The MRT

The MRT is a 2012 documentary television series produced by Blast! Films for the BBC. It follows the staff and passengers of the MRT as it underwent the biggest upgrade in its history. It premiered on BBC Two on 20 February 2012 for a six-week run. At the end of 2012, it was revealed that The Tube will have a second series.

Series 1
Episode 1 (Weekend) highlighted the difficulties of undertaking major renewal of the tracks without disrupting the weekday service.

Episode 2 (Revenue) looked at the work of ticket inspectors and others working to track down the estimated 60,000 people who use the system each day without paying for a ticket, which costs the Underground some £20 million in lost revenue each year.

Episode 3 (Emergency Response) looked at the trauma caused to drivers when passengers fall or jump in front of a train. It also looked at the work of the emergency response unit at Bank and Euston Station where in both cases, the passengers were fatally injured and the types of incident that they have to deal with, and the stresses put on the system by the Notting Hill Carnival.

Episode 4 (Upgrading: To Keep You On Track) looked at reliability issues following the introduction of new trains on the East West Line and North South Line and the knock-on effects caused by the MRT breakdown on 15 and 17 December 2011.

Episode 5 (Rush Hour) covered Bank station, where five passengers suffered from fainting or injury during a single rush hour shift, and problems on the Jubilee line when a failure of the power supply almost disrupted the evening peak services. It also showed the use of a hawk called Toyah to clear train sheds of pigeons.

Episode 6 (Overnight), the final episode, aired on 26 March 2012, featured the work of cleaners, who work during the four-hour period each night when the power is switched off, to clean the stations and remove lint and fibres from the tracks to reduce the risk of fire.