Remember I told you about all those sleepless nights I spent over the Summer, worrying that the Waterloo & City line might come back to us that little bit too perfect? Well I needn't have worried.

Not only has the overall character been largely preserved in the trains and station furniture I mentioned, but one long-running W&C tradition is proving itself to be very much alive and well... the fact that the line itself rarely is.

For years, potential 'Drain' users would hold their breath as any traffic report neared its conclusion, awaiting news on the roulette-like odds as to whether the line would be running or not. In theory, part of the aim of the Summer refurbishment was to confine that feeling to history. But judging by the comments of those same users, it would appear not...

Aside from the more regular teething problems experienced, have a look at what faced angry commuters only last week.

In what can only be described as pure PR suicide, Transport for London seems almost to be playing up to the tradition by releasing such an outrageously honest explanation. The perfect parody of the old "leaves on the line" cliché, even the great Reggie Perrin (him again) didn't endure "dust on the platforms at Waterloo" as part of his infamously disastrous commutes. What a comedy memo to the head of Metronet he would have found himself dictating to Joan that morning - if seemingly a little far fetched.

A memo which, perhaps, would be best abbreviated to form this most pithy assessment of the underlying Waterloo & City line dilemma. It's a slice of emotion so raw it could only have come from a commuter who knows the drill and, frankly, is asking himself the exact same question the boss of Metronet must surely be demanding of his staff right now.

So, it looks like I can sleep sound. Odds are, the 'Drain' will be sleeping too.