Nick Hewer and Margaret Mountford climb on board Britain's trains to find out whether, with crammed carriages, declining punctuality and high fares, they offer value for money.

Nick Hewer and Margaret Mountford climb on board Britain's trains to find out whether they offer value for money. On the trail of the £8 billion of fares and £4 billion of public money that go into the nation's trains each year, they discover a rail system that is struggling to contend with outdated infrastructure and more passengers than at any time in living memory.

Twenty years on from privatisation, Nick and Margaret are in for a bumpy ride as they meet irate commuters, polished train operating company bosses and the head of Network Rail. They unearth some mind-boggling bureaucracy and infuriating inefficiency, but also ask if there are signs of hope that the railway may be getting back on track.