A major French toll motorway Autoroutes Paris-Rhin-Rhone (APRR) is suffering declines in traffic somewhat similar in scale to US tollroads. According to a report to the Australian Stock Exchange APRR's vehicle-km traveled declined to 4.54b in the December quarter of 2008 vs 4.73b in Dec Q 2007, a decline of 4.1%. Heavy goods (truck) traffic, 18% of the total, was down 10.5% Dec Q08 on previous corresponding period (pcp) and light vehicle traffic (cars) was only down 2.6%. Join discussion...

The consortium was chosen from a shortlist of four as ‘the most advantageous candidate in terms of meeting the criteria set out in the consultation documentation’. As well as leader TDF Group, the consortium includes Vinci Energie, Vinci Concessions, telecoms group SFR and finance partner AXA Investment Managers Paris. Join discussion...

VINCI’s consolidated revenue (1) for the first quarter of 2009 was €7.0 billion, down 2.6% compared with the same period in 2008. This change reflects a decrease in activity of -3.9% on a like-for-like basis, a 3.3% positive impact from external growth, and an unfavourable exchange rate fluctuation of -2.0%. In Contracting, revenue fell (-2.0% on an actual basis, -3.5% on a like-for-like basis) mainly due to poor weather conditions which affected progress on construction sites at the beginning of the year, especially road works. VINCI Concessions’ revenue decreased (-3.5% on a like-to-like basis, -4% on a constant consolidation scope basis) primarily due to the overall moderate fall in French motorway toll revenue in a continuation of the trend observed at the end of 2008. Join discussion...

Led by Bouygues, Bombardier and Véolia, the consortium also includes Colas, local architects and financial partners such as AXA and Société Générale. Tram'Tiss was preferred to the rival Run Ram consortium led by Vinci, Alstom and Caisse des Depôts et Consignations. Join discussion...