]], [[Trenord]], [[WESTbahn]], and [[Leo Express]]. Its service therefore covers all of [[France]], [[Germany]], [[Italy]], [[Spain]] and extends into all neighbouring countries: the [[United Kingdom]], [[Belgium]], the [[Netherlands]], [[Luxembourg]], [[Denmark]], [[Sweden]], [[Poland]], the [[Czech Republic]], [[Hungary]], [[Austria]], [[Slovenia]], [[Switzerland]]. The service is available in French (including Swiss French), English (including British English and American English), German (including Austrian German and Swiss German), Spanish, Italian (including Swiss Italian), Portuguese (including European Portuguese and Brazilian Portuguese), Dutch, Danish, Swedish, and Norwegian.


Captain Train works through the carriers' own reservation systems for all searches and transactions; it acts strictly as an intermediary between them and passengers, and does not hold the tickets which it buys and resells. Prices are those charged by the carriers, with no added service charge; Captain Train receives a commission from the carrier on each ticket sale.
Captain Train works through the carriers' own reservation systems for all searches and transactions; it acts strictly as an intermediary between them and passengers, and does not hold the tickets which it buys and resells. Prices are those charged by the carriers, with no added service charge; Captain Train receives a commission from the carrier on each ticket sale.


== History ==
== History ==
⚫
Captain Train was created by three young engineers: Jean-Daniel Guyot, Martin Ottenwaelter and Valentin Surrel.<ref name="dosspress" /> Finding [[Oui.sncf|Voyages-sncf.com]] insufficiently intuitive to use, they aimed to create an easy-to-use, advertising-free ticket booking service.

⚫
Captain Train was created by three young engineers: Jean-Daniel Guyot, Martin Ottenwaelter and Valentin Surrel.<ref name="dosspress" /> Finding [[Voyages-sncf.com]] insufficiently intuitive to use, they aimed to create an easy-to-use, advertising-free ticket booking service.


On 5 February 2009, the French national [[competition regulator]], the [[Autorité de la concurrence]], found SNCF in breach of the code of commerce for unequal treatment of travel agencies and ordered the railway to pay {{formatnum:5000000}}&nbsp;[[euro]] in fines.<ref name="dosspress">[http://www.captaintrain.com/media/cp/capitaine-train-12-05-2012-capitaine-train-deutsche-bahn.pdf Capitaine Train signe avec la Deutsche Bahn], Press release, Captain Train, 14 May 2012</ref><ref>[http://www.autoritedelaconcurrence.fr/user/avisdec.php?numero=09d06 Décision du 5 février 2009 relative à des pratiques mises en œuvre par la SNCF et Expedia Inc. dans le secteur de la vente de voyages en ligne], [[Autorité de la concurrence]]</ref> This led to a relaxation of access requirements for the SNCF's reservation systems, and the project that became Captain Train was launched three days later, on 8 February.
On 5 February 2009, the French national [[competition regulator]], the [[Autorité de la concurrence]], found SNCF in breach of the code of commerce for unequal treatment of travel agencies and ordered the railway to pay {{formatnum:5000000}}&nbsp;[[euro]] in fines.<ref name="dosspress">[http://www.captaintrain.com/media/cp/capitaine-train-12-05-2012-capitaine-train-deutsche-bahn.pdf Capitaine Train signe avec la Deutsche Bahn], Press release, Captain Train, 14 May 2012</ref><ref>[http://www.autoritedelaconcurrence.fr/user/avisdec.php?numero=09d06 Décision du 5 février 2009 relative à des pratiques mises en œuvre par la SNCF et Expedia Inc. dans le secteur de la vente de voyages en ligne], [[Autorité de la concurrence]]</ref> This led to a relaxation of access requirements for the SNCF's reservation systems, and the project that became Captain Train was launched three days later, on 8 February.
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In May 2009, Elégantes Solutions SAS, later to be renamed Capitaine Train SAS, became licensed as a travel agency and began negotiations and testing to enable the necessary access to the SNCF reservation systems. A request for full access, including post-sale processing, was made in April 2010,<ref>[http://www.lechotouristique.com/article/voyages-sncf-une-agence-saisit-l-autorite-de-la-concurrence,20555 Voyages-sncf: une agence saisit l'Autorité de la concurrence], ''l'Écho touristique'', 3 June 2010</ref> but received no response. A contract for full access was finally signed in June 2010,<ref>[http://www.tourmag.com/Capitaine-Train-rame-pour-lancer-son-site-freinee-par-Voyages-SNCF_a39025.html "Capitaine Train" rame pour lancer son site, freinée par Voyages-SNCF], TourMaG.com, 7 June 2010</ref> after an update of [[Voyages-sncf.com]], and access became effective six weeks later, in mid-July.
In May 2009, Elégantes Solutions SAS, later to be renamed Capitaine Train SAS, became licensed as a travel agency and began negotiations and testing to enable the necessary access to the SNCF reservation systems. A request for full access, including post-sale processing, was made in April 2010,<ref>[http://www.lechotouristique.com/article/voyages-sncf-une-agence-saisit-l-autorite-de-la-concurrence,20555 Voyages-sncf: une agence saisit l'Autorité de la concurrence], ''l'Écho touristique'', 3 June 2010</ref> but received no response. A contract for full access was finally signed in June 2010,<ref>[http://www.tourmag.com/Capitaine-Train-rame-pour-lancer-son-site-freinee-par-Voyages-SNCF_a39025.html "Capitaine Train" rame pour lancer son site, freinée par Voyages-SNCF], TourMaG.com, 7 June 2010</ref> after an update of [[Voyages-sncf.com]], and access became effective six weeks later, in mid-July.


