Plans to tackle the numbers of motorcyclists killed or injured on Britain's roads were published today by Road Safety Minister Jim Fitzpatrick.

The new Motorcycling Strategy Action Plan - agreed with the National Motorcycle Transport Council - sets out what the Government will do to improve safety for motorcyclists and to continue to facilitate motorcycling as a choice of travel.

Jim Fitzpatrick said:

"Motorcyclists are the single most vulnerable group on Britain's roads today. They account for just 1% of all road traffic, but for 20% of all those killed on the roads.

"The new action plan sets out how we will work to improve the safety of motorcyclists, and make sure that we continue to address their concerns and fully consider their needs when making decisions."

Updated actions in the new plan include building on initial work to identify the feasibility of a motorcycle safety assessment programme, in particular, looking at the safety benefit to motorcyclists offered by new technologies and the potential for including security and environmental aspects. We will also investigate reporting options for diesel spills and other highway defects, and disseminate options for tackling diesel spills. Since the strategy was published in 2005:

* The DfT has developed and launched a new TV and radio THINK! campaign to encourage car drivers to "take longer to look for bikes".

* THINK! has sponsored the British Superbikes Championship.

* The DfT has published new safety ratings for motorcycle helmets through the SHARP scheme that could save up to 50 lives a year.

* The Driving Standards Agency has established a voluntary register of approved Post Test Motorcycle Trainers and an Enhanced Rider Scheme offering insurance discounts to licensed riders who take further training with an approved instructor.

* The DfT has published new guidance to local authorities on Use of Bus Lanes by Motorcycles.

* Guidance to highway authorities on motorcycle-friendly infrastructure has been published by the Institute of Highway Incorporated Engineers with support from DfT.

The 42 new actions update those in the 2005 Strategy. Some of the original actions have been completed, others are ongoing, many have developed over time and been revised to reflect the latest progress, while some new issues have arisen requiring new actions.

Work on the largest civil engineering project in Europe to get underway

Crossrail, the largest addition to the transport network in London and the South East for more than 50 years has completed its Parliamentary process, with the Crossrail Bill receiving Royal Assent last night.

Following the Prime Minister's announcement last October that a £16bn funding package had been secured for the construction of Crossrail, Parliamentary approval of the Bill means that the project is on track to be operational for passengers in 2017. It will mean more capacity and faster journeys for passengers, as well as a £20bn boost to the wider UK economy.

The line will run from Maidenhead and Heathrow in the west through tunnels under central London - with new stations at Paddington, Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road, Farringdon, Liverpool Street, Whitechapel, Isle of Dogs (Canary Wharf) - then out to Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east.

The Crossrail Act grants powers to acquire land and for Crossrail to be built and maintained. Enabling works will take place next year, with main construction works set to begin in 2010.

Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly said:

"This landmark project is of major significance to both London and the whole country. It will generate jobs and economic growth, help re-vitalise some of our most deprived areas and deliver major improvements for the travelling public.

"Crossrail has been talked about for decades, so I am delighted that now we have secured both the funding package and parliamentary approval work can finally begin to deliver this fantastic project."

Mayor of London, Boris Johnson said:

"I am absolutely thrilled that work can now begin on one of the largest projects ever seen in the capital, a project that is vital to the future prosperity of our city and a project that has the potential to improve the lives of many thousands of Londoners.

"Crossrail will shorten journey times for Londoners and visitors to our city whether they are heading for the bright lights of the west end or the citadels of commerce at Canary Wharf. But most importantly it can act as a catalyst for regeneration across the whole of our city, particularly in the east of the capital.

"Londoners living in the east will have far greater access to jobs in the centre of London and we expect to see the areas where they are living flourish from private sector investment in housing and development. All this and Crossrail even pays for itself. That is what I call a cracking deal for the capital."

Douglas Oakervee, Executive Chairman of Cross London Rail Links said

"Royal Assent is the most significant milestone in the history of Crossrail. After years of planning and discussion, we are ready to move into the delivery phase of a project that will benefit London, the south east region and the UK as a whole.

"Up to 14,000 people will be employed in the construction, and training schemes are planned to help equip Londoners along the route with the skills to secure these jobs. This will be a project for the whole community - a new world class affordable railway that London expects and deserves."

