VENUS

GB
2006
1hr 35mins
Dir: Roger Michell
Starring: Peter O’Toole and Vanessa Redgrave

Life for a pair of veteran actors gets turned upside down after they meet a brash teenager

This comedy drama was largely well received, and when one scratches the surface it is a rather compelling tale of love and friendship. It also features some good shots of the modern railway. The film includes a scene on the banks of the Thames near Blackfriars Bridge and Class 465 EMU’s are passing over the river in the background. Jodie Whittaker’s flat is situated next to the North London Line in Kentish Town and in some shots, Silverlink Class 313 EMU’s are passing by. There are two at night (with the sound of a Class 66 as a backing track!), and one at dusk, and a Freightliner train is passing in another day time scene, but it has unfortunately been edited in such a way that only the wagons are seen and not the locomotive. When Peter O’Toole and Jodie Whittaker make a final journey to the seaside it is rather unusual and probably unique. It starts with a view from a train window of the platforms at London Victoria and more Class 465 ‘Networker’ EMU’s are present. Then, the train moves off and the view outside is at lightning speed with a call at several stations including what appears to be Rochester. They end up at Whitstable station in Kent, with a Class 375 ‘Electrostar’ EMU departing.

A typical London riverside scene. The red and white bridge is Blackfriars Bridge. Behind it is Blackfriars Railway Bridge which is being crossed by a Class 465 ‘Networker’ EMU. Blackfriars station is out of shot to the left.
In this view, a Class 313 EMU can be made out crossing the viaduct behind the building
This 313 is a lot clearer.
In this day time view, which is the clearest of them all, a Freightliner train runs along the North London Line viaduct. All these shots were taken at the junction of Athlone Street (to the left) and Grafton Road just to the north of Kentish Town West station.
In this unusual view of London Victoria from inside a train, a pair of Class 465 ‘Networker’ EMU’s can be seen. An NSE-liveried example is against the far wall in platform 1, whilst a South Eastern-liveried example is closest to the camera in platform 2.
This looks to be a view of the River Medway from the platforms at Rochester station
This final view shows a Class 375 ‘Electrostar’ pulling out of platform 2 of Whitstable station in Kent