Tolls for Heavy Goods Vehicles for the Fréjus Tunnel

The Frejus mountain peak, standing at the height of 2,936 m, is not one of the famous peaks of the Cottian Alps, but the Frejus tunnel that cuts through the massif is an engineering marvel.

The nearly 13 km long highway tunnel that connects Modane (France) to Bardonecchia (Italy) is one of the major trans alpine transport routes between France and Italy. 

Many carriers, trucks, coaches, and other road professionals cross the Frejus Tunnel from Italy to France. It is being used for 80% of the commercial road traffic because it’s an efficient way to transport goods to France by trucks. This road crossing, which connects Savoie on the French side of the Alps to Piedmont on the Italian side, is a quick and convenient way for heavy goods vehicles to reach Italy without disrupting traffic. 

This article will discover the price of crossing the Fréjus Tunnel for heavy goods vehicles and the Easytrip Transport Services solution that allows hauliers to save money when crossing the Alps.

We will take a look at information and data that will help us to learn more about the Frejus Tunnel and crossing it with Heavy Goods Vehicles.

1. The Frejus RoadTunnel: A Brief history
2. Focus on the Italy-France Route
3. How long is the Frejus Tunnel?
4. Frejus Tunnel Management
5. Safety in the Frejus Tunnel
6. Frejus Tunnel Rules and Regulations
7. Exceptional Convoys, Dangerous Goods, and Oversized loads
8. Frejus Tunnel Fines
9. Frejus Tunnel Toll rates and how to pay the tolls
10. What Is the Price for Heavy Goods Vehicles over 3.5 T?
11. Crossing the Fréjus Tunnel with Easytrip Transport Services

The Frejus RoadTunnel: A Brief history

The Fréjus Road Tunnel is a road tunnel beneath the Alps, built to connect southern France and northern Italy. It was built from 1974 to 1980 and opened in July. It cost two billion francs (equivalent to €700 million at 2005 prices). It is the tenth longest road tunnel in the world.

The Frejus road tunnel project brought problems as well as benefits. The men working on it benefitted from the pneumatic drilling machine created by three engineers, but delays and accidents occurred anyway. Of the 4,000 workers on the project, 48 died while carrying out their duties. The media paid considerable attention to the Tunnel’s excavation.

In twenty years, the Tunnel saw over 20 million vehicles pass through it, providing a vital link between Italy and France.

Focus on the Italy-France Route

The Fréjus tunnel—which has two 3.55-meter-wide lanes of traffic—is made for heavy goods vehicles with a maximum height of 4.3 meters. The French and Italian portals of the Tunnel are at similar altitudes: 1,228 meters (4,000 feet) and 1,297 meters (4,264 feet) above sea level, respectively. The longitudinal profile has a grade of 0.54 percent in the direction from France to Italy.

The Frejus Tunnel is part of the E70 (also known as European route E15), connecting Modane, France, with Bardonneche, Italy. The Tunnel linking France and Italy begins at the French town of Modane-Avrieux and terminates near Bardonecchia in Italy. To enter from the French side, drivers must exit from A43 onto Route Nationale 148 (RN148). Drivers must take A32 to RN21B from the Italian side, accessible by A4 to Aosta, then A5 to Torino, then A32. 

Toll stations are located on both sides of the Tunnel and are run by different companies: Autostrada del Brennero on one side and Autoviello on the other.

How long is the Frejus Tunnel?

The Frejus Tunnel is 12.87 km long to be exact. The entrance to the Tunnel on the French side is 1,228 m above sea level. On the Italian side, it is at 1,298 m above sea level. Located at the junction of two major national and international trade routes between France and Italy, it is one of the main road routes for crossing the northern Alps.

Frejus Tunnel Management

The French section is managed by Société Française du Tunnel de la Maurienne (SFTRF), and the Italian section by Società Italiana delle Autostrade e Trafori (SITAF). The Tunnel is accessed from the Italian side by the A32 motorway or by SS335 from Oulx, which joins SS24 (“del Monginevro”). From the French side, it can be reached by the A43 autoroute (“l’Autoroute de la Maurienne”). A toll is charged to all traffic.

The Italian Central Control Facility (PCCI) manages tunnel operations. 

In case of a breakdown in the central control room, a backup one can be activated from the French side. The regulators/operators drive the safety equipment using various control screens and the Centralised Technical Management system.

