BBC Documentary 'The Railways'

Starmill · 16 Mar 2013

rebmcr said:
The point is that we don't know whether that was the same journey as the fare-dodge.

I think this demonstrated the point well; we don't have a clue how many journeys they followed that guy on.

RailUK Forums

Markos72 · 18 Mar 2013

Wyvern said:
Not going to be filmed then with your mucky bare feet up on a table?

Never have the time to put my booted feet up on a table never mind bare feet

crispy1978 · 19 Mar 2013

Enjoying tonight's programme once again. There's a very distinctive "relaxed" difference with the rail travel in Scotland, which is how I've always found it as well.

Disappointed the Far North Line wasn't covered.

trainophile · 19 Mar 2013

Very good prog again, but tonight it seemed that the background "music" was too loud at times and drowned out the voices. Particularly the scenes in the maintenance sheds.

Fabulous scenery in the Highlands - that's definitely gone on my "to visit" list.

Trainfan344 · 19 Mar 2013

I do like the idea that whenever something goes wrong in scotland, their instinct is "Theres a lot of forms to fill out"

thelongestroad · 19 Mar 2013

Trainfan344 said:
I do like the idea that whenever something goes wrong in scotland, their instinct is "Theres a lot of forms to fill out"

Believe you me it's the same in the dirty South too.

ATW Alex 101 · 19 Mar 2013

Would love that job of walking down the West Highland line. Loved the deocmposed stag as well

IanD · 19 Mar 2013

"It's a rare passenger who wishes to be delayed!" - not when there's delay repay to claim resulting in a free/v cheap trip - bring it on!

richw · 19 Mar 2013

I know it sounds morbid, but I found it quite interesting the work they do to the train after a fatality. Would never have thought of the clean up being such a job.

Eastcoast43208 · 19 Mar 2013

Definitely my favourite the series, This one has been allot more informative loved the bits in craigentinny depot showing how they maintain the HST powercars and all that behind the scenes work we dont usually see.

Good to see a few familiar faces in the programme from East Coast, well done BBC they done a good job on this series.

Lrd · 20 Mar 2013

richw said:
I know it sounds morbid, but I found it quite interesting the work they do to the train after a fatality. Would never have thought of the clean up being such a job.

It shows just how much damage can be done to a train (and other objects in the way) travelling at speed.

HowardGWR · 20 Mar 2013

trainophile said:
Fabulous scenery in the Highlands - that's definitely gone on my "to visit" list.

Make sure it's not raining or fog then. Mind, that will be difficult. They must have waited for weeks to get those shots.

Requeststop · 20 Mar 2013

I have really enjoyed this series. I have learned a lot about the backroom of the rail service in the UK. If it has made me more appreciative of what happens then yes it has.

Highlight of the series? Difficult to say. Too many to really decide upon.

Low point of the series? The totally unnecessary self confession of the ugly announcer at Aintree that he was gay and was secretly watching the "men" through the one way mirror. What was the point of that?

Most revealing point of the series? Just how rude and ungrateful the public are to the staff. It seems the words thank you for the information and help staff give to individuals travelling.

Hope there is scope for a second series before too long.

Ferret · 20 Mar 2013

A very good episode last night, and full marks to that Guard for the way he tried to deal with the drunk.

High Dyke · 20 Mar 2013

It may just be a persons perception of their fellow humans, but i think last nights episode was a marked improvement on the previous week. The warmth and humanity seemed to show through better last night. It seemed more a case of people getting on with their jobs as safely and to the best of their abilities whereas some weeks it has been a bit 'ooh look at me!'

That said one thing that has been prevalent through the series is pointing out the negatives - overcrowding, fares, disruption when it goes wrong. It shows the public can be rude, arrogant and dismissive at rail staff. Though it has also shown the public how their journey can be affected by so many things. Some positive aspects of railway operation were at least observed.

Darandio · 20 Mar 2013

I agree with the sentiments of many, a fantastic final episode to round off a fantastic series.

Only annoyance for me was that bloke boarding the rail replacement coach and being offered a bottle of water, to which his reply was less than polite.

Zoidberg · 20 Mar 2013

Darandio said:
I agree with the sentiments of many, a fantastic final episode to round off a fantastic series.

...

I agree.

The annoyance for me was reference - twice - to Craigentinny being near Edinburgh. It's IN Edinburgh - honest! Poxy lackadaisical researchers / script-writers

gimmea50anyday · 20 Mar 2013

Requeststop said:
Most revealing point of the series? Just how rude and ungrateful the public are to the staff.

Darandio said:
that bloke boarding the rail replacement coach and being offered a bottle of water, to which his reply was less than polite.

Sadly that's the sort of rude and arrogance staff such as myself have o put up with on a daily basis. Many time I have heard staff on the program say they don't take it personal, but sometimes it can't be helped and some of the rude and personal do grind on the staff. We re human beings with feelings at the end of the day.

stut · 20 Mar 2013

Darandio said:
Only annoyance for me was that bloke boarding the rail replacement coach and being offered a bottle of water, to which his reply was less than polite.

One of the reasons why I don't work in a public-facing role! If someone spoke like that to one of my employees, they'd be finding their own way to Carlisle.

gimmea50anyday · 20 Mar 2013

Suggestions for improvement production people. Story lines a bit more linear and tidy up the continuity. The EDL boarded a Northern 144 at Leeds to Dewsbury, yet they were announced as boarding the 10:25 TPE. Northern rail pulls in to Dewsbury. Passengers seen leaving a 185!!! Virgin guy dealing with stolen ticket chucked guy off at Crewe, yet he was working a Euston advertised to call at Stockport only! Morning rush hour in Leeds and we cut straight to a shot of btp at 19:45!

