Transportinfo.org.uk - today's transport news in the uk, hand picked for you each morning

Monday, 21 December 2020

BBC News

• Covid: Border police patrols to double after travel banMore officers are deployed but there are no plans for checkpoints or road blocks.
• Covid-19: Boris Johnson to chair emergency meeting amid travel bansAs countries across Europe and the world stop UK arrivals, long queues of lorries form near Dover.
• Covid: Tui cancels flights out of Luton AirportThe holiday firm says Luton is now in tier four, but flights will continue from Stansted and Gatwick.
• European regulator says Boeing's 737 Max is safeExecutive Director Patrick Ky said his organisation had
• Covid-19: Dover port halts traffic to France for 48 hoursFrance is to stop lorries arriving from the UK amid concerns about a new variant of coronavirus.

Financial Times

• EU countries ban UK travel and halt Channel freight over Covid variant Boris Johnson summons emergency meeting for Monday to deal with escalating crisis
• Courier companies deliver as they take up Christmas challengeVast hiring spree and deployment of thousands of extra vans have helped groups cope with flood of online orders

The Guardian

• France's ban on UK transport came as surprise, says Grant ShappsTransport secretary says UK aims to resolve issue ‘as soon as possible’ amid fears over new Covid strain
• Coronavirus live news: Boris Johnson to hold crisis meeting as more countries stop flights from UKFrance, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Ireland, Bulgaria impose UK bans over new strain; Democrat Chuck Schumer says aid bill ‘should’ have votes to pass. Follow latest updatesEuropean states ban travel from UK as new Covid strain takes holdEurope bans travel from the UK over new strain: what we know so farWhat do we know about the fast-spreading Covid variant in UK?Moderna vaccine shipments begin as US reels under Covid surgeSee all our coverage 7.29am GMT Kenyan doctors working in government hospitals began a countrywide strike on Monday over inadequate insurance benefit...
• Covid chaos disrupts Kent ports as France bans UK freightBoris Johnson to hold Cobra meeting on Monday after hauliers told to avoid Kent ports ‘until further notice’ Miles of lorry queues and travel chaos were expected across Kent on Monday morning after France announced a 48-hour ban on passengers and freight entering from the UK.The prime minister, Boris Johnson, is to chair a Cobra meeting on Monday that will address “the steady flow of freight into and out of the UKâ€�, a number 10 spokesperson said, amid expected significant disruption at ports in the south-east. Continue reading...

The Herald

• Coronavirus UK travel restrictions: What do we know so far?A growing number of nations have banned flights from the UK in a bid to stop a mutant strain of coronavirus crossing their borders.
• Coronavirus: EU shuts borders over new variant of the virusBoris Johnson will hold crisis talks with ministers after France banned lorries carrying freight from the UK and countries around the world ended flights amid fears over the new mutant coronavirus strain.

The Huffington Post

• Chaos As Hundreds Ignore Scientists And Flee London Ahead Of Tier 4 Coronavirus Restrictions
• European Countries Ban Travel From UK In Race To Stop New Covid Strain
• Police Scotland 'Double Presence' On Border Amid Strict New Coronavirus Rules
• Eurotunnel Suspends Access To Folkestone Terminal As France Restricts Travel From UK

The Independent

• Travel bans on UK flights, ferries and trains: the essential questionsThe effects of cancelled links and your rights if you are affected
• Rail and coach refunds for travellers hit by Christmas Covid U-turnPassengers were urged to book tickets well in advice for five-day travel window
• Covid news – live: Johnson to hold crisis talks over France freight ban amid fears of Christmas food shortagesFollow for the latest updates about the pandemic

Times Online

• Coronavirus in Ireland: Government bans travel from Britain amid fears over new Covid-19 strain [Subscription]No one from Britain should travel to Ireland for at least the next 48 hours due to the presence of a new strain of Covid-19 in England, the government has said.
• Coronavirus in Scotland: Police patrols to deter lockdown breaches at border [Subscription]Police patrols along the border with England are to be doubled after the announcement of tighter coronavirus restrictions.
• Police ordered to stop thousands fleeing Tier 4 London [Subscription]Police were sent to railway stations yesterday to discourage people from visiting family for Christmas as ministers condemned a “totally irresponsible” rush to leave London.
• Planes will still fly but medical care at risk [Subscription]As British and European negotiators continue talks on how the UK will leave the EU, The Times has looked at what a deal and no-deal would mean for different sectors of the British economy. Here Ben Clatworthy, Assistant Travel Editor, looks at travel
• Jumbo trains could take lorries off roads and cut air pollution [Subscription]“Jumbo trains” up to half a mile long are being introduced to the rail network in greater numbers to reduce air pollution and take lorries off the road.
• Europe shuts door on Britain over fears of mutant virus [Subscription]• Countries ban UK travellers as Covid cases rise by 50% in a week • Health secretary admits new strain is ‘out of control’

City AM

• Shapps claims ‘this is not unusual’ ahead of emergency Cobra meeting on DoverBoris Johson will hold a meeting with the government’s emergency committee this morning after France closed its border with the UK following a new, more infectious strain of coronavirus in the South East of England.

Daily Express

• M20 CLOSED: Traffic for miles as borders SHUT on UK - Operation Stack activatedFOLLOWING the closure of the Channel Tunnel and the Port of Dover due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, operation stack has been implement.

Daily Record

• Sturgeon calls for Brexit transition extension as France blocks freightShe said the ongoing fight against Covid-19 demands 'our 100% attention.'
• France to ban all travel and freight from Scotland for at least 48 hours Several European countries have now banned people from travelling from the UK.

Mail Online

• Travel plans are left in tatters amid new Christmas Covid curbsBritish Airways and Virgin Atlantic have revealed they will not be offering refunds to passengers who cancel trips for the end of the year following the new restrictions. Pictured: Charing Cross, London.

