Rail Europe goes full steam ahead on performance with an 8% higher acceptance rate

Rail Europe, the largest European train ticket seller, helps millions of travelers take unforgettable journeys each year. But it’s also on a journey of its own – to create a simpler, speedier, and more secure checkout for its customers and modernize its payments infrastructure. En route, Rail Europe brought Checkout.com on board, and they’ve already picked up an 8% acceptance rate boost.

“Our partnership with Checkout.com is designed to make purchasing tickets on our website and app truly smooth and secure. With 90 years of experience connecting travelers to Europe’s vast rail network, we continue to embrace technology that enhances the customer experience. Payments are at the heart of our business, and with Checkout.com, we’ve found a partner that delivers top-tier performance, so our customers can focus on what matters most for them: discovering Europe by train.” – Björn Bender, Executive Chairman and CEO at Rail Europe

Challenge: Clearing the signals for better acceptance 

As a travel business, Rail Europe thrives on an international customer base and seasonal peaks. But as global demand surged, its payments team ran into a few hurdles along the way. Its payments setup had difficulties keeping pace, leading to a low acceptance rate, occasional downtimes during peak season sales, and limited authorization data. The team encountered challenges balancing the demands of moving things forward while also integrating alternative payment methods.

Rail Europe is headquartered in France, but has strong customer bases in the US, UK, Australia, and the Middle East, among many others. With expansion front-of-mind, it needed a flexible, scalable partner to power cross-border payments for its B2C and B2B platforms in these regions. 

Solution: Payment methods, partnership, and protection

Rail Europe’s payments team, headed by Mohamed Aziz, decided to switch tracks and partner with Checkout.com as its primary payments provider. The team aimed to reduce downtime, expand payment options, and raise the business’s acceptance rate – all with more competitive pricing and integration flexibility. 

“The collaboration has been an exceptional, very hands-on approach that fosters a true sense of partnership. It feels like an extension of our own team, ensuring full alignment and a shared commitment to achieving our goals.” – Mohamed Aziz, Payment Manager, Rail Europe

The implementation included support for popular payment methods such as JCB, bringing familiarity and confidence to both domestic and international travelers. The ease of payment method integration helps Rail Europe better serve its customers based on their locale and payment preferences.

At the same time, Rail Europe introduced Fraud Detection Pro to reduce chargebacks and improve risk outcomes without compromising user experience. Checkout.com also worked with the team to revamp its 3DS strategy, boosting performance while keeping fraud low, even for users outside the EEA who aren’t bound by the SCA mandate. Together, they added a rule to check if the card’s issuing country requires 3DS.

“We provide the Rail Europe team with dedicated account and technical managers, frequent workshops, KPI reviews, and expert advice tailored to their strategy. We offer regular updates on scheme and fee changes to ensure they stay ahead of evolving requirements.” – Camille Piel, Account Manager, Checkout.com

Aziz recalled sending messages in the dedicated Slack channel for the two teams and receiving almost instant responses. “That’s when I really knew we’d backed a winning partnership.” 

Results: New destinations reached

Since switching to Checkout.com as its payments provider, Rail Europe has seen a significant improvement in its payments performance. 

• 8% acceptance rate uplift in 12 months for Rail Europe’s B2C and B2B platforms combined
• Chargeback rate reduced by 2.4 basis points
• Fraud rate reduced by 0.13 basis points 

As Rail Europe continues to expand its footprint, Checkout.com will support it at every stage with flexible infrastructure and exploration of new capabilities like Network Tokens. For Aziz and the team, that proactive support and hands-on approach is a key driver of the partnership’s success: “We know that, together, we’re staying on track for even better performance.” 

“Boosting our acceptance rate was a key strategic goal for us. Checkout.com helped us get there faster, with the right tools, insights, and a partner mindset.” – Oceanne Massoud, Head of Product Division, Rail Europe