Olympia Odos opens a service station for heavy vehicles on the Athens-Patras motorway

• The station offers 45 safe and secure parking spaces
• It also offers a full range of services to ensure comfortable short stops or overnight stays for professional drivers.
• This initiative is boosting the dynamic growth of the logistics sector in Greece.

Olympia Odos, the Concessionaire of the Elefsina-Korinthos-Patras-Pyrgos motorway, inaugurated a new parking area for heavy vehicles at the Akrata Motorist Service Station today, in the presence of the Minister of Infrastructure & Transport, Mr. Christos Dimas. The station is located 70 km from the port of Patras and 156 km from Athens. This initiative improves the safety and comfort of heavy vehicle drivers and enhances the efficiency of freight transport in Greece. The Olympia Odos motorway connects two major international freight hubs, the port of Patras and the port of Piraeus, and handles over 7.8 million heavy vehicles a year. 

The new service station, which covers an area of approximately 15,000 m², has a capacity of 45 heavy vehicles. A system of 34 cameras enables 24/7 surveillance of the station, thereby creating a safe environment for parking heavy vehicles. This allows drivers to rest without worrying about theft of their cargo. To ensure optimal quality of service for drivers, whether staying overnight or taking a short break, Olympia Odos has created a friendly rest area offering free Wi-Fi, a vending machine for drinks and snacks, and restrooms with showers. Drivers also have access to the existing services offered by the Akrata Motorist Service Station, which is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. These services include a gas station, an Autogrill restaurant, and a mini market. 

The Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Christos Dimas, has made the following statement: “The new model station inaugurated today offers professional drivers the opportunity to park safely and take their necessary breaks.  

Professional drivers work in particularly demanding conditions, and this station is a project that contributes to their own safety as well as to road safety in general.

Furthermore, the collaboration between Olympia Odos and the European Union demonstrates that when there is a plan, consistency, and vision, resources are transformed into high-quality infrastructure with an immediate positive impact on local communities.

I would like to congratulate Olympia Odos for this great investment and its initiatives that respect people and the environment, as evidenced by the network of photovoltaic parks in Kiato, Korinthia.   

This is a road axis of strategic importance, which in a few days will be completed with the opening to traffic of the 10 km section near Patras.

This safe and modern motorway connects Athens, Elefsina, Korinthos, Patras, and Pyrgos. 

The Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport will continue to support initiatives that enhance road safety, facilitate transport, and, above all, serve professional drivers who use the motorway on a daily basis.”

Mr. Panayiotis Papanikolas, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Olympia Odos, made the following statement: "The new Motorist Service Station represents a significant advancement in our ambitious strategy to provide quality services. Transportation services and safety, as well as the distance-based tolling system implemented exclusively by Olympia Odos for professionals and individuals since 2022. A comprehensive approach to transport cost management that aligns with modern freight transport requirements, including efficiency, competitiveness, and contribution to sustainability goals." 

Truck drivers can access the Akrata Heavy Vehicle Service Station via the Olympia Odos motorway at the Akrata MSS, heading in the direction of Patras. Payment is accepted via card or cash at the automatic payment machines.

The construction of this new service station is the result of a cooperative effort between Olympia Odos and the European Union, facilitated by the Innovation and Networks Executive Agency (INEA) and the Connecting Europe Facility. The total investment amounts to €2.5 million. The new service station has been designed to meet high environmental standards, including an energy-efficient Class A building, heating and cooling networks, and solar-powered hot water production for use in its sanitary facilities. In the coming months, Olympia Odos will continue to enhance the station by introducing new services, including state-of-the-art equipment for refrigerated trucks and a mobile phone application for booking parking spaces.

Watch the video about Safe & Secure Motorist Service Station in Akrata here:
https://youtu.be/yXdBKfll6CY?si=tjfthS9enE4sjJ1k