Life On Rails

In the first episode of Series 2, Lucy and Dom speak to the journalist, broadcaster, and railway advocate Michael Portillo about his extraordinary adventures. 

Greater Anglia's Safeguarding and Community Safety Manager, Georgia Payne, discusses how we can support people struggling with their mental health. 

Talia Rushmore, the Community Rail Partnership Officer for the East Suffolk Lines, speaks about some of the beautiful locations and activities available on some of this route.

Lucy and Dom also mark the fifth anniversary of Greater Anglia's new fleet of trains as part of the News in Spotlight.

This is a Fresh Air Production for Greater Anglia.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the final episode of Season 1, Juliette and Lucy speak to Sally Shaw, Director of the Firstsite art gallery in Colchester, about creativity, rail travel and days out by train.

Greater Anglia’s Engineering Director Martin Beable explains how the new trains have helped boost performance, while Georgia Payne, the operator’s Safeguarding and Trespass Prevention Lead, discusses partnership work with Samaritans and how small talk can save lives.

Greater Anglia’s Head of Revenue Matthew Chivers explains why fares change and resident Fares Guru Ken Strong returns with a wealth of money saving tips to see you through 2023.

Juliette and Lucy also discuss the different ways people can travel to and from the station and how Greater Anglia is helping people reduce their carbon footprint.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Life On Rails, the podcast that takes you behind the scenes at Greater Anglia, we are back at Norwich Theatre Royal to speak to special guest, Dame Trott AKA actor Richard Gauntlett, from this year’s production of Jack and the Beanstalk. Dame Trott shares her love for the region before she is sent on a special surprise trip.

Head of Business Readiness, Keely Lopes, explains how the business prepared for its new trains, and we speak to train planning manager Ben Brandon, who explains how every train is timetabled.

Community and Customer Engagement Manager Alan Neville talks about the 300-strong team of station adopters who are brightening up stations across the network and helping to strengthen Greater Anglia’s sustainability credentials.

Hosts Juliette Maxam and Lucy Wright bust some myths about Christmas on the railway and issue advice to customers travelling over the festive period, while Fares Guru Ken Strong explains how people can save money on trips to London this festive season with the London Evening Out and London Night Out tickets.

We’d love to hear from you, please tweet us at @GreaterAngliaPR #LifeOnRails. Be sure to subscribe to the podcast as well, and visit www.greateranglia.co.uk/podcast to discover more. Thanks for listening!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode Juliette and Lucy take to the stage and speak to Stephen Crocker, CEO of Norwich Theatre Royal, about the bustling arts scene in the East and plans for the future.

They also find out what’s it like in the hot seat in control with Addie Quinnear, who works in our control centre in Romford.

… and just how clean is the air around your station? Environment and Energy manager Steph Evans discusses a pilot to monitor air quality at some of our stations, while Brett Chalkley, joint project manager of our Stadler Fleets explains how we have to modify old trains before we return them to their leasing company.

The Fares Guru Ken Strong returns with more money saving tips, and we find out how to run a slick rail replacement bus operation with Sharon Arnold, Greater Anglia’s Rail Replacement Manager.

We’d love to hear from you, please tweet us at @GreaterAngliaPR #LifeOnRails. Be sure to subscribe to the podcast as well, and visit www.greateranglia.co.uk/podcast to discover more.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Life On Rails, the podcast that takes you behind the scenes at Greater Anglia, we speak to podcaster and writer Robbie Knox about relocating to Norfolk and his passion for the region.

We also hear from a train driver about the dangers of trespassing and the impact it can have, and we meet one of Greater Anglia’s area managers, Paula Wilson, who talks about her career journey from the skies to the rails.

And from Hockley to Hollywood, we find out about some of the big screen blockbusters that have been filmed on our network when we speak to our filming consultant, Adrian Booth.

Our fares guru Ken Strong explains how you can recover the cost of a railcard in a single trip, and presenters Juliette and Lucy explain what to do if you leave something on one of our trains over the summer.

