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Michael Portillo

John Comerford

Alison Kreps

Railways of the Great War with Michael Portillo: Episode 1: A Railway War Begins

A Railway War Begins

Episode 1

Episode 1: A Railway War Begins

Railways of the Great War with Michael Portillo

BBC Two - Railways of the Great War with Michael Portillo, A Railway War Begins

Michael Portillo begins his journey in Metz on European tracks built with war in mind.

Michael Portillo examines the role of the railways in World War I. He begins his journey in the French city of Metz on European tracks built with war in mind.

World War I was a railway war. Michael Portillo finds out how the railways helped to precipitate a mechanised war, shaped how it was fought, conveyed millions to the trenches and bore witness to its end. He takes to historic tracks to rediscover the locomotives and wagons of the war that was supposed to end all war and hears the stories of the gallant men and women who used them in life and in death.

Michael travels through Britain and northern Europe uncovering railway stories from the Great War. He begins his quest in the French city of Metz on European tracks built with war in mind, charts the birth of the railway war at a small station in Luxembourg and discovers how Britain's railways coped with the challenge of sending thousands of troops to join the conflict from Southampton. Finally, he returns to France to learn how the early war of movement gave way to the stalemate of the trenches.

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Michael Portillo examines the role of the railways in World War I.

Michael Portillo examines the role of the railways in World War I and travels through Britain and Europe uncovering stories from the Great War.

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Episode 1: A Railway War Begins

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