All Aboard: East Coast Trains

The breakfast crew serves a trainload of sleep-deprived commuters. After half a century on the job, York Station's J.R. dispatches his last-ever train. Assigned to station security, new recruit Liam investigates an alarming situation. Then, a mystery shopper puts onboard service to the test. And a lightning bolt strike wreaks havoc on a busy payday Friday at Newcastle station.

All hands are on deck as Newcastle Station prepares for one of the country's biggest football matches. Thousands of fans descend on the station without incident, but major crowd trouble breaks out when the visiting team wins the match. A fan of 1980s rock band Big Country follows his idols on their cross-country tour.

It's the last day of the premier league football season and throngs of potentially rowdy fans are crisscrossing the country in search of glory. For East Coast Trains staff, this means heightened security and crowd control procedures, as well as a heavy police presence to help enforce an alcohol ban on selected trains.

From the platforms to the control centre, the East Coast team braces for the busiest weekend of the year. During Easter, nearly every train carriage is booked to capacity. And up and down the line, staff prepare for the five-day mass migration. The railway chaplain hosts a charity shoe polish and lends a sympathetic ear to weary travelers.

For East Coast Trains staff, joining the company means joining a tight-knit family. More like brothers than coworkers, chef Mark and crew leader Nigel cater to first-class passengers on the early morning "porridge express" to London.

Since leaving his job as an accountant, train driver Steve has never looked back. Like East Coast employees up and down the line, he loves the thrill of working for the railway. At King's Cross Station, an irate passenger claims the machine took his cash but failed to produce a ticket. New recruits learn to handle a trolley before their big test on board.

East Coast employees eat, sleep, and breathe the railway. And while the customer service staff ensures passenger comfort, a dedicated behind-the-scenes crew of mechanics, drivers, and engineers ensures their safety. The night shift is in full swing at the company's sprawling maintenance depot, but a signal problem threatens to derail the schedule.

Some trains have taken on iconic names and The Sir Bobby Robson is one of the most famous in the East Coast fleet. Spend a day in the life of the affectionately named train through the eyes of the relay of staff on board, and the station teams en route from London to Edinburgh.

On the railway, no two days are alike and East Coast staff thrives on the variety. Today, a heavy snowfall could spell chaos for the entire rail network. Later, all trains grind to a halt when there's a fatality on the tracks. The schedule hits yet another snag when a plastic sheet is discovered on the overhead power lines.

The York Station staffers are put to the test when the York Races combine with a busy bank holiday. Information Controller Julie is run off her feet but manages to enjoy the atmosphere, while rookie train dispatcher Liam is put through the ringer with the race day crowds. But big prizes are coming down the line for East Coast staff as they scrub up for their very own red carpet awards ceremony.