The BBC Top Gear Survey 05 is out and the Czech car manufacturer Škoda should be proud. In the UK satisfaction survey of over 76,000 Top Gear viewers and readers, Škoda was the second highest ranked manufacturer, tucked nicely between Lexus and Honda. On the overall list of cars, they had three listed in the top 10 (out of 159) - Superb (#4), Octavia (#5), and Fabia (#9) .

Starting on December 11, a new high-speed Pendolino train will begin service from Prague to Olomouc (and on to Ostrava). The trip will take under 2 1/2 hours, which is 45 minutes less than the current typical Prague-Olomouc travel time. The train will leave from the Prague Holešovice station with the only stop along the way in Pardubice.

Update November 10, 2005:
These new Pendolinos will be SC (SuperCity) trains. They will have only 1st class, non-smoking cars and will require a reservation.