This article brings up the term of Global Distribution System (GDS) as a system that has been primarily designed and created to distribute airline content. It shows some current integration solutions of rail and airline systems and points out the areas where parties may encounter various challenges trying to build such integration on a larger scale. On the other hand the article presents the comparison of rail and airline offers available to travelers, who, in the era of high speed and super comfortable trains are facing with the choice of means of transport. As an example of initiatives towards integration, the article discusses some recently signed global distribution agreements between European rail companies and leading representatives of GDS. This kind of cooperation will allow rail owners to distribute their offer through the existing GDS sales channels. This, in turn, will allow the owners of high speed trains to draw on new market segments whilst expanding distribution beyond its traditional channels, developing its presence in such strategic markets as Central Europe, North America and Asia. This innovative solution will provide travel agencies with greater ease and flexibility when selecting and booking a travel and, as a result, rail customers will be able to enjoy a more convenient booking and railway line operation that will satisfy the needs of modern travellers.
