14/01/2013 Inside Out North West

Welcome to Inside Out. This week we are in Liverpool where we will be

finding out about the future of train travel in away region. On the

programme tonight - trouble on the West Coast main line. Is it time to

renationalise the railways. British Rail was not as bad as people said

they were. We report on the growing popularity of cycling. It is

becoming the new Golf. People are doing deals on their bikes.

Merseyside's contribution to conservation. Time to wrap up and

keep warm. It does get cold in Africa, but not in the same way as

The West Coast main line is the busiest InterCity railway in

Britain and the main routes to the capital from the north-west. Since

1997, it has been run by Sir Richard Branson's privately owned

Virgin Trains. But following the franchise fiasco, people are asking

whether it is time to consider the nationalising the route?

Every year, more and more people are using our trains. Yet, at the

same time, many are unhappy at the way they are run. Could there be a

revolution on the railways? Complaining about trains has always

been a popular British past-time, Things have improved hugely on the

West Coast in the past two decades. The customer service is not good.

There are always delays. You have difficulties getting eight seats.

With the amount of money we pay, you could get across the Atlantic.

The Government spent �9 billion upgrading the line. And new tilting

Pendalinos further improved the situation. But, despite the better

service, there are people calling for our railways to return to

public ownership. As a taxpayer, I think you ought to support the

publicly run model because there is no money that is leaching out of

the rail system into the profits of private shareholders when in fact

they don't invest much and they don't take much risk. I am not sure

what the system is for. Last autumn, the future of the West Coast

franchise fell into chaos. Four bids were entered in the contest to

run the service for the next 14 years. The former Transport

Secretary announced that First Group had won the contract. But it

was quickly clear that civil servants had got their numbers very

badly wrong. The entire bidding contest would have to be re-run,

and the new Secretary of State had to make an embarrassing apology.

What has happened is unacceptable. It is deeply regrettable and I

apologise. We have made a big mistake and the companies that have

put it in have done nothing wrong. Virgin will now continue to operate

the West Coast line while the contest is re-run. The cost to

taxpayers of the franchise mess is �40 million, according to the

Government. The biggest railway trade union, the RMT, thinks the

real cost will be closer to �100 million. Its General Secretary, Bob

Crow, believes the West Coast contest, confirms their view that

railways are best run as a public service. It has been an unmitigated

disaster, the privatisation of the railway network. I will carry on

campaigning to the day I die that railways are brought back into

public ownership. It is a public service. Before 1997, our railways

were run by the state owned British Rail. And BR was often the butt of

affectionate jokes. When they asked me to say some kind words about

British Rail, I told BR to be off. British Rail was not as bad as

people said they were. Even their sandwiches weren't bad. They were

effective and efficient and cost less in subsidy. British Rail

intend to maintain their standards. Now for the good news...

railways were privatised in 1990s by the John Major Government. It

was hoped that private companies competing with each other would

mean lower fairs and better service for rail passengers. But one former

Conservative MP acknowledges the current system lacks genuine

competition. I think there is no doubt that the system we created in

the 1990s was too complicated and that actually, Bill competition is

provided by a different lines going from point a across to point beef.

