Low cunning?

Even the Gricerati have been invited to the Transport Ministers' Christmas drinks reception hosted by Geoff Hoon on Tuesday evening.

We wonder whether any of the railway hacks will be brave enough to ask Lord Adonis to explain the table in the Rolling Stock Plan which the Prince of DafTness claimed was 'crystal clear' to him?

Or come to that will anyone dare seek a steer on who is going to be announced as preferred bidder for the Frankenstein train on Thursday?

Actually the announcement was scheduled for Friday but was brought forward to the 18th.

No doubt this is unconnected to the fact that Modern Railways and the Railway Gazette are both having Christmas do's on that very day.

DafT are presumably hoping that the technical hacks will be too tired and emotional to coherently brief the Nationals on this procurement disaster?