London's Transport Commissioner Peter Hendy said:

"The importance of Crossrail to London's economy and transport network cannot be overstated. Along with the vital upgrade of the Tube, it will provide much needed additional transport capacity to keep London moving.

"When complete, it will carry twice as many passengers as the Jubilee line, increasing London's public transport network capacity by 10%. Our priority now is to ensure delivery of this project, on time and on budget."

Iain Coucher, Chief Executive, Network Rail said:

"We have a thriving and punctual railway and the key challenge now is providing more capacity for passengers. Crossrail, along with projects such as Thameslink will provide a huge boost to public transport across the capital and beyond, linking some of the UK's busiest transport hubs and adding a vast array of new journey opportunities to commuters, business and leisure travellers.

"Network Rail will play a vital role in preparing the existing rail network to accommodate a vast increase in traffic and providing upgrades to passenger facilities that encourage people to use the railway."

Baroness Jo Valentine, Chief Executive of London First said:

"Today's final parliamentary approval is great news for the capital's commuters and businesses. It signals Government intent to get moving on delivering on this crucial project. But, more than that, it signals a world city investing in its future competitiveness."

Stuart Fraser, Chairman of the Policy and Resources Committee, City of London Corporation said:

"Financial services in the UK - and billions of pounds in taxes - depend on London having an integrated transport system linking the capital to the rest of the country and the world. We have always backed Crossrail, even in the 1990s when no-one else did, and now we want to see it, delivered, as part of a chain of infrastructure that includes an efficient Tube and rail networks and airports (especially Heathrow) that are fit for the 21st century. Crossrail is vital but delivering it should not become an excuse for cut-backs in other areas."

When complete, there will be 24 trains per hour in each direction through Central London during peak times. This will provide substantial new passenger capacity and crowding relief, particularly on the Central and Piccadilly lines.

The service will be delivered by a new and dedicated fleet of approximately 600 air conditioned carriages. They will be greener, lighter, quicker, able to carry a greater number of passengers and more reliable than existing designs. Stations along the route will be accessible.

Royal Assent is the most significant milestone in the history of Crossrail and the time when Cross London Rail Links Limited changes from a planning and promotional organisation to the Delivery Agent for this exciting new railway. As part of this transformation four new independent non-executive directors - Michael Cassidy CBE, Patrick Crawford, Sir Joe Dwyer and Heather Rabbatts, CBE - have been appointed.

The Executive Chairman Douglas Oakervee, who has successfully led the company over the past three years, will continue in that role until the appointment of a CEO and non-Executive Chairperson in accordance with best corporate governance practice. An open and competitive selection process will commence shortly to bring about this change. It is expected that Mr Oakervee's experience and knowledge will continue to be closely associated with Crossrail through the challenging and exciting times ahead.

Deputy Secretary of Transportation Vice Admiral Thomas J. Barrett today announced a $1.015 million grant to continue federal support of public education efforts to reduce collisions between trains and motor vehicles at highway-rail grade crossings and discourage illegal trespassing along railroad rights of way.

"Most rail-related deaths are preventable, and the far-reaching educational outreach efforts of Operation Lifesaver helps save lives every day," said Barrett, noting that in 2007 there were 338 grade crossing and 473 trespasser deaths which accounted for a combined 95 percent of all rail-related fatalities.

Barrett explained that the grant is being provided by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and will support the public outreach and training programs of Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI), a national not-for-profit rail safety organization. An additional $338,332 will be generated in matching funds or services, he added.

The federal funds will be used for OLI's States Assistance Program, which provides up to 50 grants to state organizations that manage railroad safety awareness programs. In addition, the FRA grant will support training programs for OLI's more than 2,100 volunteer trainers and presenters, specialized communications programs, publications and other related materials.

Barrett further stated that the annual FRA grant funding will be used for new OLI initiatives, including production of a training video for commercial truck and bus drivers, development of more outreach resources for the Hispanic/Latino community, creation of new public service announcements, and a special initiative targeting college age and 25- to 30 year-olds. And, in response to the consistently high and relatively unchanged number of trespass deaths in recent years, OLI will renew its emphasis on addressing trespass issues.

