Something to Choo-Choo On

Yet ANOTHER railway programme, and yet ANOTHER fly-on-the-wall documentary but 'The Railway: Keeping Britain on Track' chugs along nicely. The first episode featured the unpleasantness that is Kings Cross, a dirty, crowded, decrepit yoke of a station which we see undergoing a much needed modernisation (one of the participants gets confused by the pristine new concourse, confusing it with the gleaming, uber-cool St Pancras. Kevin Whately's narration provides the reassuring quality control that a lot of the rail network is missing. There were examples of great customer service but also documenting of passenger frustration and outrageous peak inter-city fares ('thetvreviewguy''s eyes popped out on hearing that a peak return to Newcastle was well over 200 Pounds). Who'd work in a Railway? Well, many of the participants, whether it was their first rung on the ladder or accident, resembled your average Office - except managing and running very big toys. Train Drivers are pretty unpopular but 'thetvreviewguy' would rather have a rested and contented driver than a pissed off one. We saw the darker side of the job; suicides. Many commuters get angry at the inconvenience caused by a suicide but 'Keeping Britain on Track' featured a heart-breaking story of a Father having to identify his Son (which was just told, as a story) which would change the viewpoint of most people hearing it. A series that's unlikely to go off the rails.