Great Australian Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Saturday 16th November 2019)
Michael Portillo crosses the south east of Australia from Canberra, the seat of government, to the multi-ethnic heart of its second largest city, Melbourne. Along the way he discovers the history of the Ashes at Melbourne cricket ground, learns about the exploits of outlaw Ned Kelly and visits the home of superstar soprano Dame Nellie Melba. He also rides on the Puffing Billy narrow gauge steam railway, built in 1900, and has a go at shearing a sheep.
Great Canal Journeys (Channel 4/HD | 7:00pm to 8:00pm | Sunday 17th November 2019)
A look back at Timothy West and Prunella Scales’ waterway travels in Scotland – a coast-to-coast adventure that started in Edinburgh and ended on the edge of the North Sea, where monumental equine sculptures now line the route and state-of-the-art boat lifts have replaced the humble lock. The couple also travelled along the Caledonian Canal, which links Scotland’s east and west coasts, was built for ocean-going ships and comes with scenery that is rugged and stunning.
Roaming in the Wild (BBC Scotland & BBC iPlayer only | 8:00pm to 8:30pm | Monday 18th November 2019)
Andrew O’Donnell and Mark Taylor travel from corner to corner of the north coast of the Scottish mainland, going from John O’Groats and Cape Wrath on a tandem.
Canal Boat Diaries (BBC 4/HD | 7:30pm to 8:00pm | Tuesday 19th November 2019)
Robbie Cumming explores the English canal network, beginning with a journey from Shardlow to Etruria Junction, Stoke on Trent, exploring the Trent and Mersey Canal. However, not everything goes to plan, and he will have to deal with a tricky issue with his propeller as well as navigating the complicated locks on the Trent and Mersey Canal.
Canal Boat Diaries (BBC 4/HD | 7:30pm to 8:00pm Wednesday 20th November 2019)
Robbie Cumming explores the English canal network. A low canal tunnel in Staffordshire proves to be problematic, and Robbie helps out a stranded boater.
Canal Boat Diaries (BBC 4/HD | 7:30pm to 8:00pm | Thursday 21st November 2019)
Robbie Cumming’s exploration of the English canal network continues across the Pennines from Marple to Huddersfield, where his journey is hampered by a fallen tree and a leaking lock pound.
Steam Train Britain (Yesterday | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Thursday 21st November 2019)
Meeting the Welsh Highland Railway’s oldest volunteer fireman, 80-year-old Cedric Lodge, who has worked on the railways for 60 years. In Devon, there is a look at the Autotrain.
The World’s Most Scenic Railway Journeys (Channel 5/HD 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Friday 22nd November 2019)
In Norway, camera follow a train journey that begins in the capital Oslo and heads all the way to Bodo inside the Arctic Circle. The first leg is the Dovre line, running from to the remote northern wonderland of Trondheim. Along the way it passes through the vast Gudbrandsdal valley and across the awe-inspiring Dovrefjell mountain plateau. The route stops at the picturesque mountain village of Dombas, before changing to the Rauma railway, which features dramatic fjords opening out along the Rauma river, dotted with some of the country’s most famous landmarks. Narrated by Bill Nighy.
All TV guide information taken from DigiGuide — www.getdigiguide.tv/?p=1&r=15119.
