The Train Traveler

What The Train Traveler does

The Train Traveller is a privately held, small-scale Dutch travel agency founded in 2020 and based in Heeten, Netherlands, specializing in train-based travel across Europe. The company sells three core product lines: multi-destination train holidays and round trips (e.g., Norway in a Nutshell, Scotland, Geirangerfjord priced €699–€2,149 per person), short city break packages to European cities such as Paris, Lille, Lyon, and York (€299–€649 per person), and individual train tickets resold as an agency for most European railway operators at the same or lower price than competing online channels. It does not develop proprietary technology; instead it leverages existing rail and ferry booking infrastructure and integrates segments from ferry operators (P&O Ferries, DFDS Seaways, Fjord Line, Color Line, Hurtigruten) into combined train-plus-ferry packages. Ancillary services include Interrail pass booking, custom tailor-made itineraries, train-plus-rental-car packages, holiday home accommodations, and gift vouchers.

The business model is direct-to-consumer via thetraintraveller.nl and a self-service ticketing portal at tickets.thetraintraveller.nl, supplemented by a quote-request workflow for custom trips. Revenue is generated through one-time package sales priced per person, transaction-based ticket agency commissions, and per-booking fees (€25 booking fee, €10 STO Garant guarantee fee, with individual tickets carrying approximately €35 in fees per booking). The company is a member of VvKR (the Dutch Association of Small-Scale Travel Organizations) and affiliated with the STO Garant consumer protection scheme, which are regulatory prerequisites for selling package travel in the Netherlands. End customers are individual leisure travelers and small groups of up to six people, primarily based in the Netherlands and Belgium, seeking sustainable, lower-CO2 alternatives to flying for European city breaks and multi-destination rail tours; ticket inventory spans 23 European countries but the firm does not disclose transaction volumes, revenue, or funding.

Name

The Train Traveler

Legal name

The Train Traveller

Website

https://thetraintraveller.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Train Traveller is a small Dutch travel agency that packages and sells European train-based city breaks, multi-destination rail tours, and individual rail tickets as an agent for most European railway operators, primarily serving leisure travelers in the Netherlands and Belgium.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Travel Agency Services

NAICS

Travel Agencies (561510), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation (487)

SIC

Transportation Services (4700)

akta.pro primary industry

Rail Journey Package Tour Operators (THAKADAN)

Keywords

• Train travel packages
• European rail holidays
• City break packages
• Train ticket agency
• Multi-destination rail tours

Headquarters

HQ city

Heeten

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Revenue model

1. Package Tour Sales: The company sells pre-packaged train travel holidays and multi-day tours across Europe, combining train tickets, ferry crossings, and accommodation into complete travel packages at fixed per-person prices.
2. Train Ticket Agency Sales: Acts as an agency for most European railway companies. Train tickets are sold at the same price or less than other (online) sales channels. The company earns commissions on ticket sales as an authorized agent for multiple European rail operators.
3. Booking Fees and STO Garant: Separate booking fees (€25 per booking) and STO Garant guarantee scheme fee (€10) are charged on top of package prices. Individual tickets also carry a €35 per booking charge covering booking costs and guarantee scheme.
4. Custom / Tailor-Made Travel: Customers can request bespoke train travel packages ('reis op maat') assembled to their specific preferences, with pricing provided via quote.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Train Traveller is a small-scale Dutch travel organization that organizes and sells train-based city trips, multi-destination vacations, and round trips across Europe. The company acts as an agency for most European railway companies, selling individual train tickets at the same or lower prices than other online channels, and assembles packaged holidays combining train travel, ferry crossings, and hotel accommodation. It also offers tailor-made custom itineraries, Interrail passes, train-and-car combinations, and gift vouchers.

Product overview

The Train Traveller is a small-scale travel organization specializing in individual train journeys across Europe. The company operates primarily as a package holiday provider combining train tickets with accommodations, offering city trips, multi-destination tours, and round trips. Core products include Stedentrips (city break packages), Treinvakanties en rondreizen (train holidays and round trips), and Treintickets (individual ticket booking). Additional services include Interrail passes, Train and Rental Car packages, Holiday Homes, Custom Travel planning, and Gift Vouchers. The company acts as an agency for European railway companies and helps customers compose travel itineraries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Stedentrips (City Trips) Package holidays of 2-5 nights to European cities including return train travel and hotel with breakfast, for individual travelers and couples.
• Treinvakanties en rondreizen (Train Holidays and Round Trips) Multi-day and multi-destination train-based holiday packages across Europe, combining train tickets, ferry crossings, and accommodation for travelers seeking longer rail tours.
• Treintickets (Train Tickets) Agency-based sale of individual train tickets across European rail operators, offered at the same or lower prices than other online channels, with booking fees of approximately €35 per booking.
• Interrail Pass Booking Sale of Interrail passes for flexible multi-country train travel across Europe, offered through the company's travel agency.
• Reis op maat (Custom Travel) Tailor-made travel planning service in which the company assembles a customized train journey and package based on individual customer preferences, with pricing provided via quote.
• Trein en huurauto (Train and Rental Car) Holiday packages combining rail travel with rental car for flexible exploration of destinations, offered as a distinct multi-modal product.
• Cadeaubon (Gift Voucher) Gift voucher of a customizable amount redeemable against any The Train Traveller train travel experience, with a personal message and email delivery.
• Norway in a Nutshell A signature 8-12 day Norway package combining trains, ferries, the Kiel-Oslo route, the Hurtigruten Bergen-Ålesund coastal voyage, and hotels with breakfast.
• Schotland (Scotland Roundtrip) An 11-night multi-destination tour of Scotland by ferry, train, and bus, covering Edinburgh, Stirling, Inverness, Fort William, and Glasgow, with optional Jacobite steam train excursion.
• York met P&O Ferries City trip to York combining a P&O Ferries crossing from Rotterdam to Hull, the train from Hull to York, 2 nights of hotel accommodation, and ferry meals.
• Geirangerfjord Roundtrip A 9-17 day Norwegian roundtrip combining ferry from Hirtshals to Bergen, the Hurtigruten coastal voyage from Bergen to Ålesund, a Geirangerfjord ferry, the Trollstigen bus, trains, and hotels.
• Winter Norway Roundtrip An 11-day winter-season package tour through Norway including Hirtshals-Bergen ferry, Oslo-Kiel ferry, trains, and hotels with breakfast.

