Michael Portillo returns with new series

[martinsh]

The disappointing thing about the bridge is that you don't get the best view when you're travelling across it by train.

the best view of the bridge is from flying in or out of Copenhagen airport !

 

[Gordon]

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Mr Portillo himself walked past me in Holborn, London this lunchtime - trademark pink shirt but not a blue jacket!

And he seemed particularly taken with his blonde Swedish hostess for the cycle-bound smorgasbord...

I thought it was rather sweet that she said rail bicycles were rare, whereas in fact there are similar operatiosn now all over Europe

the best view of the bridge is from flying in or out of Copenhagen airport !

Or a cruise ship - I had a great view from the Queen Elizabeth a couple of years ago - and incidentally for safety reasons aircraft switch approach direction when large cruise ships are passing through - so as not to land just above the ship's funnel




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[martinsh]

Notice he didn't actually go inside the Guggenheim museum !

 

[northwichcat]

Notice he didn't actually go inside the Guggenheim museum !

Maybe they didn't allow filming inside it?

 

[tony6499]

I wouldn't fancy a ride on that roller coaster, looked a bit dangerous to me. Shame that is the last show in the series

 

[Gordon]

Some classic irrelevant train filming again, in particular the 67300 hauled Corail - none of his route would have been on such a train - however it was nice to see as it looked like the unique blue Isabelle livery loco 67373 - which would make the footage valuable

 

[northwichcat]

Some classic irrelevant train filming again, in particular the 67300 hauled Corail - none of his route would have been on such a train - however it was nice to see as it looked like the unique blue Isabelle livery loco 67373 - which would make the footage valuable

As Portillo is a train-spotter I imagine he keeps an eye out for unusual stock that he spots while travelling.

 

[PhilipF]

Notice he didn't actually go inside the Guggenheim museum !

To my mind he missed out much of interest that really should have been included. Nothing about the FEFE metre guage line being one example - though having ridden on the major part of this track, I accept that most is not all that scenic Odd though he did not include by far the best section (that I saw anyway) the section between Bilbao and Santander.

Worse was the way he dealt with the Czech Republic, not a mention of those brilliant and unforgettable Spa towns - easily reached by rail too:-x

Philip

 

[martinsh]

To my mind he missed out much of interest that really should have been included. Nothing about the FEFE metre guage line being one example - though having ridden on the major part of this track, I accept that most is not all that scenic Odd though he did not include by far the best section (that I saw anyway) the section between Bilbao and Santander.

Having done ALL the northern Spain NG lines, I would say that Bilbao - Leon is definitely the most scenic.

 

[reb0118]

Worse was the way he dealt with the Czech Republic, not a mention of those brilliant and unforgettable Spa towns - easily reached by rail too:-x

Philip

Did he not visit Marianbad? I was in Karlsbad myself last month.

 

[northwichcat]

Michael Portillo mentioned in the film that the line to Algeciras -and several others in Spain- are under threat because of the austerity programme.

One thing I forgot at the time is Spain were supposed to be looking at a Algeciras to Tangier rail tunnel is the distant future so presumably if Algeciras-Ronda gets closed than that plan will be scrapped.

 

[PhilipF]

Having done ALL the northern Spain NG lines, I would say that Bilbao - Leon is definitely the most scenic.

No doubt you are right - I did give myself a letout by stressing that I'd traveled on - but yes, we'll have to do another trip

As to the Czech visit: There are several outstanding Spa towns, not a mention of a single one as I recall - ridiculous:cry: The whole country fully deserves a complete programme to itself

 

[sheff1]

As to the Czech visit: There are several outstanding Spa towns, not a mention of a single one as I recall - ridiculous:cry:

In the version I watched there was a lengthy section on Mariánské Lázně.

 

[Gordon]

In the version I watched there was a lengthy section on Mariánské Lázně.

I quite liked this episode - for once a decent nod to rail transport with the Skoda piece, and I quite agree - the piece on the Spa town was in there and was in fact a significant chunk of the whole episode...

For confirmation see the BBC web site:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03k5dr4

from where this text came:

Prague to Munich
Series 2 Episode 5 of 6

With his 1913 guidebook in hand, Michael Portillo explores the stunning art nouveau architecture of the Czech capital. In a café popular with artists of the time he discovers the dance craze of the day - the tango - and gamely gives it a go. In the spa of kings, Marienbad, now known as Marianske Lazne, Michael samples the sulphurous waters and wallows in peat and mud. At the Skoda factory in Pilsen he investigates how the machine products of peacetime gave way to the manufacture of armaments for war and test drives a state of the art passenger train locomotive made there today.



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