He would, it's his job.
However his wording, and where his words (supposing he actually said them - we are talking about journalism here) were quoted perhaps add more weight than they otherwise might.
As for HS2, by the time shortsighted politicians have finished mauling the project, and there have been the inevitable planning delays, Birmingham won't be 39 minutes from London in my lifetime (nor that of most of the posters here I fear)!