The grant announced today supports the goals of the U.S. Secretary of Transportation's 2004 Action Plan for Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Safety and Trespass Prevention that provides a roadmap for guiding federal, state, local, railroad industry and other efforts to combat these problems.

Deputy Secretary Barrett announced the FRA grant at the OLI International Symposium in Covington, KY.

Free England-wide bus passes will be offered to seriously injured Service personnel and Veterans, under new plans to recognise the valuable contribution made by the Armed Forces, Transport Minister Rosie Winterton announced today.

As part of the Ministry of Defence's cross-government Command Paper, it was also announced that there will be an automatic Blue Badge entitlement to allow injured Armed Forces personnel and veterans greater access to on-street parking and free use of parking meters.

These enhancements build on April's extension of the free bus pass, to allow up to 11 million older and entitled disabled people to travel for free on local buses across England, and the Department's recent consultation on changes to the Blue Badge scheme.

Rosie Winterton said:

"Ensuring injured Service personnel and Veterans receive a free England-wide bus pass and have an automatic entitlement to Blue Badges are key ways in which we can recognise the valuable contributions they make.

"It will help injured Service personnel and Veterans to access key services and keep in contact with friends and family - giving the freedom to live a more independent life. It is only right that we do everything we can to help personnel injured whilst serving their country and I am pleased to work with the Ministry of Defence to bring these important changes into effect."

The concessionary bus fare scheme was extended in April this year to include England-wide travel for those over 60 or those with certain disabilities. The new extension will come into force in 2011 and will include people in the armed services under the age of 60 who have been seriously injured.

Veterans receiving War Pensioners Mobility Supplement currently quality for a Blue Badge, and will continue to do so. However, these proposals will extend this to people who have been given certain awards under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme. They will also make the process of getting a Blue Badge much smoother.

Today's commitments have been designed to reflect the considerable and unique demands of life in the armed forces and will provide improved access to public services for those affected.

ASHBURN, Va.- Within two years, all new aircraft must include technology designed to significantly reduce the risk of center fuel tank fires as part of a final rule announced today by U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters. In addition, passenger aircraft built after 1991 must be retrofitted with technology designed to keep center fuel tanks from catching fire, she said.

"We want to do everything possible to make sure safety examiners won't have to investigate another plane shattered by an exploding tank," said Secretary Peters. "We can't change the past, but we can make the future safer for thousands of air travelers, and this rule does just that."

The Secretary, who spoke on the day before the anniversary of the crash of TWA Flight 800, said the new rule was needed to help avoid a similar tragic incident. She said the rule requires aircraft to have technology to neutralize or eliminate flammable gasses from fuel tanks under the center wing of commercial passenger planes.

Secretary Peters noted that in the wake of the TWA crash researchers with the Federal Aviation Administration developed a breakthrough system that replaces oxygen in the fuel tank with inert gas, which effectively prevents the potential ignition of flammable vapors. She added that commercial aircraft manufacturer Boeing also has developed a similar system.

"Today's rule will add another layer of safety reducing the chance that the vapors in the tank will ignite, even if there is a spark," said FAA Acting Administrator Robert A. Sturgell.

Secretary Peters noted the cost of installing the new technology would range from $92,000 to $311,000 per aircraft, depending on its size. She said this cost could be as little as one-tenth of one percent of the cost of a new aircraft. The U.S. aircraft that will be retrofitted include approximately 2,730 aircraft belonging to the A320 family of 900 airplanes, 50 A330s, 965 Boeing 737s, 60 Boeing 747s, 475 Boeing 757s, 150 Boeing 767s and 130 Boeing 777s.

"I recognize that this is a challenging time for commercial aviation," Secretary Peters said. "But there is no doubt that another crash like TWA 800 would pose a far greater challenge."

The Secretary made the announcement while addressing accident investigators at the National Transportation Safety Board's (NTSB) Training Facility in Virginia. Before addressing the examiners, the Secretary, Acting Administrator Sturgell and NTSB Chairman Mark Rosenker visited the remains of the TWA flight which are kept at the site as an educational tool for safety investigators.

The rule is published on the FAA and Federal Register's web sites at: http://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/rulemaking/recently_published/ or http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html.

