This book is much more than a book about trains, as it will appeal to ship enthusiasts, lovers of vintage travel posters, and anyone who is interested in travel in general. There surely cannot be a more comprehensive story of boat trains in a single book. A book full of fascinating information, exceedingly well produced, and great value for money. Highly recommended.

Read the review here

Rail Advent

Published in autumn 2020, this covers the rise of traffic to the ports on the south of England and northern France and the changes that were needed to port infrastructure to accommodate a new market. Chapter 5 describes the rise an ultimate reduction of the classic French channel trains including the Blue Train to the south, the Cȏte d’Azur and to Italy. Chapter 6 interestingly covers all the efforts of the pre-grouping companies to capture traffic to and from the US which required the rapid development of high quality rolling stock to provide travellers with conditions of travel which were becoming expected by high-end passengers. Comprehensive notes, references, select bibliography, and an index complete this highly detailed book.

Swanage Railway Magazine – Winter 2023, Issue 129

This book should appeal to the rail fan, the ship enthusiast, the connoisseur of travel posters and those interested in the business of transportation. I know of nowhere else one can find so much information on boat train operation in one book. The book is well worth a read by anyone interested in the interconnectivity of different means of public transportation.

Charles H. Bogart, Steamship Historical Society of America

A smart review of one of the great key commercial events in our history.

Read the full review here

Miniaturas JM

Featured in the

Journal of the Kent & East Sussex Railway - Tenterden Terrier, Summer 2021

This is a hefty book, worthy of it's glamorous material which is supported by multiple illustrations of the fashionable trains and their stylish passengers.

Journal of the Railway & Canal Historical Society

The value of Martyn Pring’s books is that, while they are about trains, they tell us so much more, about social history, politics, economics and the great contribution made by the railway in the development of international travel. I shall look forward to the next one.

Click here to view the full review (page 79)

Rail Professional, June 2021 reviewed by Paul Atterbury

Listed in the magazine's ‘bookshelf’ feature

Devon Life, June/July 2021

Read the full article here

The Daily Telegraph, 10th April 2021

Featured in

The Society of Model and Experimental Engineers Journal, April 2021

This is a well researched and referenced book. It's one of the best presented I've seen, with well chosen historic illustrations.

Welsh Railways Research Circle - Spring 2021 newsletter

This is an outstanding book backed up with some excellent photographs. I would very highly recommend it to our readers.

Shipping – Today & Yesterday, March 2021

This book is well illustrated throughout using archive photographs and period poster reproductions.

Platform 5

The book is thoroughly researched, commendably well indexed and referenced, and illustrated with a wealth of photos and posters to provide a fascinating picture of a world of travel that has all but passed into history.

I enjoyed the book and have no hesitation in recommending it.

French Railways Society

Book Of The Month

Ships Monthly, March 2021

Book Of The Month

Sea Breezes, January 2021

Welcome to the first STEAM blog of 2021! We are kicking off this year’s Object of the Month series with a special guest blog from marketing and tourism researcher, Martyn Pring - click here to read

STEAