Chris says UK’s trains have gone off the rails

HAVING travelled the world for his various railways series, Chris Tarrant reckons our own services are far from on the right tracks.

And with his latest Channel 5 series The Railways That Built Britain With Chris Tarrant now airing, he has firm views.

“Don’t get me started about the annual disruption caused by ‘leaves on the line’!” says Chris.

“We filmed in Austria and Canada, where they deal with snow, fallen trees and boulders on tracks, and everything runs smoothly 365 days of the year.”

And returning last year after globe-trotting for his Extreme Railways series was a real shock to the system.

“I’d come from Japan, where every single train, from a bullet train to one on an insignificant country line, runs on time to the minute, and the first train I take to Manchester is delayed by 90 minutes,” he sighs.

“The British don’t kick up enough about it.

“We’re pretty tolerant generally, because the only reaction I heard from fellow passengers was, ‘Only an hour-and-a-half late – that’s not too bad’. You couldn’t make it up.”

Three years ago, Chris suffered a stroke while travelling from Bangkok to London following filming.

After collapsing at Heathrow, he was rushed to hospital for emergency surgery to remove a blood clot and spent months regaining total control of his speech and movement.

“I’m very pleased to be here because I had a big old scare. Even now I panic if I get a headache. I think, ‘Aargh, what’s happening to my brain?’” he admits.

“The whole traumatic, shattering experience changed my outlook completely.

“I no longer drink whisky, I exercise, take my medication and deliberately don’t work as hard as before.”

The Railways That Built Britain With Chris Tarrant, Channel 5, Monday, 9pm.