The sixth and final part of this series produced for Tyne Tees Television by Honky Tonk Productions that explores the great railway age from the early horse-drawn waggon ways, through the romance of steam, to futuristic monorail of the 21st century. In this final programme presenter Andy Klutz looks to the future of railway by first speaking with members of three regional community groups who are working to reopen once closed branch lines not just for the benefit of tourists, but also their...

The sixth and final part of this series produced for Tyne Tees Television by Honky Tonk Productions that explores the great railway age from the early horse-drawn waggon ways, through the romance of steam, to futuristic monorail of the 21st century. In this final programme presenter Andy Klutz looks to the future of railway by first speaking with members of three regional community groups who are working to reopen once closed branch lines not just for the benefit of tourists, but also their local communities. In the final part of the programme a look to the future and a maglev high-speed monorail currently under development in Germany, could this work in Britain? Standing on an overpass with traffic moving along a motorway below, presenter Andy Klutz states that more people have died on Britains roads since 1945 than were killed in the Second World War. As traffic continues to travel past, he asks with congestion increasing all the time, gridlocks become more frequent is it time we renewed our acquittance with an old and much neglected friend? Title: The Railway Story “Rebirth” Walking along a grassy track which was once a branch line railway through Wensleydale linking Northallerton in the east with Garsale in the west, Andy explains that while it was closed forty-years ago reports of its death have very much been exaggerated. As a modern diesel passenger trains crossing over a viaduct and traffic travels along country roads Andy explains that Wensleydale has become a top tourist destinations with the roads becoming chocked with traffic during the summer. Details are provided on the formation of the Wensleydale Railway Association in 1990 to restore this old Wensleydale line. Walking along the platform at Aysgath station Andy speaks with Scott Handley Director of Development for the Wensleydale Railway Society about what is being done to restore the railway, when it is expected to be opened and how will they make it economically viable? Over a montage showing the currently condition of the railway which Scott believes is good, he goes onto talk about opening the line to Aysgarth initially and the challenges getting the line all the way to Gardsale. As a British Steel limestone train travels part of the Wensleydale line between Northallerton and Redmire, the film changes to an archive film featuring a passenger excursion along the same route passing Northallerton signal box. After explaining that this part of the line was almost closed when British Steel stopped the mineral trains, Andy walks along a concrete abutment with Major Michael Brook Chief of Staff at Catterick Garrison who explains that as part of the expansion of the garrison an investment of £750,000 was put in by the Ministry of Defence to maintain the line for military use. As tanks are loaded onto rail wagons Major Brook explains the reason for this involvement by the army on the line and how their work has helped the Wensleydale Railway Association. Appearing around the corner of Barter Books at Alnwick in Northumberland, built into what was once the towns old railway station, Andy talks about another local community who is looking to open a three miles branch line from this station to the east coast mainline station at Alnmouth to serve both tourists and commuters. Following a montage of archive clips showing steam locomotives running along this branch line, Andy wondering around Barter Books with its owner Stuart Manley who is also Chairman of the Aln Valley Railway Society asking him if it is possible to turn this bookshop back into a railway station and if it is realistic to see a future in this three-miles of branch line? Stuart provides details of why he does believe it to be sound commercially and talks about how the idea of reopening the line came about. Over more archive of the line Stuart provides details of the fundraising the society is still doing to raise the match funding needed for a Heritage Lottery application including the money necessary to rebuilt two bridges have since closure been demolished. He also talks about how local enthusiasm for the scheme grew when a commuter service was proposed. As Stuart provides details on the railway companies such as Railtrack, Northern Spirit and GNER becoming involved an GNER Inter-City 225 passenger trains passing at speed near Alnmouth and an artist impression of the new station which incorporate the heritage line. Over archive of a passenger steam locomotives travelling along the Weardale branch line passing the cement works at Stanhope, Andy explains that it is hoped that this railway will soon see passengers rather than cement travelling along these lines. Walking along the rail tracks towards a railway station Andy speaks with Brian Morris Manging Director of Weardale Railway Ltd about plans to reopen this branch line which they hope to do by the Spring of 2000. Over more archive of trains running along the line, Brian provides details on what needs to be done before work can begin on the line including getting a licence from the Secretary of State [for Transport] to be a rail operator. He explains to Andy why he believes this railway will be an important community asset and that it is not a heritage railway rather a public service. Taking the programme into a commercial break Andy walks along the tracks of a branch line and ask about the long-term future as we head into the new millennium and will railways be called upon to play a key role? Title: End of Part One Part Two A montage of clips from a promotional film for the German Transrapid maglev high-speed monorail, the world’s first levitation railway under construction between Hamburg and Berlin. In voiceover Andy provides details on both its development and its benefits with trains potentially running at 250mph taking less than an hour to complete the 162-mile route. Intercut between these clips is Dr Ralph Harrington Transport Historian for the University of York who believes we will see similar trains in Britain as railways are very good at very fast inter-urban travel. However, Christopher Garnett Chief Executive of GNER believes we won’t as Britain doesn’t have the same kind of land to build such railway as there is in France and Germany. As Andy explains that in order for railways to take us into the 21st century we have to look at them in a new light, a GNER Inter-City 225 passenger train arriving at Newcastle Central Station. As young people make their way through the station and to their trains Stuart Baker Operations Director of Northern Spirit talks in voiceover about the growing number of under-40s now travelling by train. Over a montage of various trains coming and going a vox pop with passengers each explaining why they prefer to travel by train rather than by car. The convenience, speed and value for money of trains are often stated as well as the ability the relax and travel in comfort while one young women talks about the positive environmental impact travelling by train has over the motorcar. A young American couple explain they prefer trains; they don’t need to own or rent a car to get anywhere unlike in the United States. Returning to Christopher Garnett he talks to Andy about the growth in passenger numbers since privatisation and provides details on why he believes the franchising of the network is an important contributing factor. As a coal train passes along a set of tracks Andy states that the days of the motorway juggernaut maybe numbered with freight now switching to rail. Stuart Baker talks about the declines seen in the 1960s and 70 being reversed and a growth in the development of new fields such as in the distribution of goods and materials. As another freight train passing through Newcastle Central Christopher Garnett talks about the development of fast passenger lines with freight running on different routes. As the freight train morphs into a GNER Inter-city 125 passenger train pulling into a platform Christopher Garnett talks about other innovations and big investments into the railway network that will be coming in the near future. Both Dr Ralph Harrington and Christopher Garnett believe we are returning to a golden age of railways with Dr Harrison providing examples such as the Channel Tunnel and developments in North America, Japan and across Africa to show that people are looking to the railways to sort their transport problems. Sitting in the driver’s cab of an InterCity 225 passenger trains Andy explains we’ve come a long way in 400 years, yet new chapters are still being written in our railway story. Explaining that it was the Northeast who gave railways to the world he brings both the programme and series to an end by asking what will the world do with the railways? Over the closing credits a high-speed phantom rail journey seen from the driver’s cap heading south out of Newcastle Central Station and along the east coast mainline passing through Durham, Darlington, Northallerton ending on its arrival into York. Title: With thanks to Chirs Donald, Peter Hutchinson, Peter Stoddart, GNER, Transrapid International GmbH and Co KG Credit: Written and Presented by Andy Klutz Title Music Alan Clark Graphics Dave Richardson Research Robert Smith Sound Terry Black Camera / Director Janusz Ostrowski Editor Trevor Wonfor Executive Producer Jane Bolesworth Producer Liz Treadway End title: A Honky Tonk Production for Tyne Tees Television. © MCMXCIX