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Author Topic: Richard Wilson to present documentary about today's railways.  (Read 29215 times)
JayMac
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« on: March 16, 2011, 00:11:07 »

Dispatches: Train Journeys from Hell.  Channel 4, Monday 21 March 2011, 8pm.

From the Radio Times:

Quote
Richard Wilson investigates the state of Britain's railways in the face of complaints from passengers about high ticket prices, overcrowded carriages and cancellations. The actor experiences the hustle and bustle of the daily train commute, and interviews experts, industry insiders and members of the public.

3..... 2..... 1.....
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Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #1 on: March 16, 2011, 00:13:20 »

"I don't believe it!"

 Grin
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William Huskisson MP (Member of Parliament) was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830.  Many more have died in the same way since then.  Don't take a chance: stop, look, listen.

"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner."  Discuss.
JayMac
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« Reply #2 on: March 16, 2011, 00:16:59 »

Just knew someone would, that's why I supplied the countdown.  Roll Eyes Wink Grin
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willc
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« Reply #3 on: March 16, 2011, 00:46:14 »

Dispatches: Train Journeys from Hell.  Channel 4, Monday 21 March 2011, 8pm.

From the Radio Times:

Quote
Richard Wilson investigates the state of Britain's railways in the face of complaints from passengers about high ticket prices, overcrowded carriages and cancellations. The actor experiences the hustle and bustle of the daily train commute, and interviews experts, industry insiders and members of the public.


Which is to say, some badly-paid researcher does all the work, then a 'celeb' turns up to front because otherwise no-one will watch the programme...
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JayMac
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« Reply #4 on: March 16, 2011, 01:23:23 »

That's telly. Would it make a difference if it was Michael Portillo, Michael Palin, Ian Hislop, Pete Waterman etc etc presenting?

Should we have the researchers, who've done all the legwork, in front of camera? No. So the producers get a 'name' in instead. After all it's the job of programme makers to get an audience.

Maybe wait and see how this 'sleb' gets on, eh?
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"Build a man a fire and he'll be warm for the rest of the day. Set a man on fire and he'll be warm for the rest of his life."

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Timmer
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« Reply #5 on: March 16, 2011, 06:29:50 »

I wonder which TOCs (Train Operating Company) are going to face the wrath Victor Meldrew?
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Henry
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« Reply #6 on: March 16, 2011, 07:44:22 »


 Saw a trailer for the documentary Monday evening.
 Richard Wilson was shown attempting to use the voice automated phone system. Needless to say C4 seemed
 to exploit the Victor Meldrew level of patience. (having said that!!!!).
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willc
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« Reply #7 on: March 16, 2011, 08:35:06 »

That's telly. Would it make a difference if it was Michael Portillo, Michael Palin, Ian Hislop, Pete Waterman etc etc presenting?

Should we have the researchers, who've done all the legwork, in front of camera? No. So the producers get a 'name' in instead. After all it's the job of programme makers to get an audience.

Maybe wait and see how this 'sleb' gets on, eh?

So the only way to get anyone to watch is to put a celebrity brand on it? I think they might just have got an audience for it whoever was presenting. What someone I last saw on stage at Stratford wearing yellow stockings can tell us - as against a proper journalist, say Christian Wolmar, who knows the issues - is beyond me.

But then someone like Mr Wolmar might insist on bringing some balance to proceedings. I don't suppose this programme will feature too many satisfied passengers or boring tales of daily commutes that pass without incident most of the time.
« Last Edit: March 16, 2011, 09:01:25 by willc » Logged
JayMac
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« Reply #8 on: March 16, 2011, 17:21:13 »

Balance? From the World's Greatest Living Transport Correspondent? That I'd like to see.
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"Build a man a fire and he'll be warm for the rest of the day. Set a man on fire and he'll be warm for the rest of his life."

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willc
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« Reply #9 on: March 16, 2011, 23:05:19 »

Meaning what?

I think you might get a more rounded picture and some constructive criticism from Mr Wolmar than a programme with the title given above and which has been produced on the back of a shamelessly slanted fishing trip which sought horror stories and nothing else and is fronted by an actor best known for playing a grumpy old man, which will doubtless feature the usual lily-livered response from Atoc.
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Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #10 on: March 16, 2011, 23:20:02 »

I'm inclined to agree with willc on that.  Wink
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William Huskisson MP (Member of Parliament) was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830.  Many more have died in the same way since then.  Don't take a chance: stop, look, listen.

"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner."  Discuss.
Andrew1939 from West Oxon
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« Reply #11 on: March 17, 2011, 17:12:11 »

Thanks for alerting us to this programme, I will make an effort to watch it even if I feel frustrated at the end of it.
However researchers are needed to prepare the ground for these types of programmes but they are not all capable as presenters and many would not wish to do so. Programme research and programmer presenting require two very different skills.
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eightf48544
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« Reply #12 on: March 17, 2011, 18:31:04 »

It has ever been thus when reporting the railways, the bad new gets prominence.

As bignosemac says the million of boring daily coommuter journies aren't news.

We had the the same problem in the 60s in fact teh Southern produce a booklet for all commuters called something like the 8 o'clock (pre 24 hour) to London. It started by saying which 8 o'clock? Then proceded to list all the stations with a train at that time.

The problem with the railways is that are only as good as the last journey anyone makes.

