» At frontal station and per direction based on total length of zone to which it belongs.
» At the lateral exit stations, depending on the length traveled from the beginning of the zone to which the station belongs to the station, while at the lateral entry stations according to the length the user will travel from the toll station to the end of the zone.
The system is designed so that under no circumstances is it possible for a driver who pays a toll at a frontal station to pay again at a side station in the same zone, on the same journey. Correspondingly, in no case is it possible for a driver who pays a toll at a lateral station to pay at a frontal or another lateral station of the same zone in the same journey. The price at each frontal station is calculated from the kilometer distance of influence multiplied by 0.04 euros for I.X. (at 1/1/2003 prices). The price of 0.04 euros per kilometer is adjusted annually on 1/1u of each year with the Consumer Price Index of September of the previous year and currently amounts to approximately 0.06 euros to which is added the corresponding VAT of 24%, i.e. approximately 0.07 euros per kilometer. At the side stations the charge is essentially per kilometer. In the frontals, the length of each zone is involved.
The rumored change of charging to full mileage requires the installation of a closed system, i.e. the construction and operation of side toll stations at all entrances and exits, with the user taking a “card” or being recorded electronically at the entrance and with the payment being made at the exit . The construction of such a closed system, such as the Italian highways, “stumbles” on the obligation on the part of the State to compensate the cost of construction and operation of a large number of stations and consequently on the change of the existing legislative framework and the contracts of the lending banks. After all, the highways were built in our country, as in others, with the perspective of moving goods and individuals from city to city and not from village to village.
More recently and due to the escalation of prices due to the war in Ukraine, the increase in toll prices was mandated – based on a contract – a fee that, in addition to the fee of the concessionaire, includes direct and indirect taxes of the State. It is recalled that during the period of recession and stagnant inflation in Greece in the last decade, there was also a reduction in toll prices, even though the CPI was negative (about 0.01 euro reduction of some tolls!).
It is common knowledge that in order to maintain the quality characteristics of any modern highway, permanent investments are required.
The tolls are therefore paid for the operation and maintenance of the highways as well as for the repayment of the loans of the consortiums, while for the individual there is also a single digit IRR (return on equity).
It is readily apparent that concessionaires are sometimes bound by loan agreements that are repaid on the basis of the concession agreement. However, if the state decides for political reasons in an area, such as e.g. Thessaly, for social reasons to impose a reduction in toll prices, then must compensate the concessionaires since the banks and the State control the course of the contracts in real time.
The model of concession contracts followed by Greece is similar to that of France and the same logic is applied to tolls. In Europe there are the principles of the “user pays principle” (the user pays as in Greece and France) but also of “the polluter pays” (he who pollutes pays).
The Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport reached an agreement with the concessionaires at the beginning of December after many months of negotiations and a delay of almost a year for the 12% increase in 2023. Thus, an increase in toll prices that reached an average of 7.6% and which was set effective from 1 January 2024.
In fact, this is the first of three overall interventions in the context of the overall restructuring of prices, as a 2% increase per year above inflation will have the equivalent of tolls in 2025 and 2026. It is worth noting that in addition to the provision for change in tolls based on the Consumer Price Index which is explicitly mentioned in the concession contracts, the main cost sources for the maintenance and operation of a highway include energy costs, fuel, maintenance materials which have increased significantly due to the war.
At 33.55 euros (from 31.35) the journey Athens-Thessaloniki
Today, after the implementation of the new fees, the journey by I.X. from Athens to Thessaloniki includes a toll cost of up to 33.55 euros, compared to 31.35 euros that was valid until the end of 2023.
» From Athens to Patras drivers should now count €12.50 for the toll from €11.80.
» From Athens to Ioannina the cost of the tolls, which also includes crossing the Rio-Antirrio bridge, which now costs 14.60 euros, is 40.90 euros from 38.25 euros.
» From Athens to Kalamata the cost of tolls has been set at 15.00 euros, while until 31/12/2023 it was 13.95 euros.
» The cost for Athens-Thebes it amounts to 5.20 euros, i.e. 3.55 for the front station of Afidnon and 1.65 for the side station of Thebes.
» The cost for Athens-Lamia it is 13.80 euros as 4.15 euros (Tragana) and 1.90 euros to Agia Triada are added to the 7.75 euros to Thebes.
» The cost for Athens-Larissa it reaches 23.85 euros as after Lamia the frontal charges in Mavromandila (2.05 euros), Pelasgia (3.70 euros) and Moschohori (4.30 euros) are added.
In 2024, many European countries will increase the price of tolls. In some of them, the payment systems are also going to change. For example, France and Croatia will implement new systems that allow fully electronic payment of tolls.
» CROATIA: This year an electronic toll payment system will be introduced in Croatia. This system will allow all transponder-equipped vehicles (e-Pass) to pass while automatically scanning the vehicle’s license plates to record offenders and toll payments will be made electronically. This is expected to help avoid traffic congestion on major roads.
» GERMANY: Tolls are levied on a 51,000km network only on trucks currently weighing 7.5 tonnes, but from next year they intend to lower the limit to 3.5 tonnes. In addition, in 2024 the road tax for trucks in Germany will be 200 euros more expensive per tonne of CO2 gas compared to this year. Trucks emitting a high percentage of CO2 gases are subject to higher tolls, however, from next year, higher taxes will also apply to 3.5 tonne trucks.
» FRANCE: The Alsace region of France currently has no tolls. However, a kilometer-based road tax will be introduced for trucks from 2024, but it is not yet clear which tariff will apply to each category. In addition, free-flow toll technology has recently been implemented for vehicles equipped with an electronic transceiver on the Normandy motorway. Vehicles already registered with the system and equipped with a transceiver will automatically pay the toll through a special platform, while drivers who are not registered as regular users will be able to pay the toll electronically or by phone. This will help avoid traffic jams on the busy highway.
» SPAIN: From 2024, Spain plans to convert all motorways into toll roads. It is not yet clear whether the amount of taxes will depend on the category of trucks, the number of kilometers driven or other factors. It is likely that a flat fee will be imposed on all roads, but it is not clear what tariff will apply to different motorways.
” NETHERLANDS: From 2024 tolls will be introduced on the Blankenburg motorway connecting the A15 and A20 and on the new ViA15 motorway connecting the A15 and A12 in the Netherlands. These tolls will be temporary and will only last until 2030. Prices have yet to be decided, but it is likely that the rate applied for all trucks will be €7.94 on both roads.
It is also expected that vignettes will be removed and truck tolls will be introduced on some roads in 2026. These tolls will apply to all vehicles weighing more than 3.5 tonnes. Prices will depend on how many kilometers the truck has traveled, how much the vehicle weighs and what class it belongs to.
» DENMARK: From 2025, a kilometer-based road tax will be introduced for heavy vehicles, the rates of which will depend on how much CO2 gas they emit. This tax will affect trucks that run on gasoline and diesel the most. Drivers of zero-emission trucks will pay DKK 0.2 per kilometer, while drivers of gasoline or diesel trucks will pay DKK 1.3 per kilometer. This tax will apply to trucks weighing 12 tonnes and over and from 2027 it will also apply to smaller trucks.
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