Passengers can now make the final leg of their journey considerably easier
There is nothing quite like arriving somewhere by train, only to realise the place you actually need to be is nowhere near the station.
Enter Etihad Rail’s new Rail to Road service, which lets passengers rent a car straight from the Abu Dhabi and Fujairah stations.
Available through Thrifty Car Rental’s Flexy service, prices range from AED80 to AED200 per day, with fuel included, no security deposit and 60km of driving thrown in.
Additional mileage can be purchased if your plans involve rather more wandering than anticipated.
There is also no need to plan your rental weeks in advance. Passengers can book before travelling, arrange a car when they arrive or simply walk up and rent one, subject to availability.
Three vehicle categories are available. Essential covers smaller cars such as the Toyota Yaris, Baleno and Hyundai Accent, while Comfort steps things up with options including the Mazda CX-3, Hyundai Creta and Mazda 6.
For those who prefer something with a little more presence, Stretch includes models such as the Audi A3, Jeep Wrangler, Nissan Patrol and Mazda CX-90.
Rentals run in 24-hour periods rather than being tied to train schedules, so a delayed train does not have to throw your entire day into chaos.
Cars can also be returned to another Thrifty location for a nominal one-way fee.
The service is already integrated into the Etihad Rail booking journey, allowing passengers to add a rental car when booking their train ticket.
The five-year partnership between Etihad Rail and Thrifty will see more than AED10 million invested, with an initial fleet of around 500 vehicles planned across the network.
For further information, visit etihadrail.ae
