User Reviews

Thanks Chris for a fascinating program - I have just returned from visiting Jordan (Petra), crossing the Allenby Bridge as you did, and visiting Jerusalem. However in your program you wrongly described Jerusalem as the Capital city of Israel. It is true the Israeli's would like to see it that way and site their parliament in Jerusalem. However under international law, recognized by the British Government, Jerusalem is NOT the capital city of Israel. that is why international embassies are all situated in Tel Aviv. Unfortunately you have allowed Israeli propaganda to influence your programs.

Just watched my first episode of this show, and the host's arrogance is astounding. He waxes large on Britain's "contributions" to building a railroad, and then spends most of the rest of the episode criticizing local efforts to maintain it, denigrating all efforts and demeaning the locals and everything local that he encounters. I watch travel shows on PBS to get ideas for future trips, and I am gathering nothing from this pap other than it might be worthwhile to take the same trip to find out its positives.

I haven't seen all the episodes of this fine railway series hosted by Chris Tarrant, but so far I've seen the third episode of season 1 (the Konkan Line in India) and the first two episodes of season 2 where Chris took us to Thailand and Myanmar (ep 1) and the Andes (ep 2).

Chris has a wry sense of humor and he makes some very wisecracks, but is respectful of the locals in the various destinations, and all credit to the research team for we learn a lot about not only the railways but the local history and figures.

Also all credit to the production team as they capture the sights and sounds of the extraordinary places Chris takes us to. Chris is a contrast to his countryman Michael Portillo, who also hosts an impressive railway series in the UK, USA and Continental Europe.

I have watched the show on New Zealand television and have recently been given a boxed set of many I missed viewing. I have found the show most interesting and informative.

It is the sort of thing I would like to do but realistically won't be doing so this is the closest I will get to the train journeys he undertakes. There really are some interesting train rides around the world and the series opened my eyes to that.

He has a relaxed attitude even when things don't go to plan. He is also friendly in manner to those he meets.

I would recommend the show to anyone who loves travel, and of course, especially for those who are fascinated by trains.

It was some years ago that Monty Python star, Michael Palin, presented the series "Around the World in 80 Days", which set a high standard of travel documentary which was both informative and entertaining.

Extreme Railways, is very much of the same calibre, albeit focusing on railway journeys. What makes it even more watchable, is the humour of its presenter, Chris Tarrant. The journeys covered are a fascinating selextion from all over the World, and each gives a wealth of information and with Chris's unique style and conversations with the many people he encounters, is both charming and amusing. The true talent of Chris is shown on one episode covering the railways involvement in the Holocaust, which is tackled with seriousness and a touching sensitivity.

There are two other contemporary British documentaries attempting to cover railway journeys; Around the World by Train" hosted by Tony Robinson (more famous as Baldric in the sitcom "Blackadder"); and the BBC's Great Railway Journeys hosted by former Politician, Michael Portillo. Robinson's programme seems to be a hastily compiled and edited and instantly forgettable. Portillo, whilst informative, comes across as rather patronising and the humour largely forced and dull.

Having watched all episodes of Extreme Railways (more than once as still entertaining on the second/third viewing), without doubt, Chris and those behind this superb programme have raised the standard even higher than that set by Palin years ago, and fully deserves the top marks I have awarded it.

Chris a rude old man, that still lives like it was the midt 18th century british empire. He complains over small things, like sitting next to a toilet, while you see Several passengers standing and some being to skinny, sleeping and taking this route daily with a smile. He talks/yells back to people wich he/they doesnt understand. "Extreme railroads" is only extreme to him. Special season 2, were we see him sit in luxury trains like Japan and Canada is nice to see, but nothing "extreme", except luxury. This is also some of the rare episodes, where he is not being grumpy about comfort. And Instead of see the whole routes or get some history, we see him travel with car, plane or boat, in a railroad series!

Atleast 1/3 of this show is Chris. It is still pretty and good history, but theese parts is also rushed, special the parts were you finaly meet some intresting people or pretty landscape.

I know nothing about Chris, why he is the best suited host to this series, is a mystery. Special for so many seasons, he is too old and childish. There are is nothing wrong to be old and childish, infact i would love James May to be the host. But the way Chris is being old and childish, in the wrong ways, that is disrespectfull to many cultures, people and talk down to the viewers, with random personal history and facts you could find on Wikipedia in 10 lines. He never seem curious, intrested or present in the moments, more like "faster i can come home is better, or the longer the trip is, the more i get paid"

The editing is kinda annoying, like i mention earlier. It is rushed, special the landscape, wich you most of the time only can enjoy for 2 seconds. Then the people you meet, it is most "how long you been here?" Interviews. The facts are rushed, and you cant "geek/nerd" with the trains details. Also the many angles of the 1 cameraman, were they had to take 1 scene/questions many times to get the different angles. Im not saying there is only 1 camera dude, but in several scenes there angles that is impossible to get, without capture another camera guy, or its impossible because of the small space.

6/10 is high, but if you can ignore Chris, it is a fairly character.

I'm just watching Tarrant shouting and being rude and sarcastic to poor Ukrainians, without any knowledge of any simple, Russian or Ukrainian phrases (please, thank you, hello, good morning, tea, coffee, beer all totally unnecessary, of course, as I'll just shout at them in English. A 10 year old would surely have better knowledge of Soviet, Russian and even Ukrainian history. Why's he looking for stuff to be "grey and Russian". Doesn't he realise that he's in Western Ukraine? Why do we send these idiots (Ayoade's the same) overseas to be nasty and obnoxious about "local customs". Can't Tarrant stay at home with the old steam Severn Railway? I suppose he'd complain about that if he couldn't get a "Full English" to start the day.

"I bet she'd hit you just as look at you."

That is pretty typical for Chris Tarrant's worldly observations. Arrogant, critical, snarky and most annoyingly, he thinks he's charming in the process. I can't help but wonder if he's ever retraced his own steps after a program has aired and his 'Brit as Borat' schtick has had time to grate on the locals he encountered.

Pity, the localities are interesting, often unusual. And when the creature comforts are up to Tarrant's British standards, he can even be complimentary. It begs the question; why doesn't he just stay home? I guess some are born to feel superior.

"It tastes like.... the bottom of a rhinoceros' cage." That's it Chris, never let the colonies, or the third world, forget their place.

This could have been a fantastic show and in places it is. But what ruins it is the hosts oafness and condescending attitude to everyone and anyone.

'Look at these trains, all brand new and spotless...' when describing trains in Botswana or 'all the trains here are red', describing trains in Lithuania. Couple this with trying to communicate with locals by speaking slower and louder. He's like a Brit on holidays in Benidorm, surprised that everyone speaks Spanish.

He compounds the racial stereotype of a colonial explorer and frankly, shouldn't have made it pass series one.

I am very bemused by the reviews that describe Tarrant as respectful to the citizens of the countries that he visits. Tarrant is a firm believer of the 'speak loudly and slowly while gesticulating' method of communication with those who don't speak English. Rather than bother to learn a few crucial phrases in the language of the country, he just gets frustrated by the locals inability to understand him. 'Looks like she's in the wrong job' was a classic comment from him when a train guard couldn't understand his question. Why do we insist on sending embarrassing, rude people to produce shows that could be so much better and more educational?