HawkeyeTheNoo · 20 Mar 2013

I too enjoyed last nights episode but did wonder why no one from Scotrail was featured! Now I know!

http://www.scotsman.com/news/transport/anger-as-scotrail-snubs-bbc-documentary-1-2846430

The Scotsman said:
POLITICIANS and unions have criticised Scotland’s main train operator for refusing to take part in a BBC documentary about the Scottish rail network which was shown across the UK last night.

• Rival train operators in Scotland allowed filming to take place.

• ScotRail didn’t take part despite operating 95 per cent of Scotland’s trains.

No ScotRail staff appeared in the programme, The Railway: Keeping Britain on Track, which featured instead workers from other rail firms north of the Border, including rival train operators East Coast and Virgin, and Network Rail.

The show, which was the last of a six-part series on Britain’s railways that had been seen by 1.8 million viewers, offered a sympathetic portrait of staff from the two England-based train operators, such as in assisting passengers caught up in delays, tracing lost luggage and dealing with a drunk man on board.

Cameras also followed a female East Coast train driver, along with its train cleaners and depot maintenance staff, all of whom clearly demonstrated their love for the job.

Similar sentiments came from several Network Rail staff featured in the programme, including a Gaelic-speaking track maintenance engineer on the Glasgow-Fort William West Highland Line, used almost solely by ScotRail trains, and technicians repairing damaged overhead wires on the west coast main line south of Glasgow.

Missed opportunity

However, despite references in the episode, entitled North of the Border, to the Scottish Government running the railways in Scotland, the only sign of ScotRail, which operates 95 per cent of the country’s trains, was the occasional sight of its carriages in the background.

The current £2.5 billion, ten-year ScotRail franchise, which ends in 2015, was won by Aberdeen-based FirstGroup, and is the Scottish Government’s biggest contract.

By contrast, train operator First Great Western, also owned by FirstGroup, played a central role in an earlier programme in the series, about Reading station.

Glasgow Green MSP and former Holyrood transport committee convener Patrick Harvie said ScotRail’s decision not to be involved with the programme had been a missed opportunity.

He said: “This series shows that many other rail companies, including East Coast’s operation in Scotland, are willing to work with the BBC to give the public a real insight into our railways.

“ScotRail’s public relations people are always happy to talk about their successes, and it’s disappointing that they don’t want the public to see a truly detailed picture of how they run a vital public service.”

Disappointed

Kevin Lindsay, Scottish secretary of Aslef, the main train drivers’ union, said: “I am disappointed that they did not want their staff to be part of this true to life experience of the UK’s railways.

“Cynics might think they had something to hide. Aslef believe it’s a missed opportunity to showcase the exceptional talents of their staff.”

However a ScotRail spokesman said: “We receive scores of filming requests. Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate all of them due to the demands they place upon staffing resources.

“In this case, the filming process would have taken weeks.”

East Coast, which has 2,800 staff compared to more than 4,000 at ScotRail, said it was happy to have taken part in the series, including in another episode about King’s Cross station in London.

A spokesman for East Coast said: “The series has highlighted the challenges which Britain’s train operators, including East Coast, respond to every day.

“On the whole, the series has given a useful insight into the work which goes on behind the scenes to keep trains moving, involving the train operators and Network Rail.”

michael769 · 20 Mar 2013

Thanks I had wondered why Scotrail was barely mentioned. I am relieved to see it was not down the the BBC.

Ferret · 20 Mar 2013

Some operators were apparently concerned that it would show them in a bad light...!

I do find it mildly amusing that East Coast (IMO) came out of it better than Virgin did, despite their attempts at stage-management!

charlee · 20 Mar 2013

Really enjoyed the Scotland episode, just had a little bit of everything in it. The contrast between the highlands and Glasgow/Edinburgh etc.

Norfolk, south west and south were all absent from the series though. I'm hoping for a second series that can focus more on these areas too.

Looking back I think Wales should have had its own episode, and kings cross had to be the most boring of the lot. All in all a good series which I'd be glad to see return

burneside · 20 Mar 2013

Requeststop said:
Low point of the series? The totally unnecessary self confession of the ugly announcer at Aintree that he was gay and was secretly watching the "men" through the one way mirror. What was the point of that?

And I think it was totally unnecessary for you to use the word "ugly". Who are you to make that judgement?

reb0118 · 20 Mar 2013

Zoidberg said:
I agree.

The annoyance for me was reference - twice - to Craigentinny being near Edinburgh. It's IN Edinburgh - honest! Poxy lackadaisical researchers / script-writers

Well, we residents know that Edinburgh finishes here every where else is literally "oot o' this warld". The World's End pub, well worth a visit BTW & a short walk from the Waverley, was infamous for these murders.

I was disappointed not to see more input from ScotRail but we now know the reason why. A missed opportunity I think.

jamieP · 20 Mar 2013

I was a bit disappointed there wasn't more mentioned about charter trains especially the Jacobites.

Zoidberg · 20 Mar 2013

reb0118 said:
Well, we residents know that Edinburgh finishes here every where else is literally "oot o' this warld". The World's End pub, well worth a visit BTW & a short walk from the Waverley, was infamous for these murders.

I was disappointed not to see more input from ScotRail but we now know the reason why. A missed opportunity I think.

Oh, I know the area well - and a good number of the pubs in the locale a bit too well

fgwrich · 20 Mar 2013

Zoidberg said:
I agree.

The annoyance for me was reference - twice - to Craigentinny being near Edinburgh. It's IN Edinburgh - honest! Poxy lackadaisical researchers / script-writers

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! :lol:

thelongestroad · 20 Mar 2013

burneside said:
And I think it was totally unnecessary for you to use the word "ugly". Who are you to make that judgement?

Perhaps requeststop is one of these management types who wants all staff to act like robots.... No personalities.

BBC Documentary 'The Railways'

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