We’d love to hear from you, please tweet us at @GreaterAngliaPR #LifeOnRails. Be sure to subscribe to the podcast as well, and visit www.greateranglia.co.uk/podcast to discover more.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Life On Rails, the podcast that takes you behind the scenes at Greater Anglia, we hear from the managing director of Greater Anglia, Jamie Burles, who talks about what it’s like to be in charge of a large train company. We find out everything you need to know about engineering works on the railway and learn how special gadgets have saved the equivalent of over 1000 tonnes of carbon dioxide (the same amount produced by heating 370 homes), while resident fares guru Ken Strong talks about Ranger and Rover tickets. Presenters Juliette Maxam and Lucy Wright also chat with special guest celebrity astronomer Mark Thompson and recommend a train trip in East Anglia for him.

We’d love to hear from you, please tweet us at @GreaterAngliaPR #LifeOnRails. Be sure to subscribe to the podcast as well, and visit www.greateranglia.co.uk/podcast to discover more.

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Episode 4 of Life On Rails we hear how two weeks’ work experience was the start of a lifetime career in the railway for Sarah Swanston, one of Greater Anglia’s first female drivers. ITV Anglia’s David Whiteley talks about rivalry between him and his wife, BBC Look East’s Amelia Reynolds and describes his dream day on the North Norfolk coast. Presenters Juliette Maxam and Lucy Wright also find out there was more to getting new trains than just the trains themselves and give top tips on the best way to get a seat on a busy train. Finally, resident fares guru Ken Strong explains how to buy a cheap ticket online.

We’d love to hear from you, please tweet us at @GreateAngliaPr #LifeOnRails. Be sure to subscribe to the podcast as well, and visit www.greateranglia.co.uk/podcast to discover more.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Juliette Maxam and Lucy Wright return to delve behind the scenes of Greater Anglia.

East Anglian poet Luke Wright talks about how his love of East Anglia inspires his work in the latest episode of Greater Anglia’s Life On Rails podcast. Listen to find out what Luke is writing next, and hear him read a poem about his dad’s daily commute to London.

This episode also reveals the extensive testing new trains are subjected to before being declared fit for passengers; the weird and wonderful excuses proffered by fare dodgers, and how the railway prepares for March winds and April showers.

Finally, podcast regular fares guru Ken Strong explains how to travel between London and Norwich for just £6.60.

We’d love to hear from you, please tweet us at @GreateAngliaPr #LifeOnRails. Be sure to subscribe to the podcast as well, and visit www.greateranglia.co.uk/podcast to discover more.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Episode 2 of Life on Rails, Juliette Maxam and Lucy Wright take another look behind the scenes at Greater Anglia.

Have you ever wondered who decides what colour trains should be and designs the interior? In this episode we speak to Jason Brandon, who as brand manager of Greater Anglia, was responsible for what the new trains should look like – and answers the question - "why do they have carpets?”

Engineering director Martin Beable picks his favourite green features of the new trains, while accessibility manager Rebecca Richardson explains some of the innovative features which are making the railway more accessible for all. Resident fares guru Ken Smith gives his top tips on cheap travel for nights out in London. Listen in to meet Julie Berry, voice over artist and the woman behind Greater Anglia's announcements.

Finally, Juliette and Lucy talk about snow and ice, and what the railway does to cope with it.

Icicles in Ipswich tunnel - https://twitter.com/networkrail/status/969514836609634304

Network Rail’s snow plough - https://twitter.com/GreaterAngliaPR/status/970305018934054912

London evening out tickets - https://www.greateranglia.co.uk/londonevening

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen to this first episode of Greater Anglia’s new podcast to discover some interesting nuggets about life on rails. Find out how trains are made, how they’re kept clean and sanitised, and why leaves on the line are like black ice on the road. Discover which destination we recommend to YouTuber Geoff Marshall, and how you can get the cheapest fares.

We’d love to hear from you, please tweet us at @GreateAngliaPr #LifeOnRails. Be sure to subscribe to the podcast as well, and visit www.greateranglia.co.uk/podcast to discover more.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.