Uber users will be able to purchase Eurostar rail tickets from London to destinations including Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam, the company said in a statement on Wednesday. The Uber app will also automatically import trip plans from users’ email accounts so that bookings for dining and accommodation can be viewed in one place via a deal with Google’s Gmail service.
The move expands Uber Travel, which is already available in the US and Canada, to add long-distance trips. The San Francisco-based company, which is pushing to expand spending on its app to boost profitability, also rolled out the ability to book chartered shuttles and coaches earlier this year. On Tuesday, Uber reported that sales increased more than expected in the second quarter thanks to resilient consumer demand.
The Eurostar travel booking services will be offered via a partnership with German startup Omio, which provides a platform for booking trains, buses, flights and ferries. Selling train tickets on its app will bring Uber into competition with other ticket-booking companies, like London’s Trainline. During a summer when European air travel has been beleaguered by delays and labour shortages, Trainline is benefiting from a better-than-expected resurgence in rail passengers and tourism.