Boring PR from HS2

• YOUR October 26 feature on High Speed 2 misreported yet another confusing HS2 press release, (Topping out party at HS2 cube building which is ‘no longer needed’).

The CNJ reported that HS2 said: “it had named the two tunnel boring machines preparing to bulldoze between Old Oak Common and the top of Parkway… Emily and Anne”.

But HS2’s press release was about the “London Tunnels” (west of Old Oak Common) not the “Euston Tunnels”, the boring machines for which do not yet exist.

Different press releases had previously announced that the two HS2 tunnel boring machines between Old Oak Common and Euston would be named (and christened) next year.

“The two boring machines will be named and blessed in a Christian ceremony – with a statue of St Barbara, the patron saint of tunnelling, before they are lowered into a deep chamber next year and covered over to await their potential dig towards Euston”.

HS2 plan to do a big public relations number before this ceremonial burial… to chose the names of the two machines… that is, chosen by local children etc.

I suggest that the most appropriate names are Jude and Rita…

For St Jude is the patron saint of lost causes…

And St Rita is the patron saint of doing the impossible.

Particularly in multi-cultural Camden, there must surely be a big question mark about this specifically Christian ceremony to assign specifically female identity to tunnel boring machines… though I’m not sure where this is leading.

But sadly all this confusing expensive politically questionable PR is not leading to HS1 and Eurostar at St Pancras, for which HS2 no longer seems to be relevant.

And St Pancras was the saint customarily invoked against such “false witness and perjury” as well as (HS2 induced?) “cramps and headaches” (incurred in trying to find out the truth about this most opaque project).

JEFF TRAVERS
Camden HS2 Association of Residents Groups for Engagement (CHARGE)