Skift Take
GoEuro and Rome2rio have two totally different approaches to multi-modal, but share the same goal -- to capture the European multi-modal market share. Given the complexity of searching for and booking very diverse forms of transportation, it makes sense for companies in a mobile era to lean toward becoming booking sites.
Melbourne-based multi-modal platform Rome2rio is set to go head-to-head with European competitor GoEuro by launching on-site bookings.
While GoEuro already accepts some bookings directly through its website, Rome2rio has let customers search their air, bus, rail and car rental options, for example, and then referred users to partner sites to complete the booking. After testing the waters in mid-2016 with a SilverRail partnership, which introduced on-site rail bookings in the UK, Rome2rio is now transitioning into becoming a booking site, including for flights, starting next month and into 2017. Its SilverRail partnership has already extended to include Amtrak.
The idea behind multi-modal is to enable travelers to search for door-to-door transportation and not just airport to airport, for instance, which is often the norm.
While both multi-modal platforms will now be fighting for the same market share, the strategy and business approach behind the two companies is totally different.
VC and Funding
In early October GoEuro announced a $70 million funding round, bringing their total raised capital to $145 million. Naren Shaam, founder and CEO, tells Skift the company will be investing the proceeds in expansion throughout Europe, hoping to offer a seamless mobile ex
