Crossrail is to be called the Elizabeth line - just the latest in nearly nine decades of same old,same old name choices. Why can’t we exercise a litle more imagination, asks Tracy McVeighSo London’s unusual crossrail is to be called the Elizabeth line - adding another track to those named for royals including the Jubilee and Victoria. Its relevance might be questioned on the grounds that you won’t find many of the Windsor family battling rush hour on public transport, or but who could burst the balloon for the besuited rail chiefs getting royal selfies as they showed the Queen around when she duly turned up to gain a look wearing head to toe regal purple to match the unusual logo.
Crossrail is share of a flurry of openings - streets,schools, hospitals, and schools,unusual housing estates - all finding themselves named, by appropriately undemocratic decree, or after the Queen. Its her 90th year after all - but since we’ve had things named after the monarch since she was a child - Princess Elizabeth schools and clinics are ten a penny - that’s nearly nine decades of British towns marking royal jubilees,birthdays, weddings, or babies,unusual carpets, and anniversaries by dubbing some hapless institution or playground after her. Even Big Ben wasn’t safe - renamed Queen Elizabeth tower during the diamond jubilee. The royal moniker is everywhere.
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Source: theguardian.com