It is an increase in capacity that is needed. But it will be decades

before any direct rail competition is possible. The Government will

need to spend more than �30 billion on a high speed line to the North

West. For now, the main element of competition on the railways comes

when companies bid for rail franchises. The franchise system

brings in a degree of competition. It forces companies to come forward

with their ideas - how they are going to perform, how are they

going to improve the service? Hopefully you will then have more

people coming onto the Net work and that increases revenue. If you

travel on the West Coast mainline, you might imagine that Virgin

Trains owns all the entire railway. In fact, it is much more

complicated than that. The train tracks and signals are in fact the

property of Network Rail. Virgin buys time slots so it can run its

trains. As for the trains themselves? Well, Virgin doesn't

own them either. They are rented from a private train rolling stock

company. So, if train operating companies like Virgin are really

just service companies, do passengers care if the railway is

in private or public hands? I have no preference. Whatever system

works. In would be better if it is owned publicly, but I just wanted

to work! I don't think it makes any difference. On many measures, the

Virgin's West Coast service has been a huge success since

privatisation. Under Virgin, over double the number of passengers are

carried on the route compared to 1997. And the new Pendalino trains

mean the service is faster and more frequent. An unprecedented 150,000

people signed an e-petition to protest against the Department for

Transport's decision to replace Virgin with First Group. I think

Virgin has done a pretty reasonable job. The trains are more frequent

and the standard of service is better. But however good Virgin's

performance is, for some it is the system that is at fault. Graham

Stringer is a member of the common's Transport Select Committee.

The serious question that has to be asked is why should you hand over a

service with uncontrolled first to a private operator that can just

pushed them up? It is a monopoly situation to the benefit of the

shareholders. Why should we do that? If you want to see how

railways would look in the public sector, all you have to do is cross

the Pennines and travel on the East Coast line. Three years ago, the

private company running East Coast ran into serious financial problems

and the Department for Transport had to step in. And results have

been impressive. The publicly run company has improved punctuality

and passenger satisfaction. And it has also paid the government more

than �500 million in franchise payments. You cannot really notice

the difference that the East Coast is publicly run. They still try to

maximise the revenue from fares and hand a lot of money back to the

government. But doesn't really seem to be any different. So, in fact,

does it matter if your railway company is privately or publicly

owned? John Leech is a Lib Dem member of the Transport Select

Committee. We have an given it long enough to decide whether it will be

the best module for the future. Under British Rail, the quality of

the service was not good. I don't accept eight nationalised rail

system is the way forward. We can prove what we have by bringing in

competition and outside investment. That is the way forward. Do you

think that the Labour Party Wall ahead towards the rare worst --

will head towards the railways been nationalised? I am hopeful that in

their next manifesto and they say we will have a lot more publicly

owned and operated railways. think the Labour Party are looking

at ending the franchise system. The West Coast fiasco has raised

questions about how effective it is. There is an alternative. Graham

Stringer won't be in charge of the Labour Party's transport policy,

but it is clear that rail nationalisation, for a long time a

taboo subject for New Labour, is Still to come up on Inside Out: he

is looking after our animals during the cold winter months?

We have seen how trains can link north and south, but there is an

alternative if you fancy travelling west to east. A new cycling trail

has become very popular. We sent Paul Rose after Lancashire to

sample the trail. There is nothing I like more than a

challenge. From braving the wilds of Antarctica, to plumbing the

depths of the sea. In my role as vice president of the Royal

Geographical Society, I have been to some of the world's most

spectacular sites. And got into more than a few scrapes on the way.

Ah. But there are few things that can compare to the bracing thrill

of the sea air in Britain. Especially when an exciting

challenge looms much closer to home. Over the next few days, I am going

to be taking on the Way of the Roses. Plugging into cycle-mania on

a popular route which cuts through Lancashire and Yorkshire,

showcasing some of the best landscape both counties have to

offer. It is a 170 mile trip which goes from the west coast here in

Morecambe to Bridlington on the east. So I have come ready prepared.

So, all togged up it is time to get this show on the road. Wish me luck.

So, with a kindly wave from one of Morecambe's favourite sons, I'm

The route is part of an attempt to increase the cycling routes. It

feels good to have put a few miles behind me and with the Pennines

approaching, I grab a fellow cyclist. Unthinking about the hill

ahead. His it is very tough. thought it would be a piece of cake.

By the time you get there you will be in Lancashire. There is plenty

of opportunity to stock up on suppliers. There is an enormous

hill up there and I am going to give it a go. It seems all right so

far. A piece of cake. This is reckoned to be the toughest section

of the breed. I have changed my mind! It is starting to bite. I

will get their bow. I am glad that is over. It blows the cobwebs out,

but a smooth road ahead and I am ready. That is enough excitement

for one day and now is the chance to get my breath back. Once I have

a few more miles under my belt I will be looking for somewhere to

And today, my journey will take great deep into Yorkshire. The

route has attracted at least 14,000 coast to coasters in its first two

years, among them one of the enthusiasts who helped create it.

