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

Sunday, 26 September 2021

BBC News

• Teesside Airport light aircraft incident leaves one seriously injuredThree people taken to hospital following an incident at Teesside International Airport.
• Commander outlines Army's ambulance support roleThe MOD said it was providing 114 personnel to carry out non-emergency ambulance driving from this weekend.
• Can anyone Phil McCann up with petrol?The BBC's Phil McCann reports from a petrol station that has run out of fuel in Stockport.
• Lorry driver shortage: Temporary visa scheme to run until Christmas EveMinisters move to bring in overseas workers as disrupted fuel deliveries lead to queues at petrol stations.

Financial Times

• UK to issue temporary visas for truck drivers and farm workers Businesses say move to relax post-Brexit immigration laws is insufficient to ease labour shortages
• Airbus gears up for hydrogen jet as fuel of future edges closer to realityAerospace group confident it can deliver a plane powered by gas by 2035, but warns state and regulatory support is needed

The Guardian

• At least three killed in Amtrak train derailment in MontanaThe cause of the accident was not immediately clear and federal safety authorities will investigate At least three people died and other passengers were injured after seven cars of an Amtrak train went off the rails in north-central Montana, an official at a local sheriff's office said.People trapped on board soon after the derailment on Saturday had all been taken off the train, said the official of the Liberty County sheriff’s office, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Continue reading...
• Stagecoach takeover could mark end of a profitable era for bus and train tycoonsThe fortunes of Brian Souter's firm seem to have closely followed those of privatised public transport in the UKIt is testament to their dwindling empires that the proposed merger of Stagecoach and National Express, the UK's biggest rail and bus operators not so long ago, will not unduly trouble the competition authority.Stagecoach, which a decade back looked to swallow up National Express, now is set to be subsumed by its rival. The turnaround in its fortunes has been influenced by foreign ventures, and the pandemic has magnified all of its problems. But the firm's journey has notably followe...
• European lorry drivers 'will not want to come to UK', warn haulage chiefsEmergency visa plan will not resolve Britain's road transport crisis, says industry as majority blame Brexit in pollThe government's emergency programme to issue temporary visas to thousands of lorry drivers is far too little to resolve Britain's supply-chain crisis and is unlikely to attract them to the UK, haulage chiefs have warned.Downing Street on Saturday night confirmed hastily compiled plans to add 5,000 HGV drivers and 5,500 poultry workers to a visa scheme until Christmas, to help the food and fuel industries with shortages. Continue reading...

The Herald

• Scotland weather: Calmac ferries warn of cancellationsFerry passengers are being warned to expect cancellations across Calmac's fleet today amid a spate of bad weather.
• Scotland weather: Calmac ferries warn of cancellationsFerry passengers are being warned to expect cancellations across Calmac's fleet today amid a spate of bad weather.
• 5,000 aviation jobs lost – while £1.2bn public money spent saving buses, trains & Scot Gov airportsMINISTERS have presided over a 'tsunami' of nearly 5000 job losses in aviation across Scotland after failing to provide direct pandemic support, while using over £1.2 billion of public money to support buses and trains and its own airports, the Herald on Sunday can reveal.

The Independent

• Foreign HGV driver visa plan 'insufficient' to fix Christmas supply chain issuesIndustry bodies said consumers and businesses faced 'another less than happy' festive season if the offer was not made more generous.

The Telegraph

• Stop panic buying fuel, AA chief tells motorists amid chaotic scenes at petrol stations

Times Online

• Petrol giant Essar on brink of collapse [Subscription]Stanlow refinery, which supplies a sixth of Britain’s petrol, in crisis talks with HMRC
• Handbrake turn over lorry drivers splits Brexit backers [Subscription]A chronic HGV driver shortage has forced Boris Johnson to extend EU visas after months of claiming higher wages for Britons would fill the gap. Some Leavers insist it’s proof Brexit is working after all

City AM

• Teesside Airport closed as 'incident' leaves three in hospital, including one pilotTeesside Airport is “indefinitely closed”, according to reports, after an incident left three people including a pilot in hospital. Staff The post Teesside Airport closed as 'incident' leaves three in hospital, including one pilot appeared first on CityAM.

Daily Record

• Half-measures on climate change just won't wash as carbon emissions need to be cutSouth Lanarkshire Council's decision to lease 141 electric cars, the vast majority still unused after a year, is the opposite of an environmentally friendly policy.
• Police Scotland yet to take action against under-fire public transport bossSPT chief, Gordon Maclennan, was caught driving an illegal cloned car.

The Mirror

• 'Terrifying' HGV driver experience leaves Mirror man keen to stick to day jobAs the UK gets desperate for truck drivers the Mirror sends a reporter to have a go - and it's nowhere near as easy as you might think, with our man keen to stick to his normal work
• Letters sent to a million HGV driving licence holders in desperate bid to solve crisisThe Department of Transport has announced a series of measures which it aims will solve the road haulage problem. It will include letters sent to people with HGV licences to encourage them to return

This is Money

• Gatwick set to become centre of fierce battle between airlinesBritish Airways pulled the plug on the proposed airline days after we revealed a stand-off with trade unions over pilots' pay. The move leaves Gatwick facing a drop in passengers and revenues.