In October 2010 a closed [[beta testing|beta version]] was made available to the developers' family members. In March 2011, access became available by invitation only.<ref name="dosspress" /><ref name="communiqué avril 2011">[http://www.captaintrain.com/media/cp/capitaine-train-02-04-2011-capitaine-train-beta.pdf Capitaine Train, la start-up qui révolutionne la vente de billets de train sur Internet], Press release, Captain Train, 2 April 2011</ref>
In October 2010 a closed [[Beta testing|beta version]] was made available to the developers' family members. In March 2011, access became available by invitation only.<ref name="dosspress" /><ref name="communiqué avril 2011">[http://www.captaintrain.com/media/cp/capitaine-train-02-04-2011-capitaine-train-beta.pdf Capitaine Train, la start-up qui révolutionne la vente de billets de train sur Internet], Press release, Captain Train, 2 April 2011</ref>


Captain Train began selling [[iDTGV]] tickets in August 2011,<ref name="dosspress" /> [[Lunéa]] tickets in December 2011<ref>[http://blog.captaintrain.com/532-lunea Lunéa, les trains de nuit sur Capitaine Train], Captain Train blog, 19 December 2011</ref> and [[Deutsche Bahn]] tickets for travel in Germany and France in May 2012.
Captain Train began selling [[iDTGV]] tickets in August 2011,<ref name="dosspress" /> [[Lunéa]] tickets in December 2011<ref>[http://blog.captaintrain.com/532-lunea Lunéa, les trains de nuit sur Capitaine Train], Captain Train blog, 19 December 2011</ref> and [[Deutsche Bahn]] tickets for travel in Germany and France in May 2012.
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The company raised 1.4&nbsp;million euro in [[venture capital]] funds in February 2012, 2.5&nbsp;million euro in June 2013, and 5.5&nbsp;million euro in December 2014.<ref>[https://www.captaintrain.com/downloads/en/pr/capitaine-train-02-12-2014-capitaine-train-fundraising.pdf Capitaine Train Raises €5.5m to Accelerate Growth], Press release, Captain Train, 2 December 2014</ref>
The company raised 1.4&nbsp;million euro in [[venture capital]] funds in February 2012, 2.5&nbsp;million euro in June 2013, and 5.5&nbsp;million euro in December 2014.<ref>[https://www.captaintrain.com/downloads/en/pr/capitaine-train-02-12-2014-capitaine-train-fundraising.pdf Capitaine Train Raises €5.5m to Accelerate Growth], Press release, Captain Train, 2 December 2014</ref>


