Crossrail has launched an exciting new competition to find names for the six tunnel boring machines due to start work on the Crossrail tunnels beneath London this spring. Local people, and anyone else with an interest in the project, are invited to submit pairs of names for the giant tunnel boring machines.

You have until February to come up with some fun names. Once the Crossrail panel of judges has a selected a shortlist of entries, the results will be published and the public can cast their vote in which names they think are the most appropriate.

“This competition is a chance for Londoners and those living along the Crossrail route to suggest the names of the tunnel boring machines that will construct the major new rail tunnels under London. In years to come the winners of the competition will be able to travel on Crossrail and not only say they named the machines that built the tunnels but that they watched history unfold as tunnelling started,” says Andy Mitchell, Programme Director at Crossrail.

The most popular names will be announced in March and the winners will see their choice emblazoned on the sides of two of the 1,000 ton tunnel boring machines. The winners will also have a choice of Eurostar vouchers or an annual family pass to enjoy the delights of the Merlin Theme Parks. Winning entrants will also be invited to attend the launch of the first tunnel boring machines at the Royal Oak portal.

The first two Crossrail tunnel boring machines will be launched from Royal Oak early this spring and they should reach Farringdon before the end of summer next year. The second pair of Crossrail TBMs is due to be launched later on this year, from Docklands, and finally, the last pair will be launched from Plumstead this winter.