Quantifiable outcome

• Train travel produces significantly lower CO2 emissions than flying or driving, making it a more environmentally responsible choice

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• STO GarantcoreOthersThe Train Traveller is affiliated with the STO Garant guarantee scheme, a financial protection mechanism for package travel buyers in the Netherlands. STO Garant provides consumer protection and reimbursement guarantees for package holidays sold by affiliated travel organizations.
• VvKR (Vereniging van Kleinschalige Reisorganisaties)coreOthersThe company is a member of the Association of Small-Scale Travel Organizations (VvKR), a Dutch trade association for boutique and small-scale travel businesses. Membership signals credibility and specialization within the niche of small-scale European travel.
• P&O FerriescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorP&O Ferries provides ferry services between Rotterdam Europoort and Hull, used in package trips to York and other UK destinations. The Train Traveller integrates these ferry crossings into its package tour itineraries, handling booking as part of complete travel packages.
• DFDS SeawayscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDFDS Seaways provides ferry services between IJmuiden and Newcastle upon Tyne, used in Scotland and Lake District packages. The Train Traveller books ferry crossings as part of combined train+ferry holiday packages.
• Fjord LinecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFjord Line provides ferry services between Hirtshals and Bergen, used in Norway packages including the Geirangerfjord and Winter Norway roundtrips. The Train Traveller integrates these ferry crossings into its Norwegian rail+ferry holiday packages.
• Color LinecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorColor Line operates the Kiel–Oslo ferry route, used in Norway packages including Norway in a Nutshell and Winter Norway roundtrips. The Train Traveller incorporates these ferry crossings as key segments of its Scandinavian travel packages.
• HurtigrutencoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHurtigruten (the historic coastal express boat) is featured in Geirangerfjord packages, providing scenic coastal voyages from Bergen to Ålesund. The Train Traveller packages these Hurtigruten segments as premium experiences within its Norway offerings.
• European Rail Operators (General)coreTechnology or IntegrationThe Train Traveller acts as an agency for most European railway companies, selling train tickets through its platform. As a rail agency, the company has booking relationships with rail operators across Europe including NS (Netherlands), Eurostar, Deutsche Bahn, SNCB (Belgium), and many others, enabling it to sell tickets at competitive prices.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Lastminute.com: European OTA offering package holidays, flights, hotels, and increasingly rail/ground transport. Operates in the same Dutch/Belgian consumer market as The Train Traveller with a much broader product portfolio, though without rail-specialist curation.
• Booking.com: Global OTA dominant in accommodation but expanding into ground transport, rail, and attractions. While not primarily a rail specialist, its scale, brand, and existing traveler relationships could compress niche tour operators like The Train Traveller over time.
• Kiwi.com: Czech-based multi-modal online travel agency covering trains, buses, and flights across Europe. Overlaps with The Train Traveller in European train ticket sales but with much greater scale, proprietary tech, and brand recognition.
• Omio: Berlin-based multi-modal travel OTA offering train, bus, and flight bookings across Europe. Much larger and better-capitalized, but with significant overlap in the European train ticket market where The Train Traveller also competes as a reseller.
• Trainline: UK-headquartered leading European train and coach ticketing platform. Directly competes with The Train Traveller's ticket agency business, offering superior proprietary technology, mobile apps, and scale. Overlaps significantly in the NL/BE and UK rail ticket market.
• TUI Nederland: Europe's largest integrated travel group with a Dutch subsidiary offering package holidays. While TUI focuses primarily on flight+hotel packages, its scale, distribution, and brand recognition make it a comparable large incumbent in the broader Dutch travel market.

Others

• Eurail B.V. Official Interrail/Eurail pass operator owned by European rail companies. The Train Traveller sells Interrail passes as an agent; Eurail operates in an adjacent layer (pass issuer vs. package reseller). Both serve the multi-country European rail traveler.

Direct peers

• Railbookers: UK-based specialist tour operator offering rail-based package holidays across Europe, North America, and beyond. Operates a nearly identical business model to The Train Traveller: curated train + hotel + ferry packages sold DTC. Highly comparable in product, customer profile, and value proposition, though serving primarily UK customers.
• Rail Europe: Established European rail ticket and pass distributor (Eurail/Interrail affiliate), selling European train tickets and passes to North American and international travelers. Directly comparable agency business model with similar product portfolio (tickets, passes, packages).

Emerging players

• Byway (Byway Travel): UK-based flight-free travel company offering curated multi-destination holidays by train. Shares The Train Traveller's sustainability positioning and slow-travel philosophy, with comparable package structures (multiple legs, accommodation included) but serving UK customers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TTT_treinreizen
• Facebookfacebook.com/thetraintraveller
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-train-traveller

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Train Traveler