⚫
The service was made publicly available in October 2012. At first it was accessible only through the [[web application]]; an app for [[iOS (Apple)|iOS]] became available in late October 2013,<ref name=Apple>[http://blog.captaintrain.com/3787-application-ios-iphone-capitaine-train-app-store L’application iPhone Capitaine Train est disponible sur l’App Store], On the company's blog, 30 October 30 2013</ref> and an [[Android (operating system)|Android]] app in March 2014.<ref name=Android>[http://blog.captaintrain.com/5885-capitaine-train-debarque-sur-android Capitaine Train débarque sur Android !], Captain Train's blog, 25 March 2014</ref><ref name="Gizmodo-Android">[http://www.gizmodo.fr/2014/03/25/capitaine-train-android.html L’application Capitaine Train est disponible sur Android], Gizmodo, 25 March 2014</ref> In 2015, the service reached approximately 1.3 million users.<ref>[https://blog.captaintrain.com/10947-a-look-back-2015-in-numbers A Look Back - 2015 in Numbers] on [https://blog.captaintrain.com/en/ Captain Train blog], 19 January 2016.</ref> In April 2016, the number reached 1.6 million.
The service was made publicly available in October 2012.<ref name=public/> The [[iPhone]] app was released in October 2013 and the Android app in March 2014.<ref name=Apple/><ref name=Android/><ref name="Gizmodo-Android"/> In July 2014, Captain Train began selling [[Thello]] tickets and in October it also added the Italian rail operators, [[Trenitalia]] and [[Nuovo Trasporto Viaggiatori|Italo]] to its network coverage.


The service revised its management team at the end of 2014 and appointed Daniel Beutler as the new [[Chief operating officer|COO]].<ref>[https://blog.captaintrain.com/7964-futur-capitaine-train Le futur], Captain Train blog, 2 December 2014</ref>
The service revised its management team at the end of 2014 and appointed Daniel Beutler as the new [[Chief operating officer|COO]].<ref>[https://blog.captaintrain.com/7964-futur-capitaine-train Le futur], Captain Train blog, 2 December 2014</ref>


In July 2014, the company released an app for the [[Android Wear]] Watch, making it the first rail transport app to do so.<ref>[https://blog.captaintrain.com/7356-android-wear-train-tickets Android Wear: Capitaine Train on your wrist!], Captain Train blog, 31 July 2014</ref> In April 2015, the service also released an app for the [[Apple Watch]].<ref>[https://blog.captaintrain.com/8788-apple-watch Capitaine Train for Apple Watch], Captain Train blog, 24 April 2015</ref> In March 2016, the company was bought by the British company [[Trainline]].<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://social.techcrunch.com/2016/03/14/trainline-buys-captain-train-for-up-to-189m-to-expand-its-online-ticketing-platform-in-europe/|title = Trainline buys Captain Train for up to $189 million|last = Lunden|first = Ingrid|last2 = Dillet|first2 = Romain|website = TechCrunch|access-date = 2016-03-15}}</ref>
In July 2014, the company released an app for the [[Android Wear]] Watch, making it the first rail transport app to do so.<ref>[https://blog.captaintrain.com/7356-android-wear-train-tickets Android Wear: Capitaine Train on your wrist!], Captain Train blog, 31 July 2014</ref> In April 2015, the service also released an app for the [[Apple Watch]].<ref>[https://blog.captaintrain.com/8788-apple-watch Capitaine Train for Apple Watch], Captain Train blog, 24 April 2015</ref> In March 2016, the company was bought by the British company [[Trainline]].<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://techcrunch.com/2016/03/14/trainline-buys-captain-train-for-up-to-189m-to-expand-its-online-ticketing-platform-in-europe/|title = Trainline buys Captain Train for up to $189 million|last = Lunden|first = Ingrid|last2 = Dillet|first2 = Romain|website = TechCrunch|access-date = 2016-03-15}}</ref><ref>[https://www.thetrainline.com/news/captain-train-acquisition], Trainline Acquisition Press Release, 14 March 2016</ref>

From July 2018, Trainline sells tickets on behalf of 183 rail and coach companies.


