289 rest and service areas

The Group’s network has 202 rest areas and 98 service areas equipped with parking spaces and toilets.
On average, there is a rest area every 20 kilometres and a service area every 40 to 50 kilometres.
Each of the 202 service areas features a service station, and 68 of them have shops and catering facilities.

Some offer additional services, such as hotels (in 13 service areas), shops, outlets selling regional produce and ATMs. Certain services are provided free of charge in service and rest areas and in toll-plaza parking areas. These include compressed air for tyres, waste-removal pumps for caravans, relaxation trails, art exhibitions, play areas and picnic areas.

WiFi coverage is also being rolled out in the network’s fourteen largest service areas. Business travellers, in particular, are looking forward to the launch of this service, which will enable them to connect to the Internet during their journeys.

During the busiest periods (the summer and winter holidays), there are safety-related displays or activities in certain rest and service areas. These encourage motorists to take regular breaks incorporating fun and physical exercise, thereby making their journeys more pleasant.

The commercial establishments located in service areas are run under contract by specialist companies in line with specifications, rather than being operated directly by the Group.

The specifications notably define the procedure for calculating royalties, which include a flat-rate contribution to infrastructure expenses, an annual maintenance fee and another annual fee based on turnover. For service stations, the annual fee for fuel and lubricants is based on the sales volumes in litres, while the fee charges in respect of other goods is based on the turnover generated.