As part of the European Union's Community Customs Code, new security procedures known as the Import Control System (ICS) has come into effect as of 1 January 2011. ICS is the electronic security declaration management system for importing goods into the European Union customs territory.
14.01.2011

The Management of the Mont-Blanc Tunnel informs that owing to security exercise and continued maintenance work, the tunnel will be closed to traffic from 30 November, 22:00, to 1 December, 06:00, and from 14 December, 22:00, to 15 December, 01:00. Traffic in the tunnel will also be alternating from 21:45 to 06:00 on 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 November and on 1, 2, 3, 9, 10, 11, 15, 16, 17, 18 December 2009. 16.11.2009

Conftrasporto, Milan, has informed us that since 15 October 2009 and until 15 April 2010, driving restrictions have been enforced for Euro 0, Euro 1 and Euro 2 vehicles in the “A1 zone “of the Lombardy region, in particular in the Bergamo, Brescia Como, Cremona, Lecco, Lodi, Mantova, Milan, Pavia and Varese areas, from Monday to Friday (does not apply on public holidays falling on a week day), from 7h30 to 19h30. 16.11.2009

NLF, Oslo, has informed us that roadworks will be carried out in the Festning Tunnel, locatedon the E18 motorway, starting 24 October for approximately 6 months. The E18 is the motorway that goes through Oslo city centre. Traffic will be reduced to two lanes instead of three, in both directions. Therefore, drivers should be aware of: 16.11.2009

Cesmad Slovakia, Bratislava, has informed us that as of 1 January 2010, vehicles over 3.5t will no longer have to buy vignettes to drive on certain sections of motorways and trunk roads in Slovakia. Instead, a new electronic tolling system will come into force where the final toll rate will be calculated according to the vehicle’s weight, number of axles and type of engine. The new toll rate will vary from € 0.06 to € 0.21 per kilometre. Buses/coaches will have a special category. 16.11.2009

MKFE, Budapest, has informed us of a modification of the driving restrictions in

Hungary. Due to the national holiday on 20 August, driving will be restricted between the following dates and hours: 05.08.2009

ATMB, France, informs us that, owing to roadworks on the A40 in direction Mâcon - Chamonix, the traffic will be restricted on the slip road towards the Bardonnex customs (Switzerland) and on the access road n°13 (Saint Julien en Genevois) between 3 and 6 August 2009. Diversion signs will be posted. 05.08.2009

Cesmad Slovakia, Bratislava, has informed us that owing to roadworks, the crossing on the I/11 road, via the bridge in Svrčinovec/Čadca, located on the main northern road to the Czech Republic and Poland, is closed to freight and transit transports. Roadworks will last approximately 2 months. Members will be informed when the bridge reopens to traffic. 05.08.2009

GEIE-TMB and SFTRF have announced that owing to the economic crisis affecting the road transport industry, the increase in tariffs at the Mont Blanc and Fréjus tunnels that would normally come into force on 1 July 2009, will be postponed until 1 January 2010. 05.08.2009

CLC, Luxembourg, has informed us that as of 1 September 2009, compulsory transit routes will be enforced for trucks with a MPW of over 3.5t driving towards the industrial estates of Bettembourg, Dudelange, the Eurohub or the rail terminal. The routes will be signposted. They will start from the Livange intersection until the Bettembourg crossroad, in the direction of the border crossing point of Dudelange - Zoufftgen. 05.08.2009

TLN, Zoetmeer, has informed us that owing to renovation works, the Venlo border parking facilities (located on the A67 - E34 motorway, in the direction Germany - Netherlands) will be temporary closed from 1st September to 2nd December 2009. Once the renovation has been completed, there should be around 100 parking places. 05.08.2009

FBAA, Brussels, has informed us that owing to road works, the parking for coaches located on the Rue Cardinal Mercier (Brussels city centre) will be closed for at least 18 months. Therefore, the parking has been transferred to the Boulevard Pachéco. From 12 May, five places will be reserved for coaches on the rue de Loxum for the drop off of passengers only. Coaches must park in the parking area on the boulevard Pachéco afterwards. Starting on the same date (12 May), access to the Boulevard de l'Impératrice will be prohibited. 05.08.2009

UNTRR, Bucarest, has informed us that owing to road works on the DN6, the road section Strehaia – Drobeta Turnu Severin (from km 290 + 390 to km 337 + 825) will be prohibited for vehicles with a MPW of more than 3.5t, from 5 May until the end of the works. The following diversion routes may be used instead: 05.08.2009

The Management of the Mont-Blanc Tunnel informs that owing to security exercice and continued maintenance work, the tunnel will be closed to traffic from 8 June, 22:00, to 9 June, 06:00 and from 22 June, 22:00, to 23 June, 01:00. Please note that traffic in the tunnel will also be alternating from 21:45 to 06:00 on 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 14, 25, 26 27, 28 May; on 9, 10, 11, 15, 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25 June; on 20, 21, 22, 23 July and on 10 and 11 August 2009. 05.08.2009

In August 2009 DPD will offer the new express services to deliver cargo and parcels throughput Russia, including DPD 10:00 and DPD Avia Express. With the change of customer demand and the current state of the market DPD Russia replenished its service portfolio with a brand new service – DPD 10:00. This solution implies an express delivery of parcels and cargo by overland transport under the door-to-door principle before 10.00 a.m. on a certain day. The service is available within the affiliate network of DPD (over 1000 routes in total) which is secured by good financial guarantees. In May 2009 DPD tested DPD Avia Express in Russia. Within the period over 120 customers used the solution providing over 1400 deliveries. The company decided to extend the service from 25 routes to 40 routes. DPD Avia Express is a priority express delivery of parcels and cargo, as well as distribution of goods within one working day.
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Source: Logistic.ru
  05.08.2009

The automotive plant of Volkswagen in Kaluga resumes its work after planned collective holidays which started on 20 July.
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Source: Online Kaliningrad 05.08.2009

Avtoframos Moscow plant which manufactures Renault cars suspended the conveyor on 3 August for three weeks. All employees are sent on forced leave until 23 August. The decision on temporary suspension of production was taken due to low demand for cars. In 2009 the automotive plant has already halted the production twice, in January and May, after which the plant switched to two-shift work schedule.
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Source: Noviy Region   05.08.2009

On 3 August 2009 AvtoVAZ halted the conveyor until September. The decision was approved by the company’s management in order to increase the volume of production in accordance with the market demand and because of the necessity to cut costs and keep jobs. The order, which was approved by the management of the automotive plant, was adjusted with the trade union committee of AvtoVAZ. The employees will be paid two thirds of the salaries for the halt of production from 1-31 August 2009.
Source: Logistic.ru  05.08.2009

Japanese carmaker Toyota has suspended production at its plant near St. Petersburg until August 16 for planned employee vacations. All of the production line employees will be on vacation until mid-August because production is done on conveyors and it is more convenient when the employees take a collective vacation. Toyota's Shushary plant has already suspended operations twice this year due to weak car sales amid the global financial crisis. The plant closed for March 30-April 6 and May 1-11. During the closures, the company paid the workers two thirds of their salaries. The plant, which employs 750 workers and has a capacity of 20,000 cars per year, started manufacturing Camry cars in December 2007. Since the start of the year several car factories in Russia have temporarily suspended production amid weak sales due to the financial crisis. General Motors' plant in St. Petersburg closed its operations from July 1 through August 31.
Source: RIA Novosti 05.08.2009

The contract companies of Gazprom, which are building the railway Obskaya-Bovanenkovo, announced that the construction companies completed laying down the railway on the crossing of the Yamalsky Sanctuary (434-457 km). The construction companies used the low impact technologies in the construction project enabling them to minimize the impact of the construction project on environment. About 70 km of railway will be yet laid down to Bovanenkovo (525 km). The work is being realized on the route Yasaveto siding (438 km) – N23 siding (486 km), 439 km of railway is ballasted. Thus, the railway is being built according to the schedule. The access to Bovanenkovsky oil and gas condensate field will be built in early 2010.
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Source: Logistic.ru    05.08.2009

With the harsh business environment based on the quality modernization of products the nomenclature is constantly renewed, technical reequipment of plants has started, main funds are renewed enabling the company to supply high quality equipment to its major customers – Russian railways. One of the main tasks of the company is to improve the quality and increase the safety of products. The volume of certified products exceeded 85% in 2009. In 2009 Armavir Electromechanical Plant (an affiliate of Elteza) started production of new products for the railway and consumer goods, including portable modules Ets-TM, Ets-TM.P, portable module-based electric interlocking units, racks, safety road equipment, safety passage equipment, automated toll gate, stairway, alumina transformer, solar power plants for hot water supply based on solar panel, road barriers, training equipment for covered areas.
Source: Russian Transport Daily Report     05.08.2009

In July 2009 the loadings of Russian Railways (RZD) fell by 13% compared to July 2008. Since early 2009 the loadings fell by 21.7%, in July – 13%. Coal shipments grew by 7% in July 2009. Non-ferrous metal ore shipment increased by 0.7% in July 2009.
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Source: Russian Transport Daily Report
  05.08.2009

The net loss of Pevek Commercial Seaport (the Chukotka Autonomous Area) totaled 32.109 million rubles in the first half of 2009 which is 20% less than in the same period of 2008. Net loss increased 5 times in the second quarter of 2009 compared to the first quarter of 2009 which is due to seasonal activities of the port. (USD1 = RUB31.2424)
Source: Portnews News Agency 05.08.2009

Murmansk Fishing Seaport handled 18 000 tons of fish in July 2009 which is 1000 tons as mush as in the same period of 2008. In January-July 2009, the port handled 153 000 tons of fish which is 48 000 tons as much as in the same period of 2008.
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Source:  Russian Transport Daily Report 05.08.2009

A new Post-Panamax ship-to-shore (STS) container crane produced by Liebherr Container Cranes Ltd. was put into operation at NUTEP terminal (a joint venture of NCC and the Delo group) on the 31st July, 2009. This is the first STS container crane by the Ireland based LIEBHERR company ever shipped to Russia. The new STS design ensures protection against wind and seismic activity typical for the Novorossiysk harbour. The lattice frame construction of the boom, for instance, secures greater wind endurance of the crane and results in lower loads on the gantry rails. The crane was delivered to NUTEP in May as large unassembled prefabricated units and was erected at the terminal yard and transported to the berth in record-short time. The new LIEBHERR STS has an outreach of 46 m allowing it to handle vessels with up to 16 container rows across deck. The crane’s rail span is 15.24 m, safe working load is 50 t under spreader and theoretical productivity is 40-45 moves per hour.
Source: Russian Transport Daily Report 05.08.2009