Sky News

• At least three people killed after passenger train derails in US state of MontanaAn Amtrak passenger train has derailed in the US state of Montana killing at least three people.
• Why is there a HGV driver shortage and how bad could the problem get?Panicked motorists have caused lengthy queues at petrol stations and caused some pumps to run dry - the latest consequence of a shortage of HGV drivers which is causing widespread disruption in the UK.
• Plan to give 10,000 foreign workers temporary visas to fix supply crisis in run-up to Christmas 'not enough'Business leaders have said a visa scheme aimed at fixing a shortage of HGV drivers "will not be enough".

Birmingham Mail

• All aboard! - the old Birmingham tram network from over 60 years agoNews of four new tram routes in Birmingham and the West Midlands has got a mixed response from readers - but they used to be a regular fixture on your streets

Bolton News

• Petrol: AA says panic buying causing shortages as Bolton hit by fuel crisisTHE PRESIDENT of the AA says panic-buying rather than supply chain issues is driving the shortage of fuel at some petrol stations.
• Thousands of foreign workers to be given visas as motorists panic buy petrolGREATER Manchester and Fire Rescue (GMFRS) have warned of the dangers of storing petrol at home after panic buying at petrol pumps throughout the region.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Distributors working hard to replenish stocks, petrol body saysTHE UK Petroleum Industry Association has said distributors are working hard to replenish stocks after the president of the AA blamed panic-buying for the shortage of fuel.
• 92 companies awarded funding to upgrade HGVs to greener engines before Clean Air Zone introducedBRADFORD Council says it has received an

Bristol Live

• Train passengers in Bristol can expect more disruptions to services tomorrowBus replacements will be place, though customers are being advised to plan ahead and check journey times before travelling

Daily Post (North Wales)

• North Wales Police issues statement on fuel queues as supply reassurance madePolice have urged drivers not to obstruct roads to queue for fuel

Liverpool Echo

• Warning over major number plate changes coming into force this monthThere's an important change for anyone travelling to Europe

London Evening Standard

• Monster queues at petrol stations as desperate drivers fill jerry cans Desperate drivers have been pictured filling up jerry cans amid the ongoing fuel crisis.
• Teesside Airport runway closed after light aircraft incident injures threeFire crews were forced to cut the three people out of the plane.
• Foreign HGV driver visa plan 'insufficient' to fix Christmas supply chain issuesIndustry bodies said consumers and businesses faced 'another less than happy' festive season if the offer was not made more generous.

Northern Echo

• Teesside Airport crash leaves one person with 'serious injuries'HERE'S what we know so far after a plane crashed at Teesside Airport shortly after take off.

Wales Online

• The year fuel shortages brought the UK to a standstillIt has been more than two decades since protests that began in Wales affected the whole of the country

Bucks Free Press

• Fuel crisis: Bucks Ambulance service urges drivers not to panic buyThe Ambulance service has pleaded with drivers not to panic buy fuel as long queues could slow down emergency responses.

Cambridge News

• Jet2 issues 'urgent customer notice' to all holidaymakersThe airline has informed holidaymakers of a new scam targeting passengers
• Petrol shortages: Chaos across Cambridgeshire as petrol stations swamped with panic-buyersOne petrol station has had people fighting on its forecourt

Reading Evening Post

• Heathrow Airport: IT failure causes chaos at e-gatesCustomers complained of three and a half hour queues
• Controversial Slough bus lane sees more than 1,000 drivers hit with finesDrivers could have to pay £60 if they drive through the designated bus route on the A4

Other Regional Press

• Fuel crisis UK: Buses diverted and gridlock in West WatfordBuses were diverted as traffic queued around Watford and south Hertfordshire because of a second day of petrol panic buying.
• Government may change HGV driver immigration rulesA renewable energy association is encouraged by reports that the government may relax immigration rules for HGV drivers, but says a few thousand visas would fall too short of what is needed.
• Campaigners praise plans for Southampton's public transportCAMPAIGNERS have hailed plans to overhaul transport services in Southampton but said that an improved bus network could lead to the 'fastest results'.
• Teesside Airport to close all weekend as investigation is launched into 'aircraft accident'Officials are "hopeful" the site will reopen on Monday following Saturday's incident
• Now fuel runs dry on our motorwaysPanic buying has seen key motorway services on the M2 and M20 run dry today.
• CO2 and delivery driver shortages: Everything you might struggle to find in UK storesMeat, soft drinks, bakery goods and fuel are among the things being affected
• Petrol shortage: Why driving low on fuel could land you with an eye-watering £5,000 fineThe petrol shortage crisis has left drivers across the country panicking to fill up on fuel

Other News Sources

• 'This is just lazy': Drivers misery as traffic controls left up on busy Blackburn routeTemporary traffic lights have been left in place over the weekend on a busy Blackburn road when it appears the work has finished.

EIN News Subscription

• Not enough drivers to transport goods … on as normal," Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said Friday … hospitality workers and even former airline pilots seeking to retrain … departure from the European Union prompted some European workers to head … full departure from the EU last year ended the …
• 5,000 aviation jobs lost - while £1.2bn public money spent saving buses, trains & Scot Gov airports … The response came from Transport Secretary Michael Matheson who … airlines have already moved routes from Scotland to other European … start competing with other European countries in the recovery … are working closely with airports and airlines to restore and …