Michael Portillo’s riveting train journey through Europe with his trusty 1913 “Bradshaw’s Continental Railway Guide” makes for fascinating viewing for that secret railway buff in all of us, and gives us an enthralling insight into a Europe on the verge of the First World War. Essential viewing for fans of trains, history and travel.

In “Great Continental Railway Journeys” Michael Portillo embarks on a brand new railway adventure which takes him across the heart of Europe. In a series of 5-hour long episodes, steered by his 1913 “Bradshaw’s Continental Railway Guide”, Michael journeys through a prosperous pre-war Europe. It was a time of emperors and kings, pomp and elegance and was a continent whose industrialists had created wealth, whose scientists and engineers were discovering and constructing the marvellous and whose artists were challenging old ways whilst intellectuals plotted revolution.

This 2 disc set features 5-hour long episodes covering 5 different journeys:

London to Monte Carlo

Hungary to Austria

Berlin to The Rhein

Switzerland

Amsterdam to Northern France

This early 20th century handbook opened up an exotic world to the Edwardian tourist; from glittering cosmopolitan cities, dramatic Alpine landscapes, to warm sparkling seas and picturesque villages. Following in their footsteps, Michael visits the towns, cities and villages listed by his Bradshaw’s guide. Travelling from station to station he stays in the recommended hotels, explores the magnificent sights, samples local traditions, takes in many of the continent’s most spectacular rail routes and visits some of the central locations in the unfolding Great War story.

This series creates a stunning vision of Europe as it was in 1913 and discovers how a way of life and a landscape were changed forever when Europe went to war.

Former Transport Minister Michael Portillo’s enthusiasm for his subject is positively infectious. Whether he’s riding the Eurostar into Paris, tasting wine in the Rhein Valley, learning to waltz, or exploring the causes of World War I, Portillo is so charismatic you wish you were there with him, and often feel like you are. Like “Great British Railway Journeys” before it, “Great Continental Railway Journeys” is captivating viewing.

“Great Continental Railway Journeys” Series 1 comes to DVD on 29 April 2013.

“Great Continental Railway Journeys” Series 1 is currently being rebroadcast on BBC2 with each hour long episode being re-versioned into 2 x 30 minute episode, running each weekday until 22 March.