Uber is moving forward with its aim to become a “superapp” for travel.

The San Francisco-based company announced on Wednesday that it will expand its U.K. app this year to include trains, buses, airlines, and auto rentals. The move is part of a pilot programme that, if successful, might be expanded to other countries in the future.

While Uber will not supply these services, consumers will be able to book them through its app thanks to software partnerships with ticketing systems.

The tech behemoth, which may take a share of each booking, has stated that it will reveal a number of partners in the coming months.

The connections, according to Uber, would assist increase app usage among its customers in the United Kingdom, who also have the option of utilising applications like Bolt and Free Now. Outside of the United States, the United Kingdom is one of Uber’s most important markets.

Uber’s UK head, Jamie Heywood, said in a statement that the company aspires to be “a one-stop-shop for all your travel needs.”

“You have been able to book rides, bikes, boat services and scooters on the Uber app for a number of years, so adding trains and coaches is a natural progression,” he said.

 “Later this year we plan to incorporate flights, and in the future hotels, by integrating leading partners into the Uber app to create a seamless door-to-door travel experience,” he added.

Uber also intends to allow users to purchase Eurostar train tickets using its app. The Channel Tunnel allows passengers to travel from London to Paris and other places via Eurostar.

The statement comes on the heels of Uber’s recent victory.

Uber was granted a 30-month licence to operate in London on March 26, putting an end to a protracted legal struggle with municipal officials over whether the ride-hailing service was “fit and suitable.”

However, the company’s aspirations for a “superapp” are behind schedule.

Dara Khosrowshahi, the CEO of Uber, stated in 2018 that he wants to expand the app’s transportation alternatives.

“It’s fair to say that Covid made it a little bit hard for us to progress as quickly as we would like,” Heywood reportedly told The Financial Times.

Uber’s stock was down 1.6 percent to $34.40 in premarket trade on Wednesday at 6:40 a.m. ET.

(Adapted from Reuters.com)

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