Frejus Tunnel Toll rates and how to pay the tolls

The rates for both the Mont Bland and Frejus Alpine tunnels are revised every year on January 1. Tariffs are adjusted each year by applying to the current rate a percentage equal to the average of the inflation rates in the two countries in the previous year, plus any special supplements set by governments.

The toll provides funding for the teams charged with maintaining safety and quality of service and for investments to maintain and improve the condition of the two Franco-Italian Tunnels. Since 2005, toll rates have varied according to the class and Euro standard of the vehicle, the Tunnel crossed and its type (heavy goods vehicles – exceptional transport), and the direction of travel.

The tariffs for the same class and type of transit are different on the Italian and French sides due to varying tax rates in the countries involved: 22% IVA from Italy and 20% TVA from France.

Payment of tolls is possible with cash (Euro), credit cards from major banking networks (Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, Bancomat, Moneta), and smartphone payments (Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, Google Pay), or with Easytrip Transport Services.

Easytrip Transport Services: Fleet Management Services for Heavy Goods Vehicles travelling throughout Europe

Transport companies have a lot of challenges and needs and Easytrip Transport services have just the solutions that can ease your pain points and increase your fleets productivity.

Having an extensive portfolio along with our local and regional teams and major leading providers as partners, Easytrip Transport Services can make a significant impact in reducing your operating costs and fuel expenses. You can enjoy a competitive pricings and exceptional quality service to provide you and your drivers an optimal and consistent experience.

Our services at a glance:

• Toll payment services – Toll payment solutions both regional and multi-country, in over 30 countries in Europe (including non EU countries)
• VAT & Excise Refunds – Recovery of VAT in 30 countries (EU and non EU), and Excise duty refunds in 7 countries
• Fuel cards – the right card for your vehicle to use in over 35000 fuel stations across Europe combined with toll options

• Booking services on Ferries, Trains, and Tunnels – over 700 ferry routes in cluding intermodal, Tunnels of Montblanc and Frejus, Liefkenshoek, Kiltunnel and Westerschedlet, and the Scandinavia bridges of Oresund, Storebaelt and Fjordforbindelsen Fredrikssund.

• Posting of Drivers – comply to the latest mobility package rules and regulations and feel comfortable when stopped by road authorities
• Secure Parkings – Guarded parks in Italy, France, Spain and Portugal
• Telematics solutions – Track and monitor your fleets across Europe while knowing exactly the amount of kms travelled and fuel consumed.

With Easytrip Transport Services, there is always something for everyone. For those wishing to make use of one single service to transport companies willing to combine multiple services. We can handle everything while you can focus on your business.

Our goal is to ensure that your day to day journeys are smooth, effortless and cost efficient.

2023 Frejus Toll Rates for Heavy Goods Vehicles

To reach Italy from Savoie, the toll costs 145.45 euros for a one-way ticket. This price applies to two-axle vehicles with a height of more than 3 m. For larger vehicles (more than 3.5 T) with three or more axles that are over 3 m high, the price of this one-way crossing is 295 euros. 

Crossing the Fréjus Tunnel with Easytrip Transport Services

With Easytrip Transport Services solutions, category 3 or 4 vehicles (vehicles with two to three axles or more) can benefit from far more attractive fees than the conventional price. A one-way ticket via the Fréjus tunnel is worth 50% of the return trip price, giving you a 25% discount if you make this one-way crossing. What’s more, Easytrip Transport Services gives your transport company an end-of-year discount equivalent to a percentage of the total amount spent on tolls throughout the year!

Easytrip offers personalised service and makes it easier to book your crossings by providing you with access cards. The Fréjus and Mont Blanc cards are valid for both tunnels and can be delivered to a place convenient for you.

Gain access to a digitalized booking platform that grants you access to over 700 ferry lines and intermodal options on tunnels, trains and bridges. Your journey is always taken care of by Easytrip Transport Services.

Finally, you can benefit from a customer portal where your transactions and invoices are available in real-time 24 hours a day and seven days a week, with a hotline available seven days a week and order confirmations via SMS.

Using Easytrip Transport Services makes crossing the Fréjus Tunnel easy while saving you money. Are you a road haulier who regularly takes the Alpine tunnels? Don’t hesitate to check out the options available at Easytrip Transport Services: contact us.