However they don't help themselves with things like lack of information during disruptions although I agree it is very difficult to mange the minute by minute situation and tell people what you are doing at the same time.

One area where they do require substained, consistent and informed critism is the current fare structure.

It almost seems to set up to ensure that you pay the highest possible price, because you darn't buy a cheaper ticket in case it's not valid on the trains you choose to travel on. It doesn't help that different TOCS have different rules for Peak and Off peak. and now you get penalised for travelling through Birmingham in the peak.

I doubt taht there is anyone in teh country who could tell you what the cheapest fare between any two points on the rail network and what trains it is  valid on and is the what chance of getting one.

Bignosemac excepted.
 
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JayMac
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« Reply #13 on: March 17, 2011, 18:37:03 »

Bignosemac excepted.

Thanks, but I still get trumped by others! And occasionally trump myself. Advised my sister last week what I thought was her cheapest option for a train journey, only to remember a better deal after she'd bought her tickets. I haven't told her though!
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"Build a man a fire and he'll be warm for the rest of the day. Set a man on fire and he'll be warm for the rest of his life."

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Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #14 on: March 17, 2011, 18:43:41 »

From the London Evening Standard:

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I don't believe it! is that Victor in cattle class?

Richard Wilson is on the 7.45am First Great Western train from Reading to Paddington. This is not how he is used to travelling, standing up with the commuters in cattle class.

"Is it always like this?" he asks a woman who appears to be sitting on the luggage rack. "Yes," she says. "Do you ever get a seat?" "No," says the woman. "But would you like to have a seat here on the luggage rack?" The man who, as Victor Meldrew, epitomised curmudgeonly crossness breaks into roars of laughter. "I've never been offered a luggage rack before!"

He shoulders his way along the carriage a bit. "I've heard people sit in here sometimes," he says, opening the door marked Toilet. Perched on the seat, he shakes his head. "I don't believe it!" he says. "Oh, whoops." Yes, that catchphrase. "Well, I suppose this is slightly more pleasant than standing up. He apologies to a commuter who is clearly in need of relieving himself. "Do you want to come in?"

Wilson clearly isn't used to all this. "I've been going First Class since One Foot in the Grave," he says in his Scottish burr. "I used to get recognised so much and ... well, that was my excuse," he sighs. "I just have a penchant for five-star hotels, taking taxis and going First Class."

So why is he slumming it on what is generally held to be London's most overcrowded commuter experience? Work, my dear. Wilson, 75, has accepted the task of researching our rail services for Channel 4's Dispatches. And what he has discovered has shocked him.

"The woman who was sitting on the luggage rack, do you know she pays ^4,000 a year for a season ticket? And she never gets a seat! And for older people the state of the trains is a real pain."

During his Dispatches mission, Wilson has been introduced to the "hunter gatherer" way in which the harried commuter will search for a seat, and then secure it. He's understood that no one stands up for anyone else (on a week-long shoot, only one person, in Manchester, offered him a seat). He's been astounded at the lack of carriages at busy times, frustrated by automated ticket services and gobsmacked by the conditions which working people must put up with.

He's also learned about "crush rage", wherein people lose the plot thanks to the effects of being poured into a train at rush hour. "But more than that I was amazed at how tolerant most people are. It's the British way, I suppose. Not complaining, paying thousands of pounds for a season ticket and putting up with it. Or altering their behaviour in order to cope. I met lots of people who are getting up an hour earlier just so that they can get a seat."

Last week, Wilson was travelling from London to Sheffield, where he works as an associate director at the Playhouse. He'd bought a First Class return ticket two days before online - and with his Senior Railcard, it only cost him ^15.85. However, when the guard came around, Wilson discovered he had left his wallet at home. With his Railcard in it.

"Well, I am clearly over 65!" he tells me. "But because I didn't have my Senior Railcard, he charged me a full fare of ^139, each way. So a total of ^278. I admit that I did get a bit tetchy. Yes, I can afford the full fare but what if you are some old dear who hasn't got much money, decides to treat herself to First Class, and forgets her Railcard?"

Indeed, since One Foot in the Grave started in 1990, Wilson has been something of a champion for the elderly. The programme bucked the assumed trend that programmes about older people facing retirement (or as in Victor Meldrew's case, redundancy) will be a ratings disaster. The show ran for 10 years and six series, turning Wilson into a national treasure.

Some might think working as a reporter on Dispatches at 75 might be seen as a bit tardy but then Wilson has always been a late starter. He trained as a lab technician and only went to Rada at 27 after he'd done National Service and had another profession under his belt. Even when he became a theatre stalwart, he found time to engage himself in the real world. "It's very good for actors to get out and into the workplace, to see how people really are. I used to go to the Old Bailey a lot. You would see very desperate people there. Or the local police station."

So being a reporter for Dispatches came naturally? "I found I liked listening to other people. It is amazing how you can be made aware of someone else's life, and how open people are."

Will he carry on working? "I certainly will," says Wilson. "I have told my agent that I want to carry on making enough money in order to keep on travelling in First Class." Presumably his recent experiences in London's commuter-crush have only stiffened his resolve.

Richard Wilson is in Train Journeys From Hell, Channel 4, March 21, 8pm.
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William Huskisson MP (Member of Parliament) was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830.  Many more have died in the same way since then.  Don't take a chance: stop, look, listen.

"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner."  Discuss.
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