0:00:02 > 0:00:04This programme contains strong language.
0:00:04 > 0:00:06Britain's railway...
0:00:07 > 0:00:10..the oldest and one of the busiest in the world.
0:00:10 > 0:00:12Slow down! Slow down!
0:00:12 > 0:00:15Surely this is illegal to be packed in like this.
0:00:17 > 0:00:20A huge network under constant pressure.
0:00:21 > 0:00:23Absolutely mental today.
0:00:23 > 0:00:27- No driver?- Come on, guys, look for the driver and guard.
0:00:27 > 0:00:29Where anything and everything...
0:00:29 > 0:00:31Start tamping it, son!
0:00:31 > 0:00:34..can mean delay and chaos for thousands.
0:00:34 > 0:00:38- Backs against the wall. - He's got a suicidal female on board.
0:00:38 > 0:00:43Train now 90 late, owing to hitting a pheasant. I've heard everything now.
0:00:43 > 0:00:47Filmed over a year across the nation...
0:00:47 > 0:00:50- That one? Cheers. - There's a seat next to the banana!
0:00:50 > 0:00:54..we go behind the scenes of an industry we all love to complain about.
0:00:54 > 0:00:58- Do you want a hand? - So, all-in-all, that's £323.50.
0:00:59 > 0:01:00Oi!
0:01:02 > 0:01:06With the railway people determined to keep Britain moving.
0:01:06 > 0:01:08To infinity and beyond!
0:01:08 > 0:01:10Into battle.
0:01:16 > 0:01:19MAN HUMS
0:01:25 > 0:01:27Ah, look at that little baby!
0:01:27 > 0:01:31They say if you want to see life, you've got to be working here.
0:01:31 > 0:01:36You see hen parties, stag dos. You see quite a lot from this point.
0:01:36 > 0:01:40- You see domestics happening. - Do you?- Oh, yeah!
0:01:40 > 0:01:42Oh, yeah! Not half!
0:01:42 > 0:01:46Rugby fans fighting, football fans fighting, you see 'em.
0:01:46 > 0:01:51All I need is some popcorn and, you know, a drink! I'll be all right!
0:01:51 > 0:01:55Best seat in the house.
0:02:03 > 0:02:06Leeds, one of the busiest stations outside London.
0:02:07 > 0:02:10100,000 people travel through here every day,
0:02:10 > 0:02:14commuting in from towns across Yorkshire
0:02:14 > 0:02:17and onwards to all corners of the country.
0:02:17 > 0:02:19'This is an announcement for passengers travelling to Guiseley,
0:02:19 > 0:02:24'Menston, Burley-in-Wharfedale, Skipton, Gargrave,
0:02:24 > 0:02:30'Hellifield, Ilkley. Can these passengers please make their way to Platform 3?'
0:02:32 > 0:02:36Summer has arrived and the afternoon rush hour is in full swing.
0:02:36 > 0:02:40Every walk of British life is here...
0:02:40 > 0:02:41Thank you. Mwah!
0:02:41 > 0:02:44..helped through the ticket barriers by Imran.
0:02:44 > 0:02:47- Is your ticket not working? - It is, but I'm in a rush.
0:02:47 > 0:02:49Right, everyone's in a rush!
0:02:49 > 0:02:54- Is it not working? - I told you, it doesn't work!! I come through every day.
0:02:54 > 0:02:57- Can you use your ticket, please? - Come on, I need to go!
0:02:58 > 0:03:04- What's this shift like? - It's all right. Not too bad. I get to see my dad!
0:03:04 > 0:03:08Got to keep an eye on him! I can do it from here.
0:03:08 > 0:03:12Hanif is one of the longest-serving staff here at Leeds.
0:03:12 > 0:03:17He's worked on this customer information point for the past 26 years.
0:03:17 > 0:03:21You're just about to miss one. Sorry about that.
0:03:21 > 0:03:26Imran followed his dad on to the railways, joining at just 18.
0:03:26 > 0:03:29- What's that?- Did you say your grandfather worked on the railways?
0:03:29 > 0:03:33Yeah, Grandfather worked in the depot. He was a cleaner.
0:03:33 > 0:03:37- Dad!- Yeah. - What did your dada do?
0:03:37 > 0:03:41- Worked in Kenya. Railway. - Railway?- Yeah.
0:03:41 > 0:03:43I didn't know that!
0:03:43 > 0:03:46Four, four generations.
0:03:46 > 0:03:50Then I've got me two brothers that work here.
0:03:50 > 0:03:52Elias, Idris.
0:03:52 > 0:03:55Er, then Uncle Khalifa.
0:03:55 > 0:03:59You could say that... railway family.
0:03:59 > 0:04:02Yeah, we were born into it!
0:04:02 > 0:04:05SINGING: # Keep St George in my heart
0:04:05 > 0:04:08# Keep me English
0:04:08 > 0:04:11# Keep me English till my dying day. #
0:04:11 > 0:04:15Right, Sgt Ryan! We'll escort this lot round.
0:04:15 > 0:04:18The English Defence League is en route
0:04:18 > 0:04:21to one of their regular summer demonstrations across Yorkshire.
0:04:21 > 0:04:24Alpha, Yankee from Charlie Two-Zero...
0:04:24 > 0:04:27Today, they're on the 10.25 to Dewsbury,
0:04:27 > 0:04:29escorted by the British Transport Police.
0:04:33 > 0:04:37That's what it says "No surrender". "No surrender"!
0:04:37 > 0:04:40CHANTING: ED! EDL! ED! EDL!
0:04:40 > 0:04:45You can take your flags down, all right! You're being escorted... OK?
0:04:45 > 0:04:49I want no shouting, no chanting, nothing like that.
0:04:49 > 0:04:53CHANTING
0:04:55 > 0:04:59- Oh, it would be the greatest job in the world.- If what?
0:04:59 > 0:05:02If we didn't have any passengers. It would be lovely.
0:05:02 > 0:05:05Ride around, look at the cows.
0:05:05 > 0:05:07HE SIGHS
0:05:07 > 0:05:11Jason has been driving commuter trains across Yorkshire for the past ten years.
0:05:11 > 0:05:15SINGING: # Keep St George in my heart, keep me English
0:05:15 > 0:05:19# Keep me English till my dying day. #
0:05:19 > 0:05:23I saw them in Leeds station a few years back...
0:05:23 > 0:05:25Oh, carrying on, spitting and all...
0:05:25 > 0:05:29shouting vile abuse and... Phff!
0:05:29 > 0:05:35SINGING
0:05:35 > 0:05:37You can't choose who you carry.
0:05:37 > 0:05:42No, you...pay your ticket and you get your carriage, don't you?
0:05:43 > 0:05:48CHANTING
0:05:49 > 0:05:52It's not really my cup of tea.
0:05:52 > 0:05:54CHANTING: ..EDL! ED! EDL!
0:05:54 > 0:05:58It's when the sun comes out, when he puts his hat on,
0:05:58 > 0:06:01that everybody comes out to play.
0:06:01 > 0:06:05Usually, when I'm at work. Yeah.
0:06:05 > 0:06:07WHISTLE BLOWS
0:06:07 > 0:06:11MAN SLURS HIS SPEECH
0:06:11 > 0:06:14With the sun comes the alcohol,
0:06:14 > 0:06:18making this a challenging season for everyone at the station.
0:06:18 > 0:06:21The British Transport Police remove yet another drunk from the platform.
0:06:22 > 0:06:26Craig is one of 70 police officers based here.
0:06:28 > 0:06:34The hot weather, you drink, you think you're getting hydration, but you're dehydrating with the alcohol
0:06:34 > 0:06:36and people find themselves in a sorry state.
0:06:36 > 0:06:39Marshmallow Man on the rubber carpet.
0:06:39 > 0:06:41SLURS HIS SPEECH
0:06:41 > 0:06:45Right, you're under arrest for drunk and disorderly!
0:06:45 > 0:06:48Keep talking to us.
0:06:49 > 0:06:51You're all right.
0:06:51 > 0:06:55- What's happened? - Drunk and disorderly. On arrest, he's gone down.
0:06:55 > 0:06:58Banged his head on the floor.
0:06:59 > 0:07:04If you do sort of stop and think, "Well, what's your story?"
0:07:04 > 0:07:07Cos everybody's got a story. And we find ourselves in quite a privileged position.
0:07:07 > 0:07:11Because we walk into somebody's life at a given moment.
0:07:11 > 0:07:14It might be a moment of elation or a moment of distress.
0:07:14 > 0:07:17It might be something that's troubling them.
0:07:17 > 0:07:22And all the time you're watching them to think, "What's your story? What's going on?"
0:07:22 > 0:07:26These are people who probably make fairly big decisions in real life.
0:07:26 > 0:07:30And they've had a couple of halves of lager too many,
0:07:30 > 0:07:33and all of a sudden everything that's organised about them just goes out the window.
0:07:38 > 0:07:41- Right, are you ready? - Yeah, we're ready.- Here we go!
0:07:41 > 0:07:45- Can I get past? - Let the driver off, please!
0:07:45 > 0:07:50CHANTING AND BANGING
0:07:50 > 0:07:52Leeds! Leeds!
0:07:52 > 0:07:54Leeds!
0:07:54 > 0:07:57Make way for the driver.
0:07:57 > 0:08:01Drunk passengers are common across the network.
0:08:01 > 0:08:05But up here in Yorkshire, in the smaller stations outside Leeds,
0:08:05 > 0:08:07summer brings a unique challenge.
0:08:07 > 0:08:10Munch bunch now. They'll be banana split by 11 o'clock!
0:08:10 > 0:08:14It's Saturday and from now on every weekend
0:08:14 > 0:08:17will see summer revellers out on the Real Ale Trail...
0:08:19 > 0:08:22..a pub crawl by train.
0:08:22 > 0:08:26- That one, fella.- That one? - There's a seat next to the banana!
0:08:26 > 0:08:29Just all part of me customer service
0:08:29 > 0:08:34and me welcoming persona. Hello! Hello! Hello!
0:08:36 > 0:08:39It's the most dreaded shift of the week,
0:08:39 > 0:08:43and, today, Jason has drawn the short straw.
0:08:44 > 0:08:48You live in blissful ignorance till Saturday comes
0:08:48 > 0:08:50and then you're like, "Oh!"
0:08:50 > 0:08:54Until three years ago, this ordinary stopping service
0:08:54 > 0:09:00through Yorkshire's prettiest villages was used by just the occasional shopper.
0:09:01 > 0:09:04"What do you do?" "I'm a train driver." "Ooh, do you go to London?" "No."
0:09:04 > 0:09:08"Do you drive the big one?" "No." I think that's the public perception.
0:09:08 > 0:09:14That all the best drivers drive the big shiny ones to London. I can tell you that's not true.
0:09:14 > 0:09:19- What do the best drives do then, Jason?- They provide a public service in the face of adversity.
0:09:19 > 0:09:24- What is that adversity? - Adversity's usually the public.
0:09:24 > 0:09:28# We will, we will rock you! #
0:09:31 > 0:09:34Since the Real Ale Trail became more well known,
0:09:34 > 0:09:38the shoppers and their families now find themselves in the middle of a party
0:09:38 > 0:09:41on the journey from Batley to Stalybridge.
0:09:41 > 0:09:43OK, lads!
0:09:47 > 0:09:52This pub crawl means real-alers stop off at a station to sample a pint from a nearby pub,
0:09:52 > 0:09:57before catching the train to the next station, and pub, down the line and so on.
0:09:57 > 0:10:00SINGING: # Who ate all the pies?
0:10:00 > 0:10:02# You fat b'stard! You fat b'stard!
0:10:02 > 0:10:04# You ate all the pies! #
0:10:04 > 0:10:09It's a good social study. You should come along. Have a watch.
0:10:09 > 0:10:12The demise of man on the ale trail,
0:10:12 > 0:10:16between the hours of 12 and eight. Like an evolution.
0:10:16 > 0:10:20They go from standing up all proper to lying in a puddle.
0:10:20 > 0:10:25SINGING: # We're getting off the train! Getting off the train! #
0:10:26 > 0:10:30WALKIE-TALKIE: 'It's getting a bit rowdy this way.'
0:10:30 > 0:10:31Rowdy?
0:10:33 > 0:10:35Rowdy. Rowdy's the word.
0:10:36 > 0:10:40By the afternoon, special security teams are drafted in
0:10:40 > 0:10:42to these usually unmanned stations.
0:10:42 > 0:10:47The real ale passengers, it seems, need looking after.
0:10:47 > 0:10:48SHOUTING
0:10:49 > 0:10:52- Oh, you fucking clown!- Oh...!
0:10:55 > 0:10:58'I was just messing about. It were only a joke.
0:10:58 > 0:11:01'A joke when the train's due is not that funny.'
0:11:01 > 0:11:03I just don't want your mate to get killed by a train.
0:11:03 > 0:11:07- If there's a train coming, yeah. - It would be a good funeral. He's a great lad.
0:11:07 > 0:11:10HORN BLARES
0:11:12 > 0:11:18'..A report from the West Yorkshire Police of a man trespassing in the Slaithwaite station area.
0:11:18 > 0:11:21'Caution in that area... Over.'
0:11:21 > 0:11:23HORN BLARES
0:11:23 > 0:11:26They've had a report of a man trespassing,
0:11:26 > 0:11:29which will no doubt be an ale-trailer.
0:11:29 > 0:11:35It just means you have to slow down to a speed that you can stop within the distance you can see clear.
0:11:35 > 0:11:40So, obviously, if he's still on or about the line, we're not going to hit him.
0:11:40 > 0:11:44Could everyone stand back from the platform edge, please?
0:11:44 > 0:11:47- Let me warn you... - I nearly died!
0:11:49 > 0:11:52There are eight stations and pubs along the route.
0:11:52 > 0:11:56And as the day wears on, drivers, conductors and the security teams
0:11:56 > 0:11:59have all become minders.
0:11:59 > 0:12:02- He's ran over the fucking line! - Oh, has he?
0:12:02 > 0:12:03Oooh!
0:12:05 > 0:12:09I can't leave here. They're all leaning against side of the train.
0:12:09 > 0:12:11HORN BLARES What's going on here then?
0:12:11 > 0:12:15Can't get on without them, can we?
0:12:15 > 0:12:19Holding doors. They stand whilst their mates... They can't be bothered running for the trains.
0:12:19 > 0:12:22- Shut the doors, Geoff.- Oh, come on!
0:12:22 > 0:12:27Jason's train is now delayed, as he can't move until the real-alers are clear of the doors.
0:12:27 > 0:12:31- Get on! What? - No, we've got to wait for 'em.
0:12:31 > 0:12:32HEY!
0:12:32 > 0:12:36- No, it's too late now. - Come on!- Too late.
0:12:36 > 0:12:38WHISTLE BLOWS
0:12:38 > 0:12:40SIGNAL TO DRIVER
0:12:40 > 0:12:43Yeah, six minutes down now.
0:12:43 > 0:12:46- Why is that? - All that carry on there.
0:12:46 > 0:12:49Now these nutters here, look.
0:12:49 > 0:12:51He's battered, in't he?
0:12:51 > 0:12:55He's lucky that express went through a few minutes ago.
0:12:55 > 0:12:59That lad had sea legs there. He wouldn't have got out the way.
0:12:59 > 0:13:00HORN BLARES
0:13:00 > 0:13:06People just come running across the track. It's an accident waiting to happen, to be honest.
0:13:06 > 0:13:10You know, but that's just the way it is on this ale trail.
0:13:13 > 0:13:16Whilst a handful of passengers can cause difficulty,
0:13:16 > 0:13:20it only takes one to delay trains right across the network.
0:13:20 > 0:13:23Route Control into York. Jerry speaking.
0:13:23 > 0:13:26It's five o'clock in Route Control.
0:13:26 > 0:13:30Jerry and his team have had a call about a train that's stopped
0:13:30 > 0:13:33on the line between Manchester and Leeds.
0:13:33 > 0:13:36Train Running Control, York. Jason speaking.
0:13:36 > 0:13:39A fight's broken out between passengers on board.
