Trainline has increased its presence in Spain by purchasing online train and bus booking platform Trenes.com.
Barcelona-based Trenes.com, which was set up in 2014, sold train and bus tickets to more than 350,000 customers last year. Financial terms of the deal with Trainline were not disclosed.
Trainline said it would “enhance” the Trenes.com platform following the acquisition by providing a “more seamless ticketing experience while amplifying choice for customers”.
Pedro Garcia, Trainline’s EU general manager, said: “The Spanish rail market is leading the way in the liberalisation of European rail, which is driving growth and delivering greater accessibility and variety of service for customers.
“Trenes.com and Trainline are united in the same mission: to facilitate access to the best travel options at competitive prices, driving more people to choose the sustainable option of rail travel.”
Pere Sallent Costajussà, co-founder and CEO of Trenes.com, added: “I’m immensely proud of the business we have built and the customers we serve. I am very excited about its next leg of growth as part of the broader Trainline business, helping expand the brand’s reach so that it can help more people to book their rail and bus travel.”
Trainline’s acquisition of Trenes.com is subject to receiving clearance from Spain’s competition regulator, with the deal expected to close in the “coming weeks”, according to a statement from the companies.
In a separate move, Trainline has promoted Mike Hyde to the expanded role of chief technology officer. Hyde was previously chief data officer at the company and will now oversee both the technology and data teams at Trainline.
The firm has also recruited Nina de Souza as chief product officer – she joins Trainline from TBAuctions, which is a B2B auction marketplace for used industrial goods.