London will receive £2.1m through the Urban Congestion Performance Fund

Ruth Kelly, Transport Secretary, today announced a £6 billion investment package to improve and make better use of England's motorways and other key roads and also published the Command Paper 'Roads - Delivering Choice and Reliability' setting out more detail on her innovative plans to tackle congestion, both on strategic routes and in our towns and cities.

This will fund a mix of techniques to get the most out of the existing network, such as opening the hard shoulder to traffic, taking forward the Advanced Motorway Signalling and Traffic Management Feasibility Study which identified almost 500 lane miles of motorway with the potential for hard shoulder running.

The Command Paper confirms that the M25 Junctions 5-7 and 23-27, the M3 and M4 approaching the M25 and the M23 Junctions 8-10 around Gatwick are being considered for hard shoulder running. The £6bn package includes funding for widening the M25 between Junctions 16 and 23 and between 27 and 30.

In addition, London will receive £2.1m through the Urban Congestion Performance Fund.

Ruth Kelly said:

"I am determined to get the best from our road network so that motorists in London have reliable journey times on roads that are safe and well-managed. The greatest barrier to this is congestion. It is frustrating and has serious consequences for the economy and the environment.

"To achieve this we need a smarter programme of investment. The £6 billion I am announcing today will allow us to develop and implement more innovative approaches to the way we use our major roads. This includes measures like opening the hard shoulder when traffic is at its heaviest, alongside some conventional widening where that makes best sense.

"Where we add new capacity through measures like this I am also interested to see what role car share or tolled lanes could play in helping traffic flow more smoothly - giving motorists a choice about how they make their journeys."

New funding has also been announced for our biggest towns and cities, recognising that 80% of congestion is currently in urban areas. This sees eight areas - Bristol, Greater Manchester, Leicester, London, Merseyside, South Yorkshire, Tyne and Wear and the West Midlands - benefiting from the first allocation of the performance-based £60m Urban Congestion Performance Fund.

Leeds has also won pump-priming funding to join those local authorities looking at tackling congestion through public transport improvements combined with local congestion charging. Cambridgeshire and Reading also receive further pump-priming funds to carry on developing their congestion-busting plans.

Ruth Kelly added:

"The majority of congestion is in our towns and cities, where the answer cannot be building new roads. That is why I will continue to support councils who want to investigate whether radical packages, which include public transport improvements combined with local congestion charging, would be the right solution for them."

Today's announcement includes:

- Up to £6bn in funding for improvements to strategic national roads in the period up to 2014 to cut congestion, support economic growth and improve road safety.

- Further details of how the hard shoulder could be used to provide extra space on the motorway network. We are looking in particular at sections of the motorway network previously planned for widening, and at some new locations including the M3 and M4 approaches to London, the M4 and M5 around Bristol and the M3 and M27 around Southampton. We are also considering how to make best use of the extra capacity, including looking at successful examples of dedicated or tolled lane use in America and hard-shoulder running in Europe.

- Revised cost estimates for the Highways Agency Major Roads Programme, including regional priorities.

- Pump priming funding for Cambridgeshire, Reading and Leeds through the up to £200m a year Transport Innovation Fund to allow them to investigate how they can manage congestion in innovative ways.

- The first tranche of performance-based funding from the £60m Urban Congestion Performance Fund. The first performance payments, totalling £6 million, will be shared between Bristol, Greater Manchester, Leicester, London, Merseyside, South Yorkshire, Tyne and Wear and the West Midlands.

An additional £8m to help local authorities manage their transport assets more effectively.

FRA Issues Final Rule for Rail Relocation and Improvement Grant Program. The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has issued a Final Rule detailing the eligibility requirements and selection criteria for capital grants under the Rail Line Relocation and Improvement program created in the SAFETEA-LU legislation. In order to be eligible for grant funding, a project must mitigate the adverse effects of rail traffic on safety, motor vehicle transport traffic flow, community quality of life or involve a lateral or vertical relocation of any portion of the rail line. Under the law, half of all grant funds are reserved for projects costing no more than $20 million each. A state or other eligible entity will be required to pay at least 10 percent of the shared costs of the project. Congress appropriated $20,040,200 for this program for FY2008 with $5,240,000 directed to nine (9) non-competitive projects. FRA intends to issue a Notice of Funding Availability later this year following which applications will be accepted for a competitive selection process for the remaining program funds. Click here http://www.fra.dot.gov/us/content/2008 for a copy of the Final Rule. Contact Steve Kulm: (202) 493-6024.

