TRAIN JOURNEY NIGHTMARES

Travelling by train can be stressful at the best of times, but at the worst of times they can be an absolute nightmare. We’ve got first-hand accounts from people whose train journeys went off the rails. From extraordinary obstructions to terror on the tracks. You’ll need to mind the gap and hold on tight for this 90-minute special narrated by John Sargeant.

A train loses power on the hottest day of the year, leaving its passengers without aircon and having to sweat it out in the 38-degree heat. A driver’s quick reaction helps save the lives of his passengers when a high-speed train hits a lorry on a level crossing. And there’s pandemonium underground as a London tube carriage fills with smoke causing its passengers to fear for their lives.

Other stories include a woman who can’t believe her eyes when her metro train leaves the station with its doors open. Rush-hour commuters are left scratching their heads when the delays they’re experiencing are blamed on a swan on the tracks. And as Storm Emma rages bringing the UK to a standstill, commuters stranded on the London to Bournemouth service have no option but to sleep onboard for the night. There are some near misses at level crossings and on platforms as well as some jaw-dropping train journeys abroad… and we thought we had it bad here!

Contributors include presenters Duncan Golestani & Dawn Neesom and railway historian and author Christian Wolmar.

Rating 323,000 and a 2.1% share. In the top 3 Channel 5 shows of the day.