This episode traces the all-encompassing evolution of the railway, from its birth and its impact on industrialisation and 19th-century society, to the challenges posed by the automobile and the aeroplane in the 20th century.

It highlights the technical innovations, social changes, global expansion and geopolitical role of the railway, including darker aspects such as its use during the Holocaust.

Finally, it explores its renewed significance in the 21st century as a sustainable means of transport and discusses promising future technologies for guided transport.