The picturesque train route between Brockenhurst and Lymington Pier stations has today been officially awarded Community Rail status by Transport Minister Tom Harris.

Designation of the five and quarter mile line, which passes through the New Forest National Park on its way to the key Isle of Wight ferry link at Lymington, brings a variety of benefits. It means official recognition of the new Community Rail Partnership set up at grassroots level to develop the service with a greater emphasis on meeting local needs. They also look at ways of increasing use of the route and improving the service.

Transport Minister Tom Harris said:

"This is good news for passengers in Hampshire. By becoming a community line this key transport link through an environmentally sensitive area will benefit greatly from the work of the Community Rail Partnership. A recently published study by the Association of Community Partnerships has demonstrated that they can boost use of the service, reduce car journeys in the area, help develop tourism and contribute to regeneration along the route.

"It is fitting that this positive news about its future comes as we celebrate the 150th anniversary of the first train to travel on the line."

Stewart Palmer, Managing Director, South West Trains added:

"Since the Lymington Line was first identified as a potential community railway transport we have worked hard to try and give the route an extra boost by creating a heritage railway with traditional slam door trains and a historical green and cream theme. We are proud to be part of the new Lymington to Brockenhurst Community Rail Partnership and hope that by all working together we can achieve the sort of success already achieved by the Isle of Wight Community Rail Partnership, of which we are also very proud to be a part."

Councillor Mel Kendal, Transport Portfolio holder for Hampshire County Council and Chairman of the Lymington-Brockenhurst Community Rail Partnership Steering Group concluded:

"Hampshire is proud to be associated with the Lymington - Brockenhurst Community Rail Partnership which is a real bonus for the enhancement of tourism in the New Forest area and for strengthening the maritime link with West Wight. Designation of the line will unlock measures to attract more visitors to the area by train and help generate a real sense of 'ownership', involvement and civic pride in the stations at Brockenhurst and Lymington and in the distinctive heritage trains themselves."

The federal government is making $1 million available immediately in emergency relief funds for Wisconsin to help pay for urgent repairs to roads and bridges damaged by floods, U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters announced today.

"We're making this down payment to help restore essential traffic routes so people can get back to their lives and businesses can begin to recover," Secretary Peters said.

Secretary Peters said the $1 million quick release was intended to help Wisconsin begin restoring roads that were washed out from the floods, including County Trunk Highway that provides access to Sauk County's Lake Delton, an important tourist destination and revenue generator for the region.

The Secretary added that the Department would continue to work with officials from Wisconsin and other Midwestern states as they assess the extent of road damage caused by the floods. She said more resources will likely be made available based on those evaluations.

The Federal Highway Administration's emergency relief program provides funds to states for the repair or reconstruction of federal-aid highways damaged by natural disasters or catastrophic events. The program typically works on a reimbursable basis.

In June, the Department provided a $1 million quick release to Iowa as well to repair damage from the Midwest floods.

"We're committed to bringing back essential transportation links after a natural disaster strikes," FHWA Acting Administrator Jim Ray said.

Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly has today launched a consultation on European Commission proposals to introduce compulsory CO2 targets for new cars. This will reduce carbon emissions, make cars more fuel efficient and cut the running costs of new cars.

The proposed target of 130gCO2/km by 2012 as the fleet average for each car manufacturer across the EU for all new cars will not only be an important step forward in tackling climate change, it will also incentivise the use of technology that will improve the fuel efficiency of new cars.

The Government is also urging the EU to adopt a longer term target - 100gCO2/km by 2020. This would deliver a cut in CO2 emissions from new cars by an extra five million tonnes a year by 2020, in addition to the six million tonnes cut under EU proposals. It could also reduce the running costs for motorists buying new cars by about £500 a year by 2020, a particularly important consideration at a time of rising oil prices.

The Government also wants to avoid