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}

<!-- autres sources potentielles :
<!-- autres sources potentielles :
http://unvalidatedlearnings.com/post/53280937854/4-reasons-why-we-are-investing-in-capitaine-train
http://unvalidatedlearnings.com/post/53280937854/4-reasons-why-we-are-investing-in-capitaine-train
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== External links ==
== External links ==
{{Portal|Companies|Internet}}
{{Portal|Companies|Internet}}
*{{Official website|https://www.trainline.eu}}
*{{Official website|https://www.thetrainline.com}}

{{Kohlberg Kravis Roberts|state=collapsed}}


[[Category:Commerce websites]]
[[Category:Companies based in Paris]]
[[Category:French websites]]
[[Category:Kohlberg Kravis Roberts companies]]
[[Category:Internet companies of France]]
[[Category:Online retailers of France]]
[[Category:Travel agencies]]
[[Category:French companies established in 2009]]
[[Category:International rail transport retailers]]

Latest revision as of 12:02, 4 September 2024

Trainline Europe
FormerlyCapitaine Train
Captain Train
FoundedMay 2009 (2009-05)
FounderJean-Daniel Guyot, Martin Ottenwaelter, Valentin Surrel
Headquarters
Paris
,
France
Area served
Europe
Key people
Matthias Mahr (President)
ProductsTrain tickets
BrandsTrainline
ServicesOnline Travel Agency
Revenue22,931,315 Euro (2022) Edit this on Wikidata
−1,795,059 Euro (2022) Edit this on Wikidata
OwnerTrainline
Number of employees
51 (2022) Edit this on Wikidata
Websitewww.thetrainline.com

Trainline Europe (previously Captain Train, Capitaine Train) is the European arm of Trainline, Europe's leading train and coach app.[citation needed] Through either its web interface or mobile apps, customers can purchase tickets for a variety of European rail operators. It also has loyalty cards or vouchers and with e-ticket support. In 2016, Captain Train was acquired by Trainline.

Service

[edit]

The service does not require the creation of a user account, but with an account, tickets can be saved and pre-booked for a certain amount of time (without requiring payment).[1] It also stores applicable fare information (such as age and loyalty cards)[2] in addition to preferences and patterns of travel (such as comfort class and frequently searched for destinations). The customer can then compare itineraries between any two stations served by the included railway services, and reserve, buy or cancel tickets. The service prefers e-tickets,[3] where available, over traditional physical tickets. Any vouchers or coupons offered by carriers are accepted for payment. Once a ticket is booked, it is saved in the user account which can be accessed via web interface or one of the service's respective apps.

Captain Train can be accessed either via a web application, which is compatible with tablet browsers (running either iOS or Android),[4] or via apps for iOS or Android smartphones.[5]

Captain Train covers the following railway companies: SNCF (including its subsidiaries Ouigo and Ouibus), Deutsche Bahn, ÖBB including night trains under the Nightjet brand, Renfe, Eurostar, Thalys, Lyria, Trenitalia, Italo, Thello, Trenord, WESTbahn, and Leo Express. Its service therefore covers all of France, Germany, Italy, Spain and extends into all neighbouring countries: the United Kingdom, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Denmark, Sweden, Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Austria, Slovenia, Switzerland. The service is available in French (including Swiss French), English (including British English and American English), German (including Austrian German and Swiss German), Spanish, Italian (including Swiss Italian), Portuguese (including European Portuguese and Brazilian Portuguese), Dutch, Danish, Swedish, and Norwegian.

Captain Train works through the carriers' own reservation systems for all searches and transactions; it acts strictly as an intermediary between them and passengers, and does not hold the tickets which it buys and resells. Prices are those charged by the carriers, with no added service charge; Captain Train receives a commission from the carrier on each ticket sale.

History

[edit]

Captain Train was created by three young engineers: Jean-Daniel Guyot, Martin Ottenwaelter and Valentin Surrel.[6] Finding Voyages-sncf.com insufficiently intuitive to use, they aimed to create an easy-to-use, advertising-free ticket booking service.

