Overview

• BBC Two premiered the first hour of Michael Portillo’s two-part documentary on 16 September, with the episode now available on BBC iPlayer.
• The programme marked 200 years since early British rail lines by visiting Shildon and Bishop Auckland and touring Hitachi’s Newton Aycliffe factory.
• Portillo trained on the Tyne and Wear Metro driver simulator in South Shields, where an instructor said he quickly mastered the controls.
• Nexus and Stadler welcomed the national exposure for the new Stadler-built Metro fleet and highlighted its modern features and driver training.
• Local reporting noted recent teething issues on the new Metro trains, including air-conditioning leaks and a door incident, as The i ran a critical review of Portillo’s delivery.