Gett (formerly GetTaxi) will offer its users in select Israeli cities NIS 15 roundtrip fares to the local train station starting in November, the company announced on Tuesday.
The deal represents significant savings, as the base taxi fare in Israel is NIS 11. However, Gett has excluded several key cities from the Gett Train promotion, including Tel Aviv, Bnei Brak, Ramat Gan, Kfar Shmaryahu, and Givatayim.
The new service marks the end of the pilot program launched last year in a number of markets - including Rehovot, Ashdod, and Kfar Saba - that offered roundtrip rides to the train station.
The fixed fare will be in effect for all hours but does not include extra charges for luggage or a third passenger; the offer is valid for credit card customers who ordered a cab through the app and entered the train station as the destination.
Gett emphasized that the fleet servicing the new promotion will include only drivers interested in participating, with the company paying the difference between the fixed rate and the actual cost of the ride.
Gett Israel CEO Mark Oun said, "We are announcing an unprecedented endeavor, and its primary aims are to reduce road congestion by increasing rail traffic while reducing costs to make cabs a preferable alternative to using a private vehicle.
"The move will increase the usage of public transport and thus reduce the traffic jams, air pollution, and parking problems in our cities."
The solution offered by Gett presents an opportunity for people to leave their vehicles at home instead of filling the train stations' parking lots, but it would require more than just a promotion.
Most people choose to drive their car to work, or other destinations, rather than be at the mercy of the rail schedule. And even if customers use the promotion, if the final destination isn't close to the train station, the user has to pay much more than NIS 15 or use public transportation.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on October 27, 2015
© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2015