We had the pleasure of speaking with Patrick Heuguet, an independent consultant closely affiliated with UIC (International Union of Railways), and a key contributor to the evolution of the Open Sales and Distribution Model (OSDM). OSDM is an open-source standard designed to simplify and modernize how rail services are sold and distributed.

With decades of experience in rail distribution from both third-party and industry perspectives, Patrick shared his thoughts about the challenges, transformations, and collaborative efforts shaping tomorrow’s rail travel.

Your journey into the rail and passenger distribution world started quite early. Could you walk us through your background?

Absolutely. My journey began in 1998 with Amadeus in France, where I was focused on optimizing distribution solutions for French travel agencies, especially those managing business travel. After seven formative years, I transitioned to Amadeus HQ to deepen my work with European railways. One of my standout experiences was enabling Eurostar to be sold through air distribution channels, mimicking airline retail models. That project really opened my eyes to how rail could innovate by looking at what airlines were doing.

From there, I collaborated with major operators like Deutsche Bahn and SBB to expand international distribution systems, eventually moving into standardization efforts at the European level. That’s where the story of OSDM began, in 2013.

You’ve observed the industry evolve first-hand. What major changes have defined this transformation?

The biggest catalyst has been liberalization and deregulation. Where once state-owned railways dominated their local markets, competition has forced them to rethink how they operate. We moved from monopolistic distribution structures to dynamic, multi-party ecosystems, demanding openness, flexibility, and responsiveness.

Before, distribution was rigid, either through in-house solutions or limited third-party setups. Now, dynamic pricing, merchandising, and interactive selling are key. This is where OSDM becomes essential. It enables rail operators to adapt and thrive in an increasingly competitive environment.

So, how does OSDM specifically address today’s distribution challenges?

OSDM is designed to standardize and modernize the interaction between distributors and railways. Think of it as the rail equivalent of the airline industry’s NDC (New Distribution Capacity). It provides a dynamic, real-time sales interface and supports new revenue management models like dynamic pricing and up-selling.

It also addresses interoperability across national borders, allowing new players to enter foreign markets without reinventing the wheel. And importantly, it avoids the risk of creating new monopolies by simplifying integration and expanding market access.

What makes testing environments/sandboxes essential to the success of OSDM?

The sandbox is more than just a testing environment, it’s a proving ground. It’s one thing to read specs and another to actually see how messages flow, how railways respond, and what real-world implementation feels like. With consistent behavior across all sandboxes, you quickly learn the ropes.

PAXONE Sandbox, Wiremind’s contribution, plays a vital role here. It aligns with others like Turnit, Benerail, Bileto, and Sqills, all working collaboratively to ensure interoperability and compliance with OSDM standards. I know that Wiremind is now providing an RMS and an inventory system, and having both working together will for sure enhance dynamic pricing capability. 

For those just beginning their OSDM journey, what would you recommend?

Start with the sandbox. It shows you a way by simplifying implementation and reinforces the idea that this standard is built for developers. Also, take advantage of open-source GitHub repositories, the community discussions, and the weekly technical calls hosted by UIC. The entry barrier is low, the support is extensive, and the community is welcoming.

Speaking of community, how accessible is this ecosystem for new participants?

Very accessible. Anyone from IT providers to railway operators can join the OSDM community. We have regular Friday morning architecture calls, GitHub issue tracking, and weekly test scenario development meetings. Participation is open to all who come with a spirit of collaboration.

Thanks to the Apache licensing model, the spec is completely open. You can find everything on osdm.io, from API specifications to test scenarios and tools for validation. Even newcomers can implement quickly and cost-effectively.

Looking ahead, what could the passenger experience look like if OSDM is widely adopted?

In one word, seamless. OSDM will allow passengers to access offers across borders, operators, and modes of transport within a unified experience. Imagine planning, booking, and managing your entire journey, whether it’s train, bus, or even multimodal connections, through a single interface, with personalized pricing and add-ons, just like airlines do today.

It’s a future where rail is as competitive, connected, and customer-friendly as air travel, and that’s what the OSDM is here to deliver.

Test PAXONE’s OSDM Sandbox

Want to shift gears and try adopting OSDM? Try out PAXONE’s OSDM Sandbox!

Our sandbox simulates real-life booking scenarios across a fictional West European network and supports end-to-end flows including search, booking, fulfillment, refund, and exchange.

If you would like to get a demo of PAXONE, reach out to our product experts here.