Etihad Airways has expanded its relationship with AccesRail, the world's largest manufacturer of air-rail intermodal solutions.

The relationship enables Etihad to use AccesRail's experience to allow its travelers to reserve train and coach tickets in Europe following their airfare through the airline's online booking portal or their travel agent, according to a report released on Tuesday.

Using the airline's 'EY' code, Etihad guests will link to and from foreign flights to rail routes run by major European rail companies. It comprises an extensive network of seven rail routes from Frankfurt Main Airport on Germany's Deutsche Bahn.

The relationship with AccesRail has also been expanded to cover 16 locations westbound from London Heathrow on Great Western Railway, and, subject to final government approval, to 28 cities across Italy on Trenitalia, the country's main rail operator.

In addition, National Express will run additional inter-city coach operations in the United Kingdom to 28 major British cities and towns from London Heathrow and five from Manchester Airport.

"This is a remarkable item, which offers convenient rail or coach connections at some of our main gateways in Europe, enabling consumers to begin their Etihad journey from multiple domestic points with the best rates possible, together on the same schedule and ticket," said Ali Saleh, Vice President, Alliances and Partnerships at Etihad Airways.

"As we strive to customize the customer experience in-flight by offering more options and greater customization, we actively seek out strategic relationships that will reflect this on this ground, delivering options and incentives to the many that chose to fly with us in Europe. We hope to extend our relationship with AccesRail to more continents in the immediate future."

Etihad Airways has a related deal with France's SNCF, offering codeshare services to 20 locations on the French domestic railway system from its Paris hub.

AccesRail's Vice President of Business Development, Andrew Popescu, stated: "We are thrilled to be expanding our Etihad-AccesRail partnership and look forward to working with Etihad on the international scale in the future. Etihad would be able to offer its travelers more places and options in the future thanks to this expanded AccesRail relationship."

AccesRail, based in Montreal, has already been in service for more than 20 years and is available on several global distribution systems, GDS, and collaborating with significant rail agencies in Europe the United States, Canada, Korea, and Japan, allowing passengers to book and buy air and rail journeys on the same travel plans.