Great Continental Railway Journeys poster

Series 9

Season 9 · 2026 · 15 episodes

Episodes

1Cagliari to Porto FlaviaMichael Portillo embarks on a stunning railway adventure through the western Mediterranean islands of Sardinia and Corsica, beginning in Sardinia’s capital, Cagliari.
2Mandas to LaconiMichael Portillo’s railway tour of Sardinia heads inland towards the island's dramatic mountain landscapes, which he discovers were frequented by DH Lawrence.
3Nuoro to MacomerMichael Portillo continues his Sardinian railway adventure, arriving into Mamoiada to investigate the town’s extraordinary pagan traditions.
4Ajaccio to VizzavonaMichael Portillo’s railway journey through the islands of Sardinia and Corsica sees him leave Sardinia and arrive into Corsica, the most mountainous island in the Mediterranean.
5Vivario to CorteMichael boards one of Europe’s most dramatic railways, which winds through Corsica’s breathtaking mountainous landscapes.
6St Pancras to BrusselsMichael boards the Eurostar at London’s St Pancras International, bound for the Belgian capital, Brussels.
7Brussels to GhentMichael Portillo’s Belgian rail journey continues in the Dutch-speaking region of Flanders. He discovers Antwerp's historic diamond industry and visits a Van Eyck masterpiece in Ghent.
8Knokke-Heist to BrugesContinuing his Belgian tour, Michael Portillo heads to the beach resort of Knokke-Heist and the world’s longest coastal tram, which enjoys splendid views across the North Sea.
9Brussels to La LouvièreMichael Portillo’s Belgian journey takes him back to Brussels to examine a dark chapter in the country’s past: the brutal seizure of the Congo under King Leopold II.
10Namur to FlorenvilleOn the final leg of his Belgian journey, Michael Portillo travels to Namur, capital of Wallonia, to discover a citadel dating back to the 10th century.
11Sopron to KeletiMichael Portillo begins his Hungarian adventure in the far north west of the country in the town of Sopron.
12BudapestExploring Hungary's capital city of Budapest by tram, Michael Portillo travels to the extraordinary open-air museum of Memento Park in the suburbs.
13Huvösvölgy to KobanyaContinuing his travels in Budapest, Michael Portillo begins in the small town of Huvösvölgy, where he encounters a surprising railway run almost entirely by children.
14SzegedAt Budapest’s historic Nyugati station, Michael Portillo explores its sumptuous royal waiting room, built specially for the Austro-Hungarian emperor Franz Joseph I and his empress, Elizabeth.
15Eger to HortobágyOn the last leg of his journey, Michael Portillo arrives in the historic city of Eger. At its famous castle, he discovers how Ottoman invaders were defeated by an outnumbered Hungarian force.