Trainspotting

Gordon Brown let the train take the strain this morning as his Cabinet arrived in south Wales for their awayday.

The big announcement, trailed yesterday, is the go-ahead for electrification of the rail line between London and Swansea.

Everyone sees it as good news, although the Tories have questioned the cost - would they scrap the plan if they win power?

Plaid Cymru have been trying very hard - perhaps two hard - to persuade us that it was their Transport Minister, Ieuan Wyn Jones, who persuaded the UK Government to cough up the cash.

Mr Jones was at Cardiff Central for the arrival of the prime ministerial express, bearing UK Transport Secretary Lord Adonis.

The two enjoy a good working relationship and were soon deep in conversation on platform three. They'd left their anoraks at home but there was an air of trainspotters' convention about the meeting.

Any political trainspotters hanging around would have spotted Lord Mandelson and the Chancellor, Alistair Darling, getting off the train accompanied by various officials and spin doctors.

Gordon Brown left his carriage accompanied by Rhodri Morgan, a surprise to those of us who assumed the First Minister was based in Cardiff.

Apparently Mr Morgan was driven to Newport station this morning so he could have a chat with the PM on the train during the 17-minute journey to Cardiff.

Nothing to do with wanting to be captured on camera arriving alongside the PM.

I was on my best behaviour so resisted the temptationt to shout out: "Have you come far, First Minister?"