I wonder if your readers can help me with this conundrum - does the rail service lie in order to inflate its punctuality record or has Brighton developed its own euphemisms?

I was waiting for the 12.26pm from Brighton to Victoria on Sunday when an announcement was broadcast asking all passengers to stay on the main station concourse as the train was "being prepared for you".

This same announcement was made a few more times and, of course, in the end the train was not "prepared" in time, although the platform indicator also said that the train was "on time".

Although I appreciated the effort that the train company was going to in making the train wonderfully clean (although it was late), you can imagine my surprise when the train pulled into the station only for hundreds of people to pour off. Needless to say, without a mop, broom or rubbish sack in sight.

Since I have not lived in Brighton for many years now, I wonder whether "being prepared" now equates to "will be late" in Brighton and, if so, how might one use this phrase in a regular conversation without confusing people?

-James Healey, Peterborough Villas, London SW6