If you have a few kilometers left to your destination after getting off the train, you can now pick up a car right there.

Etihad Rail, in collaboration with the private company Thrifty Car Rental, has launched a new service called “Rail to Road” that allows passengers to rent a car from 80 to 200 AED for 24 hours at the Abu Dhabi and Fujairah stations.

An important point is that no deposit is required, fuel is prepaid, and 60 kilometers of driving is included in the rental cost. For longer distances, there is an option to purchase additional kilometers for a separate fee.

You don’t need to plan ahead to rent a car. Passengers can book before their trip, pick up a car upon arrival at the station, or even visit the station without prior reservation.

Cars are offered in three groups: from smaller models like Toyota Yaris and Hyundai Accent to larger vehicles and SUVs like Mazda CX-3 and Hyundai Creta. In the larger and premium vehicle group, models like Nissan Patrol, Audi A3, Jeep Wrangler, and Mazda CX-90 are included.

Rentals are calculated based on 24 hours and are not directly tied to the train's arrival or departure times; therefore, if travel plans change, passengers still have more flexibility.

Typically, the car is picked up at the destination station and returned there as well. However, there is an option to return the car at another Thrifty branch, which incurs a one-way fee.

Car rental is also integrated into the ticket purchasing process for Etihad Rail, allowing passengers to select the car rental option after purchasing their train ticket.

This five-year collaboration aims to create a fleet of about 500 cars, and Thrifty will invest over 10 million AED in fleet development, digital infrastructure, and customer experience. These services are expected to gradually expand across the network of 11 Etihad Rail passenger stations.

Source: Gulf Times