The gravy train

The Diary is pleased to announce the results of the competition to name the train that Universities UK was due to charter to transport vice-chancellors to its conference next week.

The winning entry is the Harry Potter-inspired Hogs' Trough Express.

But readers' efforts were all in vain. It transpires that not enough vice-chancellors were prepared to use public transport for it to be worthwhile to charter a train. The Diary presumes they are all being driven to Aberystwyth in their Mercedes and BMWs. For those who are flying, a coach will set off from Birmingham International to allow vice-chancellors to complete their journeys by road.