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Travellers' Advisories, Safety and Security on the Road Recent News, political or military events, which may affect trip plans or routes. Personal and vehicle security, tips and questions.
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  #1  
Old 10 Jun 2008
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Spain Transport Strike
The transport strike started yesterday (9 June) and Spain is already without fuel in many places. Some delivereies were made to Cepsa garages during the night.

There are blockades with the French borders and in major cities resulting in long tailbacks particularly in and around Madrid, Barcelona, Asturias, Cantabria, Navarra, Valladolid, Valencia, Málaga, Cádiz and either side of the Basque and Catalan French borders.

As delivereis are not getting through, there are reports of some food shortages, which will no doubt mean there will be panic buying of that today too.
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  #2  
Old 10 Jun 2008
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Update
National news is now reporting that 60% of petrol stations across Spain have no fuel, and supermarket shelves are emptying of fresh food.

There has been 2 deaths today - a Portuguese lorry driver near Lisbon and another in Granada. The Spanish lorry drivers associations have broken off talks with the Ministry for Development ‘in solidarity with the dead colleague’ so I guess this won't be ending any time soon.
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  #3  
Old 11 Jun 2008
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Update - Day 3
The Government say they have reached an agreement with the lorry drivers, but those organising the stike have not agreed to the terms and are continuing with their blockades. Major roads are still affected throughout Spain, but the border with France at Jonquera (Girona) has been opened.

This morning, another lorry driver suffered 60% of burns to his body after his lorry was set on fire while he was sleeping inside it.

The supply of fuel has not improved with 60% of petrol stations still dry. Some of the stations that have fuel are limiting it. Gibraltar airport have limited supplies of aviation fuel. Ferry crossings to the Balearics have been suspended. Our local petrol station will run dry this afternoon.

The supermarkets in most major towns and cities are empty of fruit/veg/meat/fish and essentials. Our village is self-sufficient and the small shops are still fairly well stocked with local fresh produce, but the biggest supermarket here has a lot of empty shelves. Meat, fish and eggs are becoming scarce.
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  #4  
Old 11 Jun 2008
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petrol stations empty all over the country in portugal too...rapidly being followed by the supermarkets!
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  #5  
Old 12 Jun 2008
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Is this serious, or just scaremongering like we get in the UK? Our papers were full of doom this morning... but as usual nothing actually happens, other than the price goes up again...

Seriously though, I'd be interested to hear if it's sorting itself out, as I was planning on getting the Bilbao ferry next week!

xxx
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Old 12 Jun 2008
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maybe cleared up by next week but i wouldn't want to set off now thats for sure. we are in central portugal and tried 5 petrol stations today.not a drop!
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  #7  
Old 12 Jun 2008
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Update - Day 4
Everything is a bit up in the air today. Agreements have been reached and signed, but not by the strikers and it hasn't officially been called off.

The security forces moved in yesterday and most of the blockades have gone so traffic seems to be circulating as normal.

As for food and fuel deliveries, not much news yet. The hubby said there was a delivery to Cepsa in Gibraltar yesterday. The petrol went up from 82p to 98p and they had run dry again after an hour. The frontier at Gibraltar is being closed at 5pm today because there is a planned protest on the Spanish side.

There are other HUBB members who live in Spain & Portugal - what's happening in your area?
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Old 12 Jun 2008
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(some) supermarkets running out of food in barcelona, and some fuel stations are out of fuel. still plenty of in the bars, so we're far from crisis...

it's my last day here, but can't risk getting stuck somewhere so am flying home and will pick up the bike some time later. I hear the french border road (la jonquera) is open/clear again though.
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  #9  
Old 12 Jun 2008
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Gibraltar
I've just heard from Andy (the hubby) that police are recommending anybody who wants to get on or off Gibraltar to do so by 4.30pm this afternoon. They cannot 'officially' close the frontier within the EU, but there will be a heavy security presence on both sides.

In that area, fuel deliveries are not expected before the weekend (even though there is a refinery near by) and the supermarket shelves are now empty.
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  #10  
Old 12 Jun 2008
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went out again today still no gas at the local garages and no idea when new deliveries will be made.
the local intermarche and mini preco supermarkets have shelves that remind me of rhodesian sanctions era of the 70's ....and uncle bob's zimbabwe now!
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  #11  
Old 12 Jun 2008
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hi JMo...breaking news in portugal at least the strike/protests are over as of now and it will take 3 days to stock up all the petrol stations, shops etc so come on down!
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  #12  
Old 12 Jun 2008
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Officially, the strike is still on in Spain. Roads are clear and the police are escorting delivery lorries in some areas. Still no news on fuel.
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  #13  
Old 13 Jun 2008
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Run to the sun!
Quote:
Originally Posted by bikerz View Post
hi JMo...breaking news in portugal at least the strike/protests are over as of now and it will take 3 days to stock up all the petrol stations, shops etc so come on down!
Thank feck for that!

I've got 26 litres on board the XR, so if I take it really easy I might not even have to fill up en route from Bilbao anyway?!

I'll be booking my ticket at the weekend...

xxx
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  #14  
Old 13 Jun 2008
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Update - Day 5
Supermarkets are being restocked and fuel delivered - the worst hit areas for fuel are Andalucia and Cataluña.
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  #15  
Old 14 Jun 2008
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Saturday Update
Hubby says supermarket shelves are empty and there is still no bread or fresh food in or around Gibraltar and La Linea area, but fuel was delivered overnight. Most areas are slowly getting back to normal.
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