Robert Taggart
Member
- Joined
- 31 May 2012
- Messages
- 124
Good series. Glad not to be a regular traveller anymore !
-
Our booking engine at tickets.railforums.co.uk (powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!
BBC Documentary 'The Railways'
- Thread starter ralphchadkirk
- Start date
- Status
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R
RailUK Forums
When I was younger i admit to be very rude as i suffered from angry management and stress issues. After taking counseling I tend to be a bit better when there are disruptions to my trains.
near the end a lady says "you have not got a reservation to Glasgow for a particular time, you should of got on an early train". That doesnt make sense?
Last edited:
I thought that was an Advance & Connections ticket where they took a later train than advised and missed their booked train, that's the way I saw it anyway.
It is quite common for passengers who hold a e.g. EC & Connections ticket from Glasgow Cen/Qst to York [YRK] with reservations on the 13:30 departure ex Edinburgh [EDB] to turn up at Glasgow Queen Street [GLQ] for the 13:30 departure from there to EDB. Thereby missing their booked connection at EDB for YRK. AFAIK East Coast do not accept that as a valid reason for missing the train and a new ticket is called for. I offer to excess on board the GLQ - EDB service to the walk up fare with no admin fee - very few take me up on the offer and elect to take their chances on the East Coast train.
Butts
Veteran Member
As has been said how can a programme highlighting The Railway in Scotland not include Scotrail - if they refused to participate this should have been mentioned by Kevin Whatley in the commentary.
A bit like having a programme on Heathrow Airport without the inclusion of British Airways
A bit like having a programme on Heathrow Airport without the inclusion of British Airways
MichelleFrance
Member
For me it was great to see a female train driver. One day I hope a TOC will take my application serious and I see my dream to be a driver come to fruition. I am loving the series.
Birdbrain
Member
- Joined
- 16 Jun 2007
- Messages
- 398
I thought it was really interesting to see what NR have to do to keep scotland on the move. Shame ScotRail wouldn't take part, then they could have talked about the Kyle/Far north lines a bit and the Sleepers! Really enjoyed the series though, shame they didn't pop over to us here on the Isle Of Wight though!
Harbon 1
Member
Scotland episode:
Best so far IMO, although they need longer episodes to fit more in!
Valenta :-x:roll:
Best so far IMO, although they need longer episodes to fit more in!
Valenta :-x:roll:
90sWereBetter
Member
That middle-aged woman who, before boarding the coach to Carlisle told the staff member that the wires coming down was "the biggest load of rubbish I have ever heard in my life" just speaks volumes of the Great British Public. 
All in all, very good series.
All in all, very good series.
chris89
Established Member
It was a very good episode. Ashame for the reason for Scot rail though as all other TOC's were free and odd since First Group had FGW based on one episode.
More to confirm on how the general public treat railstaff, especially the one the previous poster, but appears a lot of people don't check news or national rail etc for delays etc.
More to confirm on how the general public treat railstaff, especially the one the previous poster, but appears a lot of people don't check news or national rail etc for delays etc.
I'm pretty sure you would notice someone down there...
Lovely soundbite - but was the context shown at all? I can't remember we were shown what she was responding to at all.That middle-aged woman who, before boarding the coach to Carlisle told the staff member that the wires coming down was "the biggest load of rubbish I have ever heard in my life" just speaks volumes of the Great British Public.
I think the overall "message" of the series was summed up in the title "The Railways - Keeping Britain On Track". It showed the multitude of elements that got in the way of perfection - from passengers to staff, weather to pheasants - hence the frequent emphasis on things going wrong (and the solutions). If it helped people become a little more understanding it did a good job.
work-traveller
Member
- Joined
- 18 May 2012
- Messages
- 412
Would have been good if this episode included a section on the Highland/Lowland sleeper services. They could warrant an entire episode to itself however.
To be honest though, all tv programmes focus on when things go wrong. It would have been a pretty boring series if it was along the lines of 'at kings cross everything is running pretty well, no real problems to report' and just had lots of happy staff walking around with passengers saying that the railway is ok really.
hairyhandedfool
Established Member
- Joined
- 14 Apr 2008
- Messages
- 8,837
Have you tried being in two places at once? It's not as easy as you might think.
For me it was great to see a female train driver. One day I hope a TOC will take my application serious and I see my dream to be a driver come to fruition. I am loving the series.
There are 100s of female drivers.
There are 1000s of males and 100s of females wanting to be drivers, it is simply the high numbers of applicants verses the low number of vacancies.
I think its the lack of a mirror on the back of the sun visor in the cab for touching up makeup that puts a lot of women off. Plus high heals are difficult on ballast (though I don't speak from experience on that).
Trainfan344
Established Member
- Joined
- 13 Oct 2012
- Messages
- 2,306
These are operated by Scotrail who refused to be filmed for the documentary.
I had not actually noticed that... Any reason...
Read back a few posts, its all been explained on this thread earlier today.
work-traveller
Member
- Joined
- 18 May 2012
- Messages
- 412
Maybe Scotrail just don't like the medium of tv and prefer radio. That would explain why they co-operated with Radio 4 to turn out a 30 minute documentary on the Highland Sleeper:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01n6rb6
Well worth a listen if you haven't already.
Monty
Established Member
- Joined
- 12 Jun 2012
- Messages
- 2,355
Overall a good balanced view of the railway, and apart from the odd gripe I have thoroughly enjoyed it. Plenty of scope for a second series I just hope the BBC consider it. 
Like the Northern Belle being a restored 1930s Vintage Train...Yes, i remember those 1930s vintage Air Conditioned Mk2 / Mk3s. Very 70s>30s vintage. Doh!
I had to smile at that too. Obviously though, the narrator was only speaking the script which had been written for him, so if that's how Northern Belle stock is officially described, how do they square it with the Trades Descriptions Act?
That middle-aged woman who, before boarding the coach to Carlisle told the staff member that the wires coming down was "the biggest load of rubbish I have ever heard in my life" just speaks volumes of the Great British Public.
Yes, it was quite obviously made up because Virgin didn't fancy running any trains and thought buses would be more fun!
Like the Northern Belle being a restored 1930s Vintage Train...Yes, i remember those 1930s vintage Air Conditioned Mk2 / Mk3s. Very 70s>30s vintage. Doh!
When I heard about people wanting to travel on a train from a bygone era, I thought it was going to show one of our Class 313s to Moorgate. Boy was I disappointed!
That would make it somewhat easier to identify you!
They did say they get loads of enquiries so it might be fairer to say they turned down the opportunity, as against 'refused'. I know you could argue that's the same thing, but it does imply something different - and this isn't a tabloid newspaper!!
Last edited:
christopher
Member
I was quite surprised that the carcus of the animal was shown as it was, Wonder if the BBC gets any complaints for that :roll:
Quite a good episode, Hoping it gets a second series as it's got better with each episode!
Another very enjoyable program that shows rail staff in a very good light. It was very interesting hearing the lovely lady driver talking about her first fatality.
I did feel that the 83 year old gentleman who wasn't getting a reserved seat all the way to London should have been looked after better, (perhaps he was but it wasn't shown), as it's not right that he should have to stand for such a long journey.
I must take the family to Scotland.
I did feel that the 83 year old gentleman who wasn't getting a reserved seat all the way to London should have been looked after better, (perhaps he was but it wasn't shown), as it's not right that he should have to stand for such a long journey.
I must take the family to Scotland.
- Status