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

Tuesday, 28 September 2021

BBC News

• Fuel supply: Sadiq Khan calls for key worker petrol stationsLondon's mayor wants the government to act to make sure certain workers have access to fuel.
• Ford announces $11.4bn investment in electric vehicle plantsThe US carmaker vows to
• Petrol supply: Army put on standby to ease fuel crisisMilitary drivers will be trained up as a precaution, after days of long queues and pump closures.

Financial Times

• Ford plans $11bn electric pick-up truck investment with battery maker SKPlants in Kentucky and Tennessee would employ almost 11,000 as carmaker pursues emissions goal
• Jony Ive teams up with Ferrari to develop electric carFormer Apple designer's firm LoveFrom signs deal with the Agnelli family's company
• Johnson prepares to call in army as panic buying drains UK petrol pumpsCompetition rules eased with half of garages outside motorway network estimated to have no fuel
• UK fuel crisis threatens to hit health services and industryEssential workers and transport companies seek priority for supplies as military put on standby

The Guardian

• Boris Johnson puts army on standby amid fuel supply crisisKeir Starmer and industry leaders call on PM to do more as ministers decide against immediate deployment of troops. Boris Johnson has ordered the army to remain on standby to help fuel reach petrol stations hit by panic buying, as Keir Starmer and businesses called on him to get a grip on the shortages rippling across the economy. No 10 said army drivers would be ready to help deliver petrol and diesel on a short-term basis, but stopped short of an immediate deployment, even though some essential workers have not been able to carry out their jobs without fuel.

Times Online

• Of course there’s chaos, Whitehall is working from home [subscription]The chaos at Britain’s petrol pumps can be traced back to the absence of most civil servants from Whitehall. Less than 15 per cent of officials at the transport department’s headquarters in Horseferry Road turn up every day for work. The hapless transport secretary Grant Shapps must be frustrated he couldn’t pack a conference room with officials last week to brainstorm for solutions and avert catastrophe. Until Saturday, ministers were denying there was a crisis.
• Fuel crisis: Panic buying pushes prices to highest level for eight yearsAs queues of drivers waited hours at forecourts across the country and businesses were urged to let employees work from home, the RAC revealed that the average price of a litre of petrol across the UK increased from 135.87p on Friday to 136.59p on Sunday.

Cambridge News

• Cambridge petrol: Up to 4,000 people will be trained as new HGV drivers amid fuel crisisFree intensive courses will train drivers in new skills boot camps

Other News Sources

• Government's 5,000 HGV visas won't scratch the surface of shortage, chairman of Transport Association saysThe fuel crisis began with a shortage of hauliers, caused in part by pandemic disruption, but Brexit also played a part. 
• 'Chaos' on A27 as 'panic at the pumps' continueTHERE are long delays on the A27 as hundreds queue for fuel amid a national shortage.