The Mirror

• Chaotic scenes as passengers scramble for last flights from Heathrow AirportHeathrow Airport descended into chaos after swathes of countries began banning Brit travellers in a bid to stop the spread of the new mutated coronavirus strain
• Hauliers urged to avoid Kent ports after France closes border as pics show chaosOperation Stack means part of the coastbound M20 in Kent is being used to stack lorries due to cross channel travel restrictions after France announced an inbound travel ban for at least 48hrs

Sky News

• Freight and travel chaos won't impact vaccine delivery, minister promisesDelivery of the coronavirus vaccine will not be disrupted as a result of France's ban on freight and travel from the UK, the transport secretary has told Sky News.
• Growing list of countries shut themselves off from UK over new COVID strainCountries around the world have imposed restrictions on travel from the UK due to fears of a new strain of the coronavirus.
• Emergency talks to prevent Christmas food shortages after freight hit by border closuresBoris Johnson is holding emergency talks to avert Christmas food shortages after France banned freight and travel from the UK.

Belfast Telegraph

• Johnson holds crisis talks as France halts freight from UK over new Covid strainBoris Johnson will hold crisis talks with ministers after France banned lorries carrying freight from the UK and countries around the world ended flights amid fears over the new mutant coronavirus strain.

Bolton News

• Crisis talks as European countries impose travel ban on UK over fears of mutant coronavirus PRIME Minister Boris Johnson is to hold crisis talks with minsters after European countries imposed travel bans on the UK amid fears over the new mutant coronavirus strain.
• Passengers who packed trains out of London branded ‘totally irresponsible’ Passengers who crowded on to trains to escape the tightening of Covid-19 restrictions in London have been branded “totally irresponsibleâ€� by the Health Secretary.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Hoping to go abroad? It might be too late The Irish Government is to make an announcement on Sunday on potential restrictions on passengers travelling from Britain to Ireland, the health minister said.

Bristol Live

• Trains packed as thousands flee tier 4 areas for South WestA mad rush is underway to leave those areas worst affected by the rule changes
• The countries banning Christmas flights from the UK amid new rulesSeveral countries have reacted following Boris Johnson's announcement - and more could be set to follow

London Evening Standard

• Ireland joins Italy, Germany and Netherlands in cancelling UK flights amid rising concern over mutant Covid-19 strainFrance has also introduced restrictions on travel from the UK
• Queues at London train stations as crowds flee the capital before tough Tier 4 restrictions come into forceFootage of packed train carriages out of London emerged on social media as many attempted to flee the capital hours before tough Tier 4 restrictions came into force.  
• Extra police deployed to London transport hubs to stop non-essential Tier 4 journeysExtra police officers have been deployed at railway stations to stop people from making non-essential Tier 4 journeys, British Transport Police announced on Sunday.
• UK Coronavirus LIVE: Crisis Cobra talks as fears over Covid variant closes borders, causes travel chaos and risks food shortagesBoris Johnson will hold crisis talks with ministers later after France banned lorries carrying freight from the UK and countries around the world ended flights amid fears over the new mutant coronavirus strain.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Boris Johnson to hold crisis talks as Europe halts flights from UKThe Prime Minister will chair a meeting of the Government's Cobra civil contingencies committee on Monday

Northern Echo

• Mass exodus from London after Tier 4 restrictions threaten to ruin Christmas PASSENGERS faced packed train carriages out of London as many attempted to flee the capital following the announcement of tougher coronavirus restrictions.

Leeds Live

• Train company responds after 'surge' of Tier 4 passengers flock to LeedsHundreds of people left London to travel north after prime minister Boris Johnson announced changes to Christmas bubble rules

Reading Evening Post

• Heathrow Airport Tier 4 restrictions and latest informationPeople living in Tier 4 areas are not allowed to travel abroad except for specific reasons

Other Regional Press

• County council completes public transport improvementsA TOTAL of 14 small improvements, costing over a million pounds, have been made to Oxford to benefit visitors to the city centre.
• Cobra meeting over gridlock fearsPrime Minister Boris Johnson is to hold an emergency Cobra meeting in the morning after France's decision to halt travel from the UK amid Covid fears.
• Operation Stack launched amid traffic chaos fearsOperation Stack has been launched amid fears of major problems on Kent's roads caused by the French travel ban.

Other News Sources

• Matt Hancock blasts 'irresponsible' people fleeing London People fleeing London last night ahead of the new Tier 4 restrictions were “irresponsible,â€� the Health Secretary has said.

EIN News Subscription

• Covid chaos disrupts Kent ports as Europe travel bans take hold … Transport (DfT) said Manston Airport in Kent was being … complicated transit routes via eastern Europe, to reach destinations that … mutation. Click below for more information. https://t … . Some measures affect only passenger travel, while others include …
• Nordics Cut Air Traffic From UK Over Covid-19 Mutation … or not. European countries are stopping air traffic with the … reported. The Ministry of Transport wrote in a press release … measures should be takenâ€�, Transport Minister Benny Engelbrecht said … air traffic from the UK was announced by Finnish Transport …
• Boris Johnson calls emergency meeting after Channel transport halted … Earlier on Sunday, several European countries began closing their doors … carriers, whether by road, air, sea or rail. Britain… place,â€� the spokesperson said. Transport minister Grant Shapps urged Britons … transition period with the EU Union ends and new …
• EU countries, Canada ban travel from UK due to new coronavirus strain … The flow of people or transport towards the United Kingdom will … quot; on Sunday all its air links with Great Britain, … imposed travel restrictions. Non-EU countries join the ban Canada … talks between experts from the European authorities", the new …