It is good to see cycling on the front pages and on the back pages.

It is becoming the new Golf. It is amazing how much you have in common

with other cyclists. What is you're feeling on maintaining this level

of interest? We have to look at training schemes for safety. We

have to ensure this carries in. With the mist closing in and Martin

due back home for a well-earned Sunday roast, it is time for both

of us to call it a day. Have a safe journey. I can't wait for what

tomorrow might bring. Day three and I am not early.

Change in the weather. I have stopped here to meet a couple for

whom cycling is a way of life. Nice to meet you. Keith and Anne Benton

have nearly 150 years of cycling experience between them and even as

veterans their annual mileage is awesome. I keep a record. We have

done just over 7,000 miles this year. Who caught the bug first?

think I did. My father promised me a bicycle if I passed my 11 plus.

From then, I wanted a bike for a school and all my friends had bikes,

so we started going out on them. Ever since then, I keep going from

one bite to the next. When we were first courting, she borrowed her

brother's bike and we did a seven mile cycle there and back. Can you

join me today? We will come to the next stop, yes. What is it that

cycling gives you? A I was 12 when I got my first bike. I was able to

get out and enjoy the countryside. Normally, that was not accessible.

I had the wind on my back and the sun on my face. It was sheer bliss.

Can you sum up the benefits of cycling? Over the years, we have

seen people come men who were over weight and you see them just shed

the pounds. Recycle to eat, so to speak. -- we cycle. So, with

another enjoyable pit stop over, it is time for us to go our separate

ways. I can start reeling in the rest of the miles on my own.

Pocklington, Tibthorpe, Burton Agnes and Hutton Cranswick, it is

like poetry reeling off these wonderful East Yorkshire names. I

have five miles to go. But I don't fancy the weather. Time to get

these aching bones back in the saddle. And so to my ultimate

destination. 165 miles behind me and just five more to go. I am

getting excited. I can almost smell the sea air. It has given me a real

boost. And here I am at journey's end. With a final flourish along

the shores of a deserted North Sea, I have to admit I am kind of sad I

have simply run out of cycle path to use up. I am here. After an

absolutely brilliant three days. It really lovely. It is unbelievable

how accessible it is. It is a lovely and the easy route going

through a lot of countryside. It is well marked. Anybody can do it or

on any bike at any level of fitness. And if you come at this time of

year, you get the beach to yourself at the end!

St Georges Hall is one of Liverpool's best known landmarks.

For over 40 years, Knowsley Safari Park has allowed the public to get

up close and personal with many exotic animals at their park. So,

when they recently had two baby white rhinos born in the park, we

sent our reporter to meet them and to see how the rest of the animals

will cope with the changeable Knowsley Safari Park opened to the

public in 1971 and has seen many births in that time. But their

latest arrivals have got everyone excited. So let's go and meet them.

This is Njiri and Thabo. The calves were born to two mothers eight

weeks ago, and arrived within a few days of each other. But they are

not yet old enough to meet the public. Rhino keeper Leah Drury is

passionate about the rhinos in her care. We have nine or rhinos at the

moment. We have one bowl and for females. -- four females. We also

have some young animals. It is really exciting. Because it is

quite cold, they are not on display to the visitors, but hopefully in

the spring we can let them out for everyone to see. They can act as

ambassadors for their cousins in the wild and get people excited

about rhinos. In the wild, rhinos are hunted for their horns, and the

white rhino population has dwindled to only 20,000. The black rhino is

in greater jeopardy with only 5,000 still in their natural habitat.

Their existence really hangs in the balance. Should they be poached at

the way they are, you are looking at not having rhinos in the wild in

the next 10, 15, 20 years. With forecasters predicting temperatures

to plummet this week, I wanted to know if Njiri and Thabo would be

prepared for the British winter? It does get cold in Africa. It does go

below zero, but it doesn't, not for a prolonged period as it does in

Merseyside. And it is not as wet either. So, we do end up keeping

them in the big house through the winter, especially the calves. We

won't let them go outside because they are like little puppies. They

will feed, then they will sleep for quite a long time and we don't want

them sleeping on a cold floor for long periods and getting a chill.