On 5 February 2009, the French national competition regulator, the Autorité de la concurrence, found SNCF in breach of the code of commerce for unequal treatment of travel agencies and ordered the railway to pay 5,000,000 euro in fines.[6][7] This led to a relaxation of access requirements for the SNCF's reservation systems, and the project that became Captain Train was launched three days later, on 8 February.

In May 2009, Elégantes Solutions SAS, later to be renamed Capitaine Train SAS, became licensed as a travel agency and began negotiations and testing to enable the necessary access to the SNCF reservation systems. A request for full access, including post-sale processing, was made in April 2010,[8] but received no response. A contract for full access was finally signed in June 2010,[9] after an update of Voyages-sncf.com, and access became effective six weeks later, in mid-July.

In October 2010 a closed beta version was made available to the developers' family members. In March 2011, access became available by invitation only.[6][10]

Captain Train began selling iDTGV tickets in August 2011,[6] Lunéa tickets in December 2011[11] and Deutsche Bahn tickets for travel in Germany and France in May 2012.

The company raised 1.4 million euro in venture capital funds in February 2012, 2.5 million euro in June 2013, and 5.5 million euro in December 2014.[12]

The service was made publicly available in October 2012. At first it was accessible only through the web application; an app for iOS became available in late October 2013,[13] and an Android app in March 2014.[14][5] In 2015, the service reached approximately 1.3 million users.[15] In April 2016, the number reached 1.6 million.

The service revised its management team at the end of 2014 and appointed Daniel Beutler as the new COO.[16]

In July 2014, the company released an app for the Android Wear Watch, making it the first rail transport app to do so.[17] In April 2015, the service also released an app for the Apple Watch.[18] In March 2016, the company was bought by the British company Trainline.[19][20]

From July 2018, Trainline sells tickets on behalf of 183 rail and coach companies.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Can I pre-book my tickets and pay later?, Captain Train Help Section, 20 January 2015
  2. ^ How do I add my discount or rail card?, Captain Train Help Section, 12 March 2015
  3. ^ How will I receive and print my tickets? Captain Train Help Section, 7 May 2015
  4. ^ Capitaine Train sur l’iPad et les tablettes Android, Captain Train blog, 30 April 2013
  5. ^ a b L’application Capitaine Train est disponible sur Android, Gizmodo, 25 March 2014
  6. ^ a b c d Capitaine Train signe avec la Deutsche Bahn, Press release, Captain Train, 14 May 2012
  7. ^ Décision du 5 février 2009 relative à des pratiques mises en œuvre par la SNCF et Expedia Inc. dans le secteur de la vente de voyages en ligne, Autorité de la concurrence
  8. ^ Voyages-sncf: une agence saisit l'Autorité de la concurrence, l'Écho touristique, 3 June 2010
  9. ^ "Capitaine Train" rame pour lancer son site, freinée par Voyages-SNCF, TourMaG.com, 7 June 2010
  10. ^ Capitaine Train, la start-up qui révolutionne la vente de billets de train sur Internet, Press release, Captain Train, 2 April 2011
  11. ^ Lunéa, les trains de nuit sur Capitaine Train, Captain Train blog, 19 December 2011
  12. ^ Capitaine Train Raises €5.5m to Accelerate Growth, Press release, Captain Train, 2 December 2014
  13. ^ L’application iPhone Capitaine Train est disponible sur l’App Store, On the company's blog, 30 October 30 2013
  14. ^ Capitaine Train débarque sur Android !, Captain Train's blog, 25 March 2014
  15. ^ A Look Back - 2015 in Numbers on Captain Train blog, 19 January 2016.
  16. ^ Le futur, Captain Train blog, 2 December 2014
  17. ^ Android Wear: Capitaine Train on your wrist!, Captain Train blog, 31 July 2014
  18. ^ Capitaine Train for Apple Watch, Captain Train blog, 24 April 2015
  19. ^ Lunden, Ingrid; Dillet, Romain. "Trainline buys Captain Train for up to $189 million". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2016-03-15.
  20. ^ [1], Trainline Acquisition Press Release, 14 March 2016


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