Etihad Rail passengers can now rent cars from Dh80 to Dh200 per day at selected stations, with fuel included, no security deposit and a standard 60km driving allowance.
The new Rail to Road service, offered through Thrifty Car Rental’s Flexy product, is designed to provide passengers with a convenient first- and last-mile transport option after arriving at their destination.
The service is currently available at Etihad Rail’s Abu Dhabi and Fujairah passenger stations.
No deposit and flexible booking
One of the key features of the service is that passengers do not have to provide a security deposit. Payment cards are tokenised for processing, according to Thrifty.
Travellers also do not need to make an advance reservation. Cars can be booked before a train journey, reserved after reaching the station or rented as a walk-in customer, subject to vehicle availability.
Each rental package includes prepaid fuel and 60km of driving. Customers who need to travel further can purchase additional mileage for an extra charge.
Rental periods are based on 24-hour bookings rather than being linked directly to train arrival or departure times, giving passengers greater flexibility if their travel plans change.
Three vehicle categories available
Thrifty’s initial offering includes three categories to suit different passenger needs and budgets.
Essential includes smaller vehicles such as the Toyota Yaris, Suzuki Baleno and Hyundai Accent.
Comfort offers larger sedans and compact SUVs, including models such as the Mazda CX-3, Hyundai Creta and Mazda 6.
Stretch is aimed at customers seeking larger or premium vehicles, with options including the Audi A3, Mazda CX-90, Jeep Cherokee, Nissan Patrol and Jeep Wrangler.
Can passengers return the car elsewhere?
The Rail to Road service is primarily designed for passengers to collect a vehicle at their arrival station and return it to the same location.
However, Thrifty also allows customers to return vehicles to other locations within its network for a nominal one-way rental fee. This provides additional flexibility for passengers whose onward journeys do not end near the original station.
Car rental integrated with Etihad Rail bookings
Car rental has been incorporated into the Etihad Rail booking process. After purchasing a train ticket, passengers can access an option to reserve a rental vehicle.
The companies are also working to make the digital booking experience more visible and straightforward for customers.
The Rail to Road initiative forms part of an exclusive five-year partnership between Etihad Rail and Thrifty aimed at improving first- and last-mile connectivity from passenger stations.
As part of the agreement, Thrifty plans to invest more than Dh10 million over five years in fleet expansion, digital infrastructure and customer experience.
An initial fleet of around 500 vehicles is planned, with the number expected to grow as passenger demand increases and the Etihad Rail passenger network expands.
The partnership also includes plans for digital kiosks and physical assistance desks across Etihad Rail’s 11 passenger stations, alongside booking options through the digital platforms of both companies.
A more connected rail journey
The Rail to Road service is designed to address one of the practical challenges faced by rail passengers: reaching their final destination after getting off the train.
By combining intercity rail travel with on-demand car rental, the service gives passengers another option for completing their journeys without having to arrange separate transport in advance.
With flexible booking, fuel included, no security deposit and vehicles available across multiple categories, the initiative could make rail travel more convenient for passengers travelling across the UAE.
SEO Title:
Slug:
Meta Description:
SEO Tags:
