'Austrians only' toll row
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A NEW TOLL system announced by the Austrian authorities for some of their main transit routes has caused a storm of protest among international road transport organisations.
For the first time Austria has issued annual "season tickets" which are considerably cheaper. But only Austrian operators can buy them.
Foreign transport firms must continue to pay for each journey. The West German Goods Transport Federation claims this means its members who make regular runs to Italy are paying in the course of a year ten times as much as their Austrian competitors.
The routes covered by the annual passes are the motorway over the Brenner Pass, the Pyhn and Tauern motorways and the Arlberg Tunnel.
An annual pass for a threeaxle lorry 'costs DM316 (about £73.50) whereas one return journey over the Brenner costs almost £27.
The German federation has protested to Austria. A spokesman for the organisation said in Frankfurt: "We hope the British and all other foreign users of the Austrian motorways will back us.
SEAUNK has a new Freephone number for Eastern Docks, Dover: it is Freephone 3050. The service is designed for ro-ro drivers who anticipate arriving late and therefore wish to amend their booking or are unable to make the journey on the day or evening booked.