Rio-Antirio Bridge: Reduction of crossing costs for everyday users – Refund from 1/1/23

The management of the concessionaire listened to the voices of the working daily users of the Rio – Antirio Bridge and the remarks of local bodies and the government, announcing yesterday the launch of a new discount product for category 2 passenger vehicles (passenger cars), aimed at users who they use the Bridge from 17 to 25 days a month.

For 44 passes, subscribers will be charged on a monthly basis 9.60 euros less than last year, i.e. the new monthly passes card, which will have the name “ergasiapass”, will cost approximately 232.96 euros, from 242.56 euros.
The new discount program will be available from April 1st, with registrations starting in March, following a new relevant announcement.

Money return

In fact, the company made it known that, to the subscribers who choose to sign up for the new discount program, GEFYRA SA will refund the difference that may arise between the costs incurred from January 1 to March 31, 2023 using the “GEFYRA” program e-Pass” and the costs they would have with the “ergasiapass” program for the same period and number of passes.

It should be noted that the price of the “GEFYRA e-Pass” program had increased since January 1 to 294.90 euros per month, causing user reactions. The relevant details will be communicated to them within the coming weeks.

Gefyra says in its announcement that, with this new initiative, which allows maintaining very significant commercial discounts for everyday users, it “continues its commitment to local mobility in Greece, while still providing the highest level of discounts among all motorways of the country. Finally, the company confirms once again, that even in the new changing environment, it keeps its commitment to find solutions specifically adapted to the needs of everyday users”.

Interventions

Gephyra’s move to increase the cost of the e-pass program by 22% since the beginning of the year caused reactions from groups of daily users, which were followed by interventions by the neighboring municipalities (Patra, Nafpaktos, Messolonghi) and the Regional Governor of Western Greece, Nektarios Farmakis, who sent a letter to the government.

The company’s announcement came a day after the statement of the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Kostas Karagiannis in the Parliament, who, in response to a topical question of the PASOK/KINAL MP Dimitris Konstantopoulos, spoke of a “failure” of the company that would be corrected, as the this move differs from the agreement that has been made with the rest of the highways to freeze increases.

They are asking for a bigger reduction

However, information from the “Peloponnisos” newspaper states that the workers who raised the matter, are positive about the development with the offer of Gephyra, but insist on a 60% reduction in the cost of crossing, given the difficult financial situation, by granting a nominal voucher per employee.

Renegotiation

The issue, however, does not seem to end here, as the bodies that met yesterday in Etoloakarnania raise the issue of renegotiation with Gefyra SA of all transit programs, given the passage of ten years and based on a relevant provision in the contract.

They are even asking the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport to take into account the workers’ proposal, according to which a 60% reduction in transit costs is needed, given the difficult economic situation, by granting a nominal voucher per worker.

It should be noted that the mayor of Patreon, Kostas Peletidis, has called his counterparts of Nafpaktos and Messolonghi, Vassilis Giza and Costas Lyros, to his office today at 1:00 p.m., for a first meeting to jointly deal with the issue.

Registration within March – Three programs

GEFYRA will develop the new program in the coming weeks with the aim of making the “ergasiapass” available to interested users from April 1st, with subscriber registrations starting in March.

The company will then have three discount programs for passenger cars (category 2):

1. The BRIDGE E-Pass for frequent users who cross the Bridge more than twice a month.

2. The E-pass “Aller Retour” which offers 2 crossings at a total cost of €14 (€7/crossing) provided that the return crossing is made within 4 hours of the original crossing.

3. The “workpass” which will focus on everyday users who use the Bridge on average 22 days a month:

-Providing cheaper crossings compared to the “GEFYRA E-Pass” program, for those who make between 34 and 51 crossings per month.

– If the subscriber makes 42 to 45 crossings per month, the total cost of crossings will be lower than in 2022 (€9.66 for 44 crossings).

-It is cheaper than the cost of the ferry for 36 to 51 crossings per month. For a total number of 44 crossings on a monthly basis, it is cheaper than the ferry by €53.10.

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