KDS, the First Distribution Partner of the French Railways, SNCF, for Business Travelers’ Railways Services

Paris, France - September 17, 2002 – KDS, a leading global provider of web-based business travel e-procurement solutions, announces that its customers will be able to book their train tickets online, just as they do for plane tickets, car rentals or hotel rooms, thanks to its close partnership with SNCF, the French railways company.

In March 2001, KDS signed its first partnership with SNCF to provide its users with a unique multi-modal feature: the display of airlines (schedule-availabilities-prices) and train information (schedule-availabilities) on the same screen.

With the present agreement, KDS is to provide companies with access to the SNCF fares as well as with an easy and friendly way to book both plane and train tickets, by the end of the year. Either travel agencies or SNCF departments will process train ticket fulfillment and delivery to travelers.

« Providing our customers with a greater independence towards their travel suppliers has continuously been a key strategic focus for KDS. We are now proud to be the first self-booking tool chosen by SNCF to provide our customers with a real comparison and a very homogenous service between train and air, » explains Moncef Khanfir, KDS President.

« SNCF is delighted to work with KDS in order to provide its business customers more and more simplicity and efficiency, » adds Cécile Queille, director of SNCF.