0:13:39 > 0:13:41Police and ambulance are there.
0:13:41 > 0:13:44Lovely. Thank you. Bye. Bye.
0:13:44 > 0:13:46Police have arrived.
0:13:46 > 0:13:50The train won't go forward, so it's obviously escalating.
0:13:52 > 0:13:56Got a backlog of trains now. So 2-Mike-83 is the train involved.
0:13:56 > 0:13:59That's the one that's got the trouble on board.
0:13:59 > 0:14:03We've got another four, five, six, seven trains stood behind.
0:14:03 > 0:14:06They've now asked for the down to be blocked as well.
0:14:06 > 0:14:10People are spilling on to the track. Police have requested both lines blocked.
0:14:10 > 0:14:14This is Network Rail Control at York. This is an emergency call...
0:14:14 > 0:14:17Route Control is forced to stop all trains in the area.
0:14:17 > 0:14:19Please respond, over.
0:14:19 > 0:14:24Delays caused by members of the public on the track are a daily occurrence.
0:14:24 > 0:14:28Trespass becomes frustrating because they shouldn't be there. They're committing an offence.
0:14:28 > 0:14:31If this was France or America, we would run them over.
0:14:31 > 0:14:37There's no fences in France. People go on the railway, it's their own fault they're there.
0:14:37 > 0:14:41And America is very much the same. We are perhaps a bit too much of a nanny state in my opinion.
0:14:41 > 0:14:46People go on the railway and it's almost like we've got to stop and protect them.
0:14:46 > 0:14:49That's the way it is. There's nothing I can do about that.
0:14:50 > 0:14:57Network Rail has a legion of maintenance staff whose job it is to keep trespassers off their track.
0:14:57 > 0:15:00Kev and Stev from the Leeds team
0:15:00 > 0:15:04have been called out to repair a fence on the outskirts of the city.
0:15:04 > 0:15:07Toodle-pip. Give us a shout if you need.
0:15:07 > 0:15:11- Where you going?- Kirkstall. - Kirkstall? Straight ahead.
0:15:11 > 0:15:13Straight ahead!
0:15:13 > 0:15:16- Straight ahead!- Straight ahead?! - Not fucking down there!
0:15:16 > 0:15:18- Straight ahead.- Straight ahead?
0:15:18 > 0:15:22We've got plenty of names - Gruesome Twosome. Toot and Plute.
0:15:22 > 0:15:26I won't call him fucking Tom-Tom, cos he don't know shagging way!
0:15:26 > 0:15:28LAUGHTER
0:15:28 > 0:15:31- We caught someone last time we were here, didn't we?- Yeah.
0:15:31 > 0:15:36Kev and Stev are responsible for keeping over 700 miles of fencing intact.
0:15:36 > 0:15:43Once, just a boundary marking, big fences are now the only way to keep the determined trespasses out.
0:15:44 > 0:15:47Repairs are constant and costly.
0:15:47 > 0:15:51I'll take a few just in case the bastards have pinged any more off.
0:15:54 > 0:15:56- You can see trespass route.- Yeah.
0:15:56 > 0:16:01- So it's definitely been used. How many's off?- Just the one.
0:16:05 > 0:16:10People don't want to live next to something that looks like Stalag Luft.
0:16:11 > 0:16:16When were't last time you saw kids standing on't fence waving to train drivers?
0:16:16 > 0:16:21Now it looks like... You're standing there, behind back of fence, like...
0:16:21 > 0:16:25It's not the same as what it used to be!
0:16:25 > 0:16:28HE LAUGHS
0:16:28 > 0:16:33It seems to be... I don't know... It's like a gay haunt.
0:16:33 > 0:16:36If they did it on their side of the fence, no great problem.
0:16:36 > 0:16:41- It's when they actually start intruding on to our side... - That we do have a problem.
0:16:41 > 0:16:44We actually caught a chap running down with an orange wig
0:16:44 > 0:16:47as we came up one day to check the fence line.
0:16:47 > 0:16:51I think he thought, "Jesus Christ, I've got Village People arriving!"
0:16:51 > 0:16:54I'm in for a good one 'ere!
0:16:56 > 0:16:59How many times have I returned to this?
0:16:59 > 0:17:02You know, how many have we actually put on?
0:17:02 > 0:17:07And you're paying 300 quid for a train ticket to go from A to B and they want to know why.
0:17:07 > 0:17:11Because, literally, we're having to keep maintaining it
0:17:11 > 0:17:14and it's costing more and more money to rectify it.
0:17:14 > 0:17:19We'll just keep doing it until one day, I don't know...
0:17:19 > 0:17:23the relatives come along and tie some flowers to the side of fence
0:17:23 > 0:17:26because they got run over.
0:17:26 > 0:17:29Then there'd be more tributes to 'em...
0:17:29 > 0:17:33- Then they'd blame us for having a hole in the fence.- Yeah.
0:17:33 > 0:17:34Yeah.
0:17:34 > 0:17:40"My Johnny made a hole in your fence and your train run him over!" How ironic can you get?
0:17:43 > 0:17:47A trespasser is killed nearly ever week on our railways.
0:17:47 > 0:17:49WHISTLE BLOWS
0:17:49 > 0:17:50WHISTLE BLOWS
0:17:50 > 0:17:54Stand back from the train, please! The train's leaving now.
0:17:54 > 0:17:59Six o'clock at Leeds Station and the commuters are eager to get home.
0:17:59 > 0:18:04Leeds is the worst in the country for passengers running across the tracks.
0:18:04 > 0:18:09'It is an offence to trespass on the railway. Please keep off the tracks.'
0:18:09 > 0:18:12People taking short cuts to catch their train.
0:18:12 > 0:18:15Kids playing chicken, as well as the very drunk.
0:18:15 > 0:18:18They all seem oblivious to the dangers.
0:18:21 > 0:18:24Saturday, a person under the influence
0:18:24 > 0:18:29got off a platform in front of an oncoming train. This is madness!
0:18:29 > 0:18:34Trains are silent, trains are fast and it's very, very risky.
0:18:34 > 0:18:35Unfortunately...
0:18:35 > 0:18:41Route director Phil Verster, responsible for everything between London King's Cross and Edinburgh,
0:18:41 > 0:18:46is launching Network Rail's anti-trespass campaign here at Leeds.
0:18:46 > 0:18:48OK, if you come towards me.
0:18:48 > 0:18:53Wendy's son was killed by a train while playing on the tracks.
0:18:53 > 0:18:56She's joining the campaign today to help raise awareness.
0:18:56 > 0:19:02For all these years since 1997, I've never said his name.
0:19:02 > 0:19:05It was like a spark and it goes.
0:19:05 > 0:19:09There's just something missing. There's always something missing.
0:19:09 > 0:19:12It's like something's ripped something out and it's there all the time.
0:19:12 > 0:19:16And you still sometimes think they're going to come home.
0:19:16 > 0:19:20You see all their friends growing up and they've got children. You wonder, "What if?"
0:19:20 > 0:19:24You've never got anything of that. All I've got is...
0:19:24 > 0:19:29Come Christmas, birthdays, all I've got is to take flowers to the tracks. That's all I've got of my son.
0:19:29 > 0:19:33I've got photographs, but that's sort of the clearest one.
0:19:33 > 0:19:39It's the same one. I need someone to digitally change his jumper on it or something, so he looks different.
0:19:39 > 0:19:43Cos, unfortunately, you always end up with the same ones.
0:19:43 > 0:19:46- Look at it.- This is how he was.
0:19:47 > 0:19:52- Good-looking chap. - Not bad for his age, was he?
0:19:52 > 0:19:54That was the cap he had on the day before.
0:19:54 > 0:19:57The one that he had on was destroyed.
0:19:57 > 0:20:02So that was the nearest I got and it's getting a bit tatty now.
0:20:02 > 0:20:06But it goes everywhere. Even when I'm all poshed up.
0:20:10 > 0:20:14TRAIN WHEELS RATTLE
0:20:18 > 0:20:21PHONE RINGS
0:20:21 > 0:20:25- 'National Operations Centre. Dave speaking.- Hello. One under.'
0:20:25 > 0:20:28INAUDIBLE
0:20:31 > 0:20:35INDISTINCT VOICE ON RADIO
0:20:35 > 0:20:38Reports coming in of a person under a train
0:20:38 > 0:20:41in, er, the Doncaster area.
0:20:41 > 0:20:44Hearing more reports as it comes in.
0:20:44 > 0:20:46SIREN BLARES
0:20:46 > 0:20:48PHONE RINGS
0:20:48 > 0:20:54'Hello, it's Network Rail Control at York. We've got a fatality just occurred.
0:20:54 > 0:21:00'We're thinking he might be about 16, 17 year old, maybe younger.
0:21:00 > 0:21:05'Yeah, we're not sure about opening things up as yet.'
0:21:06 > 0:21:13It's thought the victim is a teenage boy who'd been trespassing on the tracks 40 miles south of Leeds.
0:21:13 > 0:21:17While police and Network Rail teams deal with the scene,
0:21:17 > 0:21:20Craig has to go and break the news to the boy's mother.
0:21:20 > 0:21:22'Could you just confirm how many trains are stuck at the moment?
0:21:22 > 0:21:27'Well, itself and two others. Another four stood behind that with about 800 people on 'em.'
0:21:27 > 0:21:33PA: 'We are sorry that services are subject to delay because of the fatality.
0:21:33 > 0:21:38'Every effort is being made to restore services to normal as quickly as possible.'
0:21:38 > 0:21:41Trains will have stopped running at the incident,
0:21:41 > 0:21:44for operational safety and also...
0:21:44 > 0:21:48the respect for the deceased.
0:21:48 > 0:21:49Come on, let's go.
0:21:49 > 0:21:53'The reality of the report is that such is the state of the remains of the body
0:21:53 > 0:21:56'that we could still be quite some time.'
0:21:57 > 0:22:01With trains across the region stopped while the body's removed,
0:22:01 > 0:22:06Craig first calls in at the local police station for a briefing.
0:22:06 > 0:22:12It's very, very sad. This lad is one of our regular miscreants.
0:22:12 > 0:22:15Sergeant Gregory was one of the first on site.
0:22:15 > 0:22:19ID's a problem, because, of course, we've got significant injuries.
0:22:19 > 0:22:22Two days ago, he was caught playing chicken with cars.
0:22:22 > 0:22:26A week ago, BTP had some involvement playing chicken on the railway track.
0:22:26 > 0:22:32Problem we've got is that his mum, she's working nights, unaware that this has gone off.
0:22:32 > 0:22:34- We need that sorted. - Yeah, we need to deal with it.
0:22:34 > 0:22:37Right. Going to go speak to Mum.
0:22:37 > 0:22:42We've just got to go and do the hard bit and ruin Mum's... Well, probably ruin her life, bless her.
0:22:42 > 0:22:44Mm.
0:22:44 > 0:22:47- Are you all right, Craig? - Yeah. Yeah.
0:22:47 > 0:22:49Yeah.
0:22:51 > 0:22:56There's this sort of moment you get beforehand, you're thinking about...
0:22:56 > 0:22:59You're about to tell somebody the worst possible news
0:22:59 > 0:23:03and it's not something you can take lightly, really.
0:23:09 > 0:23:13- Right.- Let's do it. - Let's do it.- Let's do it.
0:23:20 > 0:23:24Yeah, yeah. It's not, er...
0:23:24 > 0:23:27Not an easy thing to do. Not at all.
0:23:27 > 0:23:32And, you know, it's such an instant and raw grief.
0:23:32 > 0:23:35You know, there are so many "why" questions, you know.
0:23:35 > 0:23:37It's...
0:23:40 > 0:23:42HE SIGHS
0:23:43 > 0:23:48If a police officer tells you that they don't feel it,
0:23:48 > 0:23:51then they're not being honest with you.
0:23:51 > 0:23:53You hurt like hell.
0:23:53 > 0:23:54You...
0:23:56 > 0:23:58You know.
0:23:58 > 0:24:01I'm a big lad, but I cry, you know.
0:24:01 > 0:24:05Cos you've got a lot of "why" questions yourself.
0:24:05 > 0:24:08And then you go home to, you know...
0:24:08 > 0:24:11I go home to my wife and my beautiful daughter...
0:24:13 > 0:24:16You know, it's hard not to carry a little bit of it.
0:24:16 > 0:24:19You don't forget a name, you don't forget a place.
0:24:22 > 0:24:25Sometimes you don't even forget train numbers.
0:24:29 > 0:24:33It's 4.00am. All the trains have been cleared,
0:24:33 > 0:24:36and Craig is now visiting the site of the fatality.
0:24:37 > 0:24:41He's here to do a last check of the tracks in daylight
0:24:41 > 0:24:46for any of the boy's personal items before the first trains are due.
0:24:46 > 0:24:48BIRDS SING
0:24:48 > 0:24:53It's quite odd, isn't it? Another morning comes up and everything changes.
0:24:53 > 0:24:58Another day starts and all of a sudden there'll be thousands of commuters travelling this line,
0:24:58 > 0:25:02with no idea what's gone on the night before.
0:25:04 > 0:25:05Mm.
0:25:07 > 0:25:10Anything personal...
0:25:10 > 0:25:13I would imagine will be strewn on the other side.
0:25:13 > 0:25:18- I did notice a couple of pieces of a white hoodie that were obviously his.- All right.
0:25:18 > 0:25:20- OK.- And one sock.
0:25:31 > 0:25:34OK.
0:25:35 > 0:25:38- See, that's definitely looking like point of impact.- Yeah.
0:25:38 > 0:25:42- Obviously, with the downdraught from train. It's...- Pulled it back.
0:25:47 > 0:25:50Can you pop that in there for me?
0:25:52 > 0:25:53Cheers.
0:25:58 > 0:26:00OK.
0:26:05 > 0:26:07TRAIN ROARS
0:26:14 > 0:26:17'This is the 06.37 Northern Train service...'
0:26:17 > 0:26:20to Manchester Victoria via Halifax.
0:26:23 > 0:26:25Into battle!
0:26:26 > 0:26:28Come for your morning hug? LAUGHTER
0:26:28 > 0:26:32Train conductor Bridey has been on shift since the crack of dawn.
0:26:32 > 0:26:37She's on the 6.37 to Manchester, full of her regular commuters.
0:26:37 > 0:26:40Anyone need tickets? Any more tickets? Yes, love...
0:26:40 > 0:26:45You wouldn't believe what habits I learn about people when you do the same job for five years.
0:26:45 > 0:26:48People said to me, "The toilet's been engaged for half an hour."
0:26:48 > 0:26:52I can look at me watch and where we are and know who it is.
0:26:52 > 0:26:55That's how bad it is!
0:26:55 > 0:26:58Are you all right, yeah?
0:26:58 > 0:27:01See you later! Bye! See you!
0:27:01 > 0:27:03See you. See you later.
0:27:03 > 0:27:05Bye.
0:27:06 > 0:27:11Time is money. It's been a right laugh! We'll do lunch next week.
0:27:11 > 0:27:15As ex-wife used to say, "That were quick!"
0:27:15 > 0:27:19Oh, if you'd have fallen then! See you later on!
0:27:19 > 0:27:21WHISTLE BLOWS
0:27:21 > 0:27:24Everybody's rushing, especially in this day and age.
0:27:24 > 0:27:29In the morning at Leeds Station, it's obviously a big city, one station,
0:27:29 > 0:27:34and when they're all coming over the escalator, if you stood back away from it all,
0:27:34 > 0:27:37it's just like millions of ants going over the escalator.
0:27:37 > 0:27:40Nobody stops, it doesn't matter what happens.
0:27:40 > 0:27:46We saw a little old lady fall over. About four people stepped over her, before anybody went to help her.
0:27:46 > 0:27:51Obviously, we all need to get to work, but it seemed a little bit harsh.
0:27:56 > 0:27:59A lot of people just don't have any thought for anybody else.
0:28:01 > 0:28:07I always remember, my husband had just died, and I weren't working fully. I was collecting fares.
0:28:07 > 0:28:11This lady got hysterical about a train leaving three minutes before.
0:28:11 > 0:28:14There were no calming her down. I had to walk away.
0:28:14 > 0:28:19All I could think was, "I wish I just had to worry about a train, getting it three minutes later."
0:28:19 > 0:28:22It does make some things seem really, really petty sometimes.
0:28:22 > 0:28:25Yo! How long are we going to be here?
0:28:25 > 0:28:28- It's up to the signaller.- Bullshit!
0:28:29 > 0:28:32It's in my pocket!! You've already seen it!
0:28:35 > 0:28:38I think it's the nature of the building and the job, you know.
0:28:38 > 0:28:39Fucking...
0:28:39 > 0:28:43It might be possessed. Leeds Station might be possessed.
0:28:43 > 0:28:45Turns everybody into angry people.
0:28:47 > 0:28:49Everything's our fault.
0:28:49 > 0:28:53I can't understand it. They'll go out there and they'll change into nice people again.
0:28:53 > 0:28:55Use your tickets at the barriers, please.
0:28:55 > 0:28:58Thank you so much!
0:28:58 > 0:29:01- Cheers.- My season ticket's got stuck in here.
0:29:01 > 0:29:02Again!
0:29:04 > 0:29:05Cheers.
0:29:05 > 0:29:09Ah, I can't wait to get home to my boys.
0:29:09 > 0:29:11I miss 'em.
0:29:12 > 0:29:16- Thank you very much.- What's it like working with your dad?
0:29:17 > 0:29:20You've got to be on your best behaviour...
0:29:21 > 0:29:24..to show respect, isn't it?
0:29:24 > 0:29:27You've got to respect your dad.
0:29:27 > 0:29:32He'll tell me, "Railway job, job is for life." That's what he'll say to me.
0:29:32 > 0:29:36He'll probably bollock me... if I'd leave.
0:29:36 > 0:29:41- I'd like to go through, please. - You should use your tickets.
0:29:43 > 0:29:46I wanted to have my own business or something.
0:29:46 > 0:29:49You know, be a businessman or something.
0:29:49 > 0:29:53It doesn't go your own way though, does it?
0:29:55 > 0:29:58Is she all right? You sure?
0:29:58 > 0:30:00Oh, playing dead.
0:30:02 > 0:30:05By 10pm, the busy commuters have gone
0:30:05 > 0:30:09and now most of Imran's passengers have been for a drink, or two.
0:30:09 > 0:30:12Fuck this, fuck this, man!
0:30:12 > 0:30:16They said, "You've had a few drinks. We're taking you off the train."
0:30:16 > 0:30:20They fucking robbed me. They took my ticket off me! Fucking pricks!
0:30:20 > 0:30:22I swear to God...!
0:30:22 > 0:30:26As nightclubs and bars surrounding the station begin to close,
0:30:26 > 0:30:30Imran prepares himself for partygoers, of all ages,
0:30:30 > 0:30:32taking the last trains home.
0:30:32 > 0:30:35That's bad, is that - that guy!
0:30:35 > 0:30:39I mean, he's weeing there. Full view of people.
0:30:39 > 0:30:41Ah, deary me!
0:30:43 > 0:30:47- I just want to, like... I want to go home.- Just come here.
0:30:47 > 0:30:52- Just take a seat. He's just weed over there.- Weed?!
0:30:52 > 0:30:54That big puddle!
0:30:54 > 0:30:59There's people going about their everyday business and you're urinating in a public place.
0:30:59 > 0:31:03- It's not acceptable really, is it? OK.- I, I, I'm so sorry.
0:31:03 > 0:31:06I don't drink. I mean...
0:31:06 > 0:31:09I was asking, "How's it like to be drunk? What happens?"
0:31:09 > 0:31:14They were explaining it to me and I still don't get it.
0:31:17 > 0:31:18It must be strong stuff.
0:31:20 > 0:31:22Can't wait to get home.
0:31:27 > 0:31:28Ha-ha.
0:31:28 > 0:31:32- 'Ere you are, mate.- Yes, sir. SLURRED RESPONSE
0:31:32 > 0:31:35- Sorry. - SLURRED RESPONSE
0:31:35 > 0:31:39Fitzwilliam. 13B. You've got to be quick.
0:31:39 > 0:31:43- I'm going that way. Come on. - Can you take me, please?
0:31:43 > 0:31:46- Are you all right? - Yeah, I'm all right.- You sure?
0:31:46 > 0:31:48- Can you take me, please? - Yeah, I'll take you.
0:31:48 > 0:31:52- Are you all right to take me? - Yeah, straight on.
0:31:56 > 0:32:00- Give you some money?- I don't want no money. It's all right.
0:32:00 > 0:32:03- Can I give you some money now? - No, no, you're all right.
0:32:03 > 0:32:06Where we going now?
0:32:08 > 0:32:11Down here. Oh, sorry. This...
0:32:11 > 0:32:14- You do know where you're going? - Yeah!
0:32:14 > 0:32:17- Are you sure?- Yeah.
0:32:17 > 0:32:19Fucking, all right here.
0:32:19 > 0:32:23- I need to get my train now. - You pillocking me?- What's that?
0:32:23 > 0:32:26- You fucking pillocking me? - No, no, honestly, I'm not.
0:32:26 > 0:32:28I need to get my train now.
0:32:28 > 0:32:32Downstairs. You can use the stairs if you want.
0:32:32 > 0:32:35Pillocking him! Right.
0:32:35 > 0:32:38IMRAN LAUGHS NERVOUSLY
0:32:42 > 0:32:46Some of them are double my age. I'm like, "Whoa!"
0:32:46 > 0:32:48You should look...
0:32:48 > 0:32:51look up to your elders.
0:32:51 > 0:32:55And if you're looking up to people that are drunk and swearing and just doing what they like.
0:32:55 > 0:32:57It's not nice.
0:32:57 > 0:32:59WHISTLE BLOWS
0:33:02 > 0:33:05Imran will be back on the ticket barriers tomorrow evening.
0:33:10 > 0:33:13THUNDER RUMBLES
0:33:19 > 0:33:21It's the wettest summer for a century
0:33:21 > 0:33:25and Yorkshire is one of the worst affected areas.
0:33:25 > 0:33:27PA: 'This is a safety announcement.
0:33:27 > 0:33:32'Due to today's wet weather, please take extra care whilst on the station.'
0:33:32 > 0:33:38For the railway staff, weather like this is far more challenging than the most difficult of passengers.
0:33:38 > 0:33:41And it's Friday, the busiest day of the week.
0:33:45 > 0:33:48We've got another storm coming. It's gone dark.
0:33:48 > 0:33:51It's like night-time suddenly.
0:33:54 > 0:33:57Are we going to float away from Leeds Station?
0:34:01 > 0:34:03Lovely weather(!)
0:34:03 > 0:34:08Dozens of rapid response teams are deployed to keep the trains moving.
0:34:08 > 0:34:12Torrential downpours in certain areas, isn't it?
0:34:12 > 0:34:14The drains just can't take the volume of water.
0:34:14 > 0:34:17Have a caution in for definite here.
0:34:17 > 0:34:20Because lightning's hit axle counters.
0:34:20 > 0:34:25I'm piss wet through out here just checking on't flooding. Top of roadway's flooded, as well.
0:34:25 > 0:34:28First stop is on the outskirts of Leeds.
0:34:28 > 0:34:33Here, a road next to the train line has flooded because the council's drain is blocked.
0:34:33 > 0:34:36Because they don't maintain it on a regular basis,
0:34:36 > 0:34:41fills up, water then flows through the fence line straight on to railway.
0:34:41 > 0:34:45And people keep asking, "Why are you slowing my train down again?"
0:34:45 > 0:34:49It's because your local council couldn't be bothered to clean the drains out.
0:34:49 > 0:34:53If nothing interfered with the railway, trains would run on time.
0:34:53 > 0:34:56But because it's literally...
0:34:56 > 0:35:00external things what keep naffing the railway.
0:35:00 > 0:35:02Like this!
0:35:03 > 0:35:07Yeah, yeah! I know it's flooded. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
0:35:07 > 0:35:09Yeah, there's always a story.
0:35:09 > 0:35:11- No idea.- No idea.
0:35:11 > 0:35:16Not at this moment in time. We have got people out working on it.
0:35:20 > 0:35:22There's not a great deal we can do
0:35:22 > 0:35:24because of the sheer volume of water coming down.
0:35:24 > 0:35:27A month's worth of rain has fallen in just one day
0:35:27 > 0:35:31and flooding sites are popping up all over Kev and Stev's patch,
0:35:31 > 0:35:35as water pours off the neighbouring land on to the tracks.
0:35:35 > 0:35:38This is a classic. It used to be wasteland.
0:35:38 > 0:35:43They build a brand-new housing estate or umpteen new factories.
0:35:44 > 0:35:47They haven't packed it into anything.
0:35:47 > 0:35:49They've literally stuck it on to embankment.
0:35:49 > 0:35:51"There you go. It's yours now!
0:35:51 > 0:35:53"You deal with it."
0:35:55 > 0:35:58There's definitely no trains going at this moment in time. It's flooded.
0:35:58 > 0:36:03- If I wait for the next one, will it definitely come?- No.
0:36:05 > 0:36:11There's no let up in the rain and by 3.00pm flooding has crippled the network.
0:36:12 > 0:36:16All trains on this mainline from Leeds to London
0:36:16 > 0:36:17have now been stopped.
0:36:19 > 0:36:22Controlled havoc would be a good description.
0:36:22 > 0:36:25It's a weather event. It's quite unprecedented for the time of year.
0:36:25 > 0:36:31It looks like every route that we've got has got major incidents on it.
0:36:31 > 0:36:33And with rush hour fast approaching,
0:36:33 > 0:36:36the pressure is on to get the trains moving.
0:36:36 > 0:36:40Hello, mate. Is this urgent, or can it wait?
0:36:40 > 0:36:44There's a massive tree stump what's wedged in.
0:36:44 > 0:36:46Er, at side.
0:36:46 > 0:36:51Then we're off to Calverley. It may need the sandbags building back up.
0:36:51 > 0:36:55Hope he's not looking for his fleece. I've just pinched his.
0:36:55 > 0:36:58It's the only dry one we've got left!
0:36:58 > 0:37:03Every minute counts and it's things we have no control over.
0:37:03 > 0:37:09Kev and Stev have been despatched to the site where trains are stranded.
0:37:09 > 0:37:13The line is closed because once floodwater rises above the rail,
0:37:13 > 0:37:16there's a very real risk of derailment.
0:37:16 > 0:37:19Basically, when the railhead's covered,
0:37:19 > 0:37:22it's not very practical to run trains on something you can't see.
0:37:22 > 0:37:27- You don't know what's floating in it. - Or if it's washed away track.
0:37:27 > 0:37:31The drainage system is now overwhelmed.
0:37:31 > 0:37:34So there's nowhere to pump the water to.
0:37:34 > 0:37:35The only thing they can do is try
0:37:35 > 0:37:37to channel the water away from the rails.
0:37:39 > 0:37:43Once we get it so it can actually drop down below railhead,
0:37:43 > 0:37:45then we can start running them at 5mph.
0:37:45 > 0:37:49At least get passengers up and running again. You know what I mean?
0:37:55 > 0:37:58- So that's been delayed as well?- Yeah.
0:37:58 > 0:38:02Rush hour. Routes are now blocked in almost every direction.
0:38:02 > 0:38:06Staff on the front line are struggling to give any options to the passengers.
0:38:06 > 0:38:09- You know that train to Glasgow that's been delayed?- Yeah.
0:38:09 > 0:38:13- What are the chances of it getting here?- Erm...
0:38:13 > 0:38:17I don't know. That's being completely honest.
0:38:17 > 0:38:20It's stuck behind a flood.
0:38:20 > 0:38:23I don't know what to say.
0:38:23 > 0:38:28- Do you know if the next one will be running, or...?- I don't. I would doubt it at the moment.
0:38:28 > 0:38:29Doubt it?
0:38:29 > 0:38:34That's the only train that goes to Thurnscoe, where we need to be.
0:38:34 > 0:38:38You said Sheffield! I was telling you about the Sheffield train.
0:38:38 > 0:38:40Not a Thurnscoe train!
0:38:40 > 0:38:44I know you're probably having a really bad day and all that,
0:38:44 > 0:38:48but you're supposed to be calming me down, not me calming you down, mate!
0:38:49 > 0:38:50Going slowly.
0:38:52 > 0:38:55Kev and Stev have at last managed to drop the water levels
0:38:55 > 0:38:58enough to open the line.
0:38:58 > 0:39:00My underpants are really wet now!
0:39:00 > 0:39:03But getting trains moving is a slow process.
0:39:03 > 0:39:07They're only allowed to run at 5mph,
0:39:07 > 0:39:09causing them to stack up as they
0:39:09 > 0:39:13await their turn to go through the flooded area.
0:39:13 > 0:39:16"You delayed my train, you!"
0:39:20 > 0:39:22"I'm sat on the train. You're stood outside the train.
0:39:22 > 0:39:26"It must be your fault why I am not getting between Point A and Point B."
0:39:26 > 0:39:29It's always our fault.
0:39:29 > 0:39:32Flooding. "So why didn't you deal with it?"
0:39:32 > 0:39:34Oh, my life! Erm...
0:39:34 > 0:39:37HE LAUGHS
0:39:37 > 0:39:40Er, right. Let me just do some maths first.
0:39:41 > 0:39:43For every minute a train is delayed
0:39:43 > 0:39:46by flooding, trespassers or any technical problems,
0:39:46 > 0:39:48it's Network Rail that foots the bill.
0:39:48 > 0:39:50It's been absolutely phenomenal.
0:39:50 > 0:39:53We've accrued, in just one day alone...
0:39:53 > 0:39:56This is looking at lightning strikes, which account for 2,600 minutes.
0:39:56 > 0:40:0116,500 minutes' worth of delay caused by flooding across the route.
0:40:01 > 0:40:07In a day, that's probably two months' worth of budget in terms of minutes,
0:40:07 > 0:40:09which is huge.
0:40:09 > 0:40:12- Right then, could everyone move... - This gentleman was first.
0:40:12 > 0:40:16- If you've got a car parked in the station...- No need to be rude to me!
0:40:16 > 0:40:19- I'm asking a civil question. - I'm not being rude.
0:40:19 > 0:40:23Are we getting individual taxis? Simple question!
0:40:23 > 0:40:28Yeah, just hang on here. Members of staff will come and sort you out.
0:40:28 > 0:40:34Network Rail has to pay up to £200 for every minute of delay to the train companies,
0:40:34 > 0:40:39some of which is passed on to the passengers, claiming ticket refunds, or taxis home.
0:40:39 > 0:40:45You have to be patient. I appreciate it's not been a great night for you, but he is doing his best.
0:40:45 > 0:40:48Anyone else wanting a claim form?
0:40:48 > 0:40:51Might be a complaint form for lack of complaint forms in a minute!
0:40:53 > 0:40:57We're running out very drastically, yeah. Chuffing hell!
0:40:58 > 0:41:02From my opinion, it would be so much better if this was all excludable and we didn't pay anything.
0:41:02 > 0:41:07If someone said, "That's something you can't do anything about, we'll write it off."
0:41:07 > 0:41:10But the regimes don't work like that.
0:41:10 > 0:41:12There you go, love. That's your claims form, OK?
0:41:12 > 0:41:17On Jerry's route, compensation paid out for flooding on this ONE day
0:41:17 > 0:41:18is £1 million.
0:41:18 > 0:41:20Bingley and Keighley!
0:41:20 > 0:41:23'People wonder why trains are expensive.
0:41:23 > 0:41:26'It's completely nonsense.'
0:41:41 > 0:41:43A bit of a lonely existence.
0:41:43 > 0:41:45You have to enjoy your own company.
0:41:46 > 0:41:49Which I do, to a degree.
0:41:52 > 0:41:55It's like Wildlife On One on this job, isn't it?
0:41:55 > 0:41:58I've hit dogs, cats, foxes... I've hit 'em all!
0:41:59 > 0:42:04I've never hit a magpie. Far too clever.
0:42:04 > 0:42:08Pigeons aren't the cleverest of animals, are they?
0:42:08 > 0:42:11They tend to sit in't tree and wait till you're coming past,
0:42:11 > 0:42:13and then fly out in front of you.
0:42:13 > 0:42:15Pigeon playing chicken, who would have thought?
0:42:15 > 0:42:19Pheasants tend to stand on railhead and sort of look around.
0:42:19 > 0:42:23It must be something to do with not having binocular vision,
0:42:23 > 0:42:28cos they can't judge perspective, so you're about four feet away before they realise.
0:42:28 > 0:42:31- And then what?- They sort of go, "Uh!" and then you hit 'em.
0:42:49 > 0:42:51Hiya. When's the next train to New Pudsey?
0:42:53 > 0:42:5610B. Up the steps and left.
0:42:56 > 0:42:58THEY LAUGH HYSTERICALLY
0:43:06 > 0:43:10It was like that. Like really thick here and then really thin.
0:43:12 > 0:43:15I couldn't... I couldn't help it!
0:43:18 > 0:43:20Oh, that were funny, that were.
0:43:21 > 0:43:23Introduce yourself.
0:43:25 > 0:43:26Hiya.
0:43:27 > 0:43:28Young man.
0:43:28 > 0:43:31I am a regular train spotter around West Yorkshire
0:43:31 > 0:43:32and I come to Leeds quite a lot,
0:43:32 > 0:43:35and I know quite a lot of East Coast staff,
0:43:35 > 0:43:39including drivers, guards, Hanif himself.
0:43:39 > 0:43:41A fan club!
0:43:43 > 0:43:46I'm 17 and I absolutely love diesels.
0:43:46 > 0:43:48HANIF LAUGHS
0:43:51 > 0:43:54No, not very pretty these ones. These are modern.
0:43:54 > 0:43:56Train of the week?
0:43:57 > 0:44:01Not my train of the week. My train of the week is a different one to that.
0:44:01 > 0:44:05That's a proper engine. Class 37, built in 1960.
0:44:05 > 0:44:08Brilliant celebration of British engineering. Built in this country.
0:44:08 > 0:44:10Still going 50 years later.
0:44:10 > 0:44:13Not mine, but I do part-own one the same.
0:44:14 > 0:44:18For us, a lot of it's about... It's us recreating our past.
0:44:18 > 0:44:22It's how we used to work in the days of British Rail and before,
0:44:22 > 0:44:28where we ran the railways as a purely railway, rather than a business.
0:44:29 > 0:44:32In those days, it was about playing trains.
0:44:32 > 0:44:36Nowadays, you have got a different world you're working in.
0:44:41 > 0:44:45CHANTING AND SINGING
0:44:58 > 0:45:00Come with me.
0:45:02 > 0:45:06A man in dark clothing has been spotted by the tracks -
0:45:06 > 0:45:09a suspected cable thief.
0:45:09 > 0:45:12It's top priority for British Transport Police officer Craig.
0:45:12 > 0:45:14SIREN BLARES Come on, Mr Taxi! What you doing?
0:45:16 > 0:45:17Over the past five years,
0:45:17 > 0:45:21cable theft has become one of the biggest threats to the railways
0:45:21 > 0:45:24and Yorkshire suffers the most.
0:45:24 > 0:45:26We've got a cable theft in progress.
0:45:26 > 0:45:31There's been a sighting of a male who's European looking,
0:45:31 > 0:45:35at the line side looking at the cable at the side of the rail.
0:45:35 > 0:45:38Cos we get a lot of cable theft,
0:45:38 > 0:45:43so we make it an immediate grade and we get out there and see what we've got.
0:45:43 > 0:45:46The concern is, if the man steals essential signalling cable,
0:45:46 > 0:45:49no trains can run.
0:45:49 > 0:45:51Ooh! Sweet child of mine!
0:45:54 > 0:45:56Thefts happen every week in this region.
0:45:56 > 0:46:00Thieves stripping the cable for the valuable copper inside.
0:46:00 > 0:46:02And this is the area we're looking at here,
0:46:02 > 0:46:07just to our right, and there's a bit of track up the side
0:46:07 > 0:46:09and, at the end of the track...
0:46:09 > 0:46:13Where's he running to? Watch the male in the grey there!
0:46:13 > 0:46:16Him doing a legger!
0:46:22 > 0:46:23- That's the guy.- Take a grip of him!
0:46:27 > 0:46:28SIREN STOPS
0:46:28 > 0:46:31Charlie 3-8 on scene. Two males with us at this time.
0:46:31 > 0:46:35- One matching description. Stand by. - Description of what?- Right, OK.
0:46:35 > 0:46:39- You've not been on the railway at all?- No, I haven't been on the railway.
0:46:39 > 0:46:43- I'm just going to speak to my colleague and check this guy out. Do you know this gentleman?- No.
0:46:43 > 0:46:46It turns out he's just a passer-by.
0:46:46 > 0:46:50So Craig turns his attention to the other man who does match description.
0:46:50 > 0:46:56I'm going to search you, OK? Because you've been on that side of the railway and we get cables stolen,
0:46:56 > 0:46:58I can search you under Section 1 of PACE, all right?
0:47:03 > 0:47:05- Right.- Why?
0:47:06 > 0:47:10Just turn this way for me, so I can feel that pocket. OK.
0:47:10 > 0:47:13OK. Straight-forward trespass.
0:47:13 > 0:47:15Just have a word, Craig.
0:47:18 > 0:47:23There's nothing that would suggest to me that he's anything other than probably a little bit naive.
0:47:23 > 0:47:28- Report him for trespass, then.- Yeah, he'll get reported for trespass. - We'll leave you to it.- Right, then.
0:47:28 > 0:47:32The man says he's been taking a short cut home. But he has been trespassing
0:47:32 > 0:47:35and will face a fine of up to £1,000.
0:47:35 > 0:47:40It would be lovely to get a cable thief, but he's a trespasser, so...
0:47:42 > 0:47:45As far as cable thieves are concerned...
0:47:45 > 0:47:47HE SIGHS
0:47:47 > 0:47:50It's not dark enough, I would say, just yet.
0:47:50 > 0:47:56As we get into the night, then they come out. The cover of darkness. But we'll see what the night brings.
0:48:11 > 0:48:15Cable thieves cost the railway £16 million every year
0:48:15 > 0:48:18and disrupt nearly four million train journeys.
0:48:20 > 0:48:25It's Monday night and British Transport police officer Steve Kite is visiting a known hot spot.
0:48:25 > 0:48:28- I think our buggers have done this today.- Yeah.
0:48:28 > 0:48:30- Has it been cut?- Yeah.
0:48:30 > 0:48:324-6.
0:48:32 > 0:48:35..Cut just there and it's been lifted there.
0:48:35 > 0:48:40What they've done is gone straight through this chicken-wire fence.
0:48:40 > 0:48:45And you're immediately next to hundreds of thousands of pounds' worth of copper-rich cable.
0:48:46 > 0:48:52And over the past six weeks they've just systematically stripped it away.
0:48:52 > 0:48:56This stretch of track now has probably seen
0:48:56 > 0:48:59something in the region of about £150,000's worth of cable theft.
0:48:59 > 0:49:02That sort of money they'll never get.
0:49:02 > 0:49:07Scrap value for them, at best, is a couple of grand.
0:49:10 > 0:49:13And they won't stop. They can't stop.
0:49:13 > 0:49:16These are people who don't want to get caught,
0:49:16 > 0:49:19who are carrying axes, knives.
0:49:19 > 0:49:23Policing Britain's 20,000 miles of track,
0:49:23 > 0:49:26most of it through remote areas, is a challenge.
0:49:26 > 0:49:30Steve is part of a specialist task force
0:49:30 > 0:49:33with hi-tech cameras and alarms at their disposal.
0:49:35 > 0:49:39But tonight, they deploy some plain old-fashioned surveillance...
0:49:39 > 0:49:41from a bush.
0:49:53 > 0:49:55DOG WHINES
0:50:01 > 0:50:06Ten miles up the track, a different gang of thieves has stolen cable from a commuter line
0:50:06 > 0:50:08for the second night in a row.
0:50:08 > 0:50:11That's the helicopter.
0:50:11 > 0:50:16- Could be anywhere.- These lads have said where they've seen cable out of the troughing.
0:50:17 > 0:50:23Just finding the cut in miles of cable and then re-jointing and testing up to 96 connections,
0:50:23 > 0:50:25can take several hours.
0:50:25 > 0:50:28If the technical team can't fix it before morning,
0:50:28 > 0:50:31the commuter trains won't run.
0:50:31 > 0:50:33That there. They've cut it on that.
0:50:33 > 0:50:37All of a sudden, it's kicked in again. Price of copper must've...
0:50:37 > 0:50:39- Looks quite clean, that.- Yeah.
0:50:39 > 0:50:43For all they know, it could be high voltage.
0:50:43 > 0:50:46We had one last week, where they found a dead body
0:50:46 > 0:50:50underneath some arcing cable that was obviously a theft attempt.
0:50:50 > 0:50:52To some, I'd say poetic justice.
0:50:52 > 0:50:5625,000 volts is a lot of volts to play with.
0:50:56 > 0:51:01It's a constant battle we're faced with that we weren't faced with 15 years ago even.
0:51:01 > 0:51:05I think the pressure of living in the UK in 2012, financially,
0:51:05 > 0:51:11has led people that wouldn't have committed such crimes to commit what they see as an easy hit.
0:51:15 > 0:51:17Do you think they're getting cleverer?
0:51:17 > 0:51:19Oh, I think some of them even know
0:51:19 > 0:51:20what they're doing now, don't they, lads?
0:51:24 > 0:51:28I hope we're not doing this just to set it all up for them again for tomorrow night.
0:51:39 > 0:51:40Steve and his colleagues
0:51:40 > 0:51:43have been waiting in the bushes for two hours now.
0:51:43 > 0:51:46And they've just spotted movement further down the track.
0:51:46 > 0:51:49- WHISPERS:- Down! Get down!
0:51:49 > 0:51:51Come here!
0:51:51 > 0:51:55- WHISPERS:- There's a torch in the distance. What is it?
0:51:55 > 0:51:58- Follow it round the corner.- See it? - Yeah, yeah. I've got him.
0:51:58 > 0:52:02There's someone on the track with a torch and a vehicle.
0:52:02 > 0:52:03Come on, then.
0:52:14 > 0:52:188-0-4, if you can cover where we've just come from.
0:52:20 > 0:52:22We've got this end covered.
0:52:24 > 0:52:28It's the police! British Transport Police.
0:52:33 > 0:52:34Er, Network Rail.
0:52:36 > 0:52:38- Hello, mate.- You OK?
0:52:38 > 0:52:42- Just the two of you?- There's another lad down there...- Right.
0:52:42 > 0:52:46- No worries. OK.- All right, pal! Cheers, guys. Cheers, boys.
0:52:46 > 0:52:49I got all excited for a minute then.
0:52:52 > 0:52:54- Never say never.- No.
0:52:54 > 0:52:57We know it's going to happen. They know they're going to do it.
0:52:57 > 0:53:01They can't stop doing it and we can't stop trying to catch 'em.
0:53:01 > 0:53:04Sometimes they win, sometimes we win.
0:53:04 > 0:53:06It's a score draw at the minute, I think.
0:53:07 > 0:53:10- Next goal wins.- Next goal wins.
0:53:14 > 0:53:15I thought that was it.
0:53:20 > 0:53:23Back in Leeds, the last trains of the night are leaving.
0:53:26 > 0:53:29Stragglers remain around the station
0:53:29 > 0:53:32and the police are still on duty.
0:53:32 > 0:53:36- I need to get to Hull. I've got a little boy!- There's no more trains to Hull tonight.
0:53:36 > 0:53:39Do not f... Do not talk to me like I am a schoolboy.
0:53:39 > 0:53:43- There's no more trains to Hull. - Please, son...- I'm not your son.
0:53:43 > 0:53:47I'm going to ask you ONCE to leave the station. I've asked you nicely...
0:53:47 > 0:53:51Earlier today, this man was removed from a train for smoking and drunkenness.
0:53:51 > 0:53:55SHOUTING
0:53:55 > 0:53:59Told to sober up before travelling, he's continued to drink
0:53:59 > 0:54:01and has now missed his last train home.
0:54:01 > 0:54:04SHOUTING
0:54:04 > 0:54:06Sometimes it's easier with newborn babies...
0:54:08 > 0:54:11..than with grown adults in, er, in alcohol.
0:54:11 > 0:54:13We'll give him one last opportunity to disappear.
0:54:13 > 0:54:17The British Transport Police has the same powers as any other police force,
0:54:17 > 0:54:19but is paid for by Network Rail,
0:54:19 > 0:54:23train companies and, ultimately, through ticket fares.
0:54:23 > 0:54:25Oh, no! Look who it is, Dec!
0:54:25 > 0:54:30I'm not going to tell you again. We're busy dealing with other jobs.
0:54:30 > 0:54:32I'll not keep coming back to you because you're drunk.
0:54:32 > 0:54:37Disappear off the station, please. Go away! We've got other things to do!
0:54:37 > 0:54:39Right, listen! You've had a bad day.
0:54:39 > 0:54:43You've been to a funeral and I've allowed for that!
0:54:43 > 0:54:46I've given you the benefit of the doubt, allowing for your day.
0:54:46 > 0:54:51Leave the station, please, or you will be arrested. Disappear!
0:54:51 > 0:54:55If he carries on, he's going to get himself arrested for being drunk and disorderly,
0:54:55 > 0:54:59cos we can't leave him like this and he just won't leave.
0:55:00 > 0:55:05You don't have to say anything, but it may harm your defence if you fail to mention...
0:55:05 > 0:55:07I'm innocent! I don't deserve this!
0:55:09 > 0:55:11Bloody hell!
0:55:25 > 0:55:28- Hello.- This is Elias, me brother. He's the middle one.
0:55:28 > 0:55:30Is that the grumpy one?
0:55:30 > 0:55:34- Is that true?- No, it's not true. He's the team leader.
0:55:34 > 0:55:38I always got to the table first, as you can see, from my size.
0:55:38 > 0:55:40See you in a bit.
0:55:40 > 0:55:44It's like a second home, in't it? You know everybody, you know what I mean?
0:55:44 > 0:55:47- How's it going? - All right, mate. Tango.
0:55:47 > 0:55:52- You've got your family and then you've got your railway family? - Some people think of it that way.
0:55:52 > 0:55:55It's like that, I suppose.
0:55:57 > 0:56:00There's always one brother that gets on your tits, isn't there?
0:56:01 > 0:56:03I'm waiting for my daddy.
0:56:05 > 0:56:06- Boo!- Aaagh!
0:56:06 > 0:56:08How did you get behind us?!
0:56:08 > 0:56:11It's good to see you.
0:56:11 > 0:56:15"Daddy, did you have a good time on honeymoon?"
0:56:16 > 0:56:22If you start to believe they're all the same, it's another drunk or it's another ticket fraud...
0:56:22 > 0:56:25To become cynical and say, "You know, I'm not going to deal with this."
0:56:25 > 0:56:28Time to go then.
0:56:28 > 0:56:29Time to go.
0:56:30 > 0:56:32Ta-ta!
0:56:32 > 0:56:35Suspect package on a train at Leeds.
0:56:35 > 0:56:39It's a unique industry. There's nothing else I know anything like it.
0:56:39 > 0:56:42What, when I started being interested?
0:56:42 > 0:56:47Probably about 12, but the days of writing numbers down are 20 years gone.
0:56:47 > 0:56:50- Did you?- Once upon a time.
0:56:50 > 0:56:52But it's not done me any harm.
0:56:52 > 0:56:55I've ended up where I am, doing a job I love doing.
0:56:55 > 0:56:57And, very much, that's what it does.
0:56:57 > 0:57:01It gives you the passion for trying to deliver a better railway.
0:57:01 > 0:57:03No matter how difficult it may be at times.