IEP to be swung by soft loan?

Telegrammed by Ithuriel
Subscribers to RailHub were tantalised with the following this morning...

Philip Hammond is understood to be visiting the site of a potential Intercity Express Programme rolling stock assembly plant at Newton Aycliffe in Co. Durham on Thursday 18 November. There is speculation that a rail-related announcement may be made then.

Meanwhile this from Reuters...

Nov 13 (Reuters) - The Japanese government is considering giving financial support for Hitachi Ltd's (6501.T) bid to win a high-speed railway project order in the UK, the Nikkei reported.

The Japanese government would provide a loan through the Japan Bank for International Cooperation to a railcar-leasing company that Hitachi plans to establish with a leading British general contractor, the daily said.

To be absolutely clear.

A less expensive wrong train is still the wrong train, plus 20 years to rue the wrong decision.