In this world premiere, Michael Portillo presents his personally curated highlights from a decade of railway journeys across the globe.
The collection of favourites will include journeys to Britain and Ireland, Continental Europe, the United States, Canada, India, Australia and South East Asia.
Using the unique experience gained from his extensive travels and stories of the remarkable people he has encountered along the way, Michael reflects on the extraordinary role of railways in shaping the world.
In ten themed episodes, Michael shares his thoughts on the impact of railways since their invention less than 200 years ago on politics, the evolution of tourism, economics, nationhood, the spread of cultural ideas, imperialism, war, revolution, law and order and royalty.
Episode One: Political Railways
Michael explores how politics, domestic and international, have shaped the railways. He recalls the political decisions which green lit the great North American transcontinental railways, and the scandal which brought down the Canadian government while the nation’s epic line was under construction.