We have over 700 animals. Safari parks and zoos have had to

modernise over the years and Bea Barclay says the focus has shifted

from simple entertainment to conservation and education. I think

zoos and safari parks in the past had an old fashioned way of looking

at things. They were very much menageries for people to come and

see unusual and exciting animals and just people coming and pointing

at them. Never really taking anything away from that .we have

very much moved on and we are very much shop windows for conservation

species and working with endangered animals. A big part of our role now

is to protect these species not just individually but also the

habitats and the eco systems they live in. It is a place you can see

animals you have never seen before. And it gets people inspired and

gets them involved in wildlife. It is not the same as seeing them on

TV or in a book. It is seeing these animals in the flesh that gets

people passionate. And with those people visiting the park all year

round, it means the keepers face many challenges in keeping these

their animals warm and active during the winter months. They have

come up with some unusual solutions. So this is how we keep the baboons

warm during the winter. This looks like jacket potatoes to me. It is

jacket potatoes. Nice and hot. We have had some harsh winters so we

introduced the potatoes. It helps the baboons stay nice and active

and it also gives them a hot meal during the winter. And obviously

they are relatively good for them as well. Yeah, it is carbohydrates,

so it fills them up nice. It keeps them running around as we throw

them out across the section. It helps them stay warm as well.

we take them out while they're still nice and hot? Absolutely.

Let's go and feed those baboons. In the wild, these olive baboons can

be found in many different habitats and all of them are much warmer

than Merseyside. So, if we are going to keep them warm, I will

have to test out my throwing skills. I would just call for them. So, as

well as the hot potatoes, how do you keep them warm? In the winter

months when it is particularly cold, we tend to put a huge bale of straw

inside the house which keeps them warm. We have got a heating system

in there now as well which we implemented this year. In the

summer months, they tend to replicate the wild and sleep in the

trees to avoid predators. So they don't tend to use the house so much

in the summer. But in the winter we make sure they have got a nice deep

bed of straw that keeps them warm overnight. These olive baboons are

omnivores and will eat virtually anything they can, and store it in

a clever way. Baboons have got pouches, a bit like hamsters for

storing food in. So what they do is they tend to put as much as they

can in their mouth at one time. Leaving the baboons to argue over

their potatoes, we travel across the park to find Kenya, the male

African lion, with his family. We are organising some activities here

for the lions. What are we doing? What we have got here is some

enrichment, some cardboard boxes which we have filled with hoof

stock, faeces, so we've got zebra, other types of antelope, So it is a

stimulus. They will follow the scent trails in the wild. So they

will have a play and rip open the boxes. They tend to roll in it, so

they will get the scent on them. Shall we crack on and place these

boxes around the park? Absolutely. We will place them on the platform

that we have got out there. That is the best place as they have three

different levels where they can all climb on and they'll investigate

around the area. Just to double- check, the lions are going to stay

in the enclosure while we do that They look excited. Yes, they know

something is going on. They know shortly they will be let out.

is the platform. This is where we will place our enrichment items.

they will climb and have to use More accustomed to stalking their

prey, this activity gives Kenya and his family the chance to stretch

their legs and indulge in some serious box ripping. They are just

rolling around and playing and pulling. It is great to watch them.

Being closed for the winter, the cars provide a stimulus for them

normally. But because we don't have that for the winter months, we love

doing little bits like this to keep them occupied and busy. They will

chase and run after the boxes so it gives them exercise as well. Caring

for these magnificent animals and helping to draw our attention to

their plight in the wild so that they can enjoyed by future

generations is what drives these keepers on. We want people to have

a fantastic day out and to really have a fun day with families but we

also want them to have a take away message which is we have to

conserve these animals. We need to look at ways humans can live

alongside animals and reduce the conflict so that we can both live

That is all from me here in Liverpool. If you have missed any

of the programme, catch up on the BBC iPlayer. I am back next week at