‘Rail to Road’ Service Offers Three Vehicle Categories, With 24-Hour Rentals Designed to Fit Around Train Schedules.
Etihad Rail passengers can now rent cars for between Dh80 and Dh200 a day, with no security deposit, fuel included and a standard 60km allowance. The first- and last-mile rental service is available at Abu Dhabi and Fujairah stations.
The Rail to Road service, offered through Thrifty Car Rental’s Flexy product, is designed for passengers who need a car after arriving at their destination, providing a convenient option for completing their journey beyond the train station.
“Passengers will not have to worry about paying a security deposit or refuelling the vehicle before returning it,” Amit Kumar, General Manager at Thrifty Car Rental, said.
All packages include prepaid fuel and 60km of driving, while additional kilometres can be purchased for an extra fee. Thrifty is also offering an introductory deal for Etihad Rail passengers, although the company has not disclosed the details.
Rentals are charged in 24-hour periods rather than being linked directly to train arrival or departure times. This gives passengers greater flexibility if their travel plans change.
There are three rental categories:
- Essential: Hatchbacks and smaller sedans, including the Toyota Yaris, Baleno and Hyundai Accent.
- Comfort: Larger sedans and compact SUVs, such as the Mazda CX-3, Hyundai Creta and Mazda 6.
- Stretch: Larger and premium vehicles, including the Audi A3, Mazda CX-90, Jeep Cherokee, Nissan Patrol and Jeep Wrangler.
Walk-ins Allowed
Passengers are not required to pay a rental deposit. Instead, Thrifty tokenises the payment card for processing.
There is also no minimum advance-booking requirement. Travellers can reserve a vehicle before their journey, book after arriving at the station or simply walk in and rent a car.
“There is no minimum time limit for booking the cars. The customer can book well in advance or at the station itself. We also have an adequate number of cars available for walk-in customers as well,” Kumar said.
Can You Return the Car Somewhere Else?
The service is primarily designed for passengers to collect a vehicle at their arrival station, use it for the onward journey and return it to the same location.
However, customers can choose to return the vehicle at another Thrifty branch for a nominal one-way fee.
“Based on the current user experience, we have seen most customers returning the cars at the station from where they hired it,” Kumar said. “However, Thrifty does permit users to return the car to any of its wide network of locations at a nominal one-way rental fee.”
How to Book
Car rental is integrated into the Etihad Rail booking process. After purchasing a train ticket, passengers can choose to add a rental car to their journey, Kumar said.
“This entire journey is going through further enhancements to make it a lot more visible and simple for the customers.”
The Rail to Road service is part of an exclusive five-year partnership between Etihad Rail and Thrifty, aimed at providing first- and last-mile transport from passenger stations.
As part of the agreement, Thrifty plans to invest more than Dh10 million over five years in expanding its fleet, developing digital infrastructure and improving the customer experience. The initial fleet is expected to comprise around 500 vehicles, with scope to expand as passenger demand and the rail network grow.
The partnership also includes plans for digital kiosks and physical assistance desks across Etihad Rail’s 11 passenger stations, alongside booking options through Etihad Rail and Thrifty’s digital platforms.
Kumar said the initial investment will focus on self-checkout facilities and streamlining the digital booking process, while the fleet will be expanded in line with demand.
