Situated near Romania’s border with Hungary, the Travel Centers of Europe lorry park is strategically located at the Orțișoara/Seceani exit on the A1 highway in Timiș County.
The lorry park includes a range of advanced safety and convenience features aimed at improving the security and comfort of drivers. It offers 24/7 security with trained personnel and extensive video surveillance through 160 cameras. The surveillance system also incorporates vehicle registration number recognition, providing an additional layer of security.
The lorry park provides 86 parking spots, including 13 spaces equipped with three-phase sockets for refrigerated vehicles. Additionally, it offers amenities such as restrooms, showers, washing machines, dryers, a restaurant, and a shop, which provide essential services for drivers during rest stops.
The facility is powered by wind-generated electricity, emphasising sustainability. It also has two electric vehicle charging points, each with a capacity of 185kW, located outside the secure area to support the transition to greener transport solutions.
Dekra Platinum certification indicates compliance with the highest European safety standards, confirming that the truck park meets stringent criteria for safety and security. This certification underlines the facility’s commitment to providing a safe and secure environment for truck drivers.
Ongoing lorry park shortage in Europe
Despite the success of the Romanian lorry park, the broader issue of parking space shortages across Europe remains a critical challenge. According to a 2019 European Commission study, there are 300,000 truck parking spaces available in the EU, falling short by 100,000 spaces to meet total demand. Moreover, less than 3% of these spaces, or approximately 7,000, are in certified safe and secure areas.
Efforts to address this shortage have seen some minor progress. In 2022, the European Union allocated EUR 750 million over three years to develop and upgrade safe and secure truck parking areas (SSTPAs). This funding aims to bridge the gap by creating new parking spaces, enhancing existing ones, and improving the dissemination of parking information, including availability, location, and pricing.
With the current budget set to expire in 2024, there is an urgent need for continued financial support, and therefore IRU calls on incoming EU political leadership to prioritise the continued financing of these crucial projects.