Boring news. A new academy for tunnel engineering is to be opened in London in 2010. The academy will support the immense Crossrail project, and will coach workers in skills such as shaft excavation, drilling, blasting, and appeasing balrogs. Possibly. A chthonic workforce of over 1000 people will be trained by 2015. Their hypogeal exertions will be financed through an £8 million investment from the mayor (ever-interested in new ways to dig himself out of a hole), with further funds coming from the construction industry. With various Tube extensions and possible High Speed rail lines on the cards, having a local workforce ready-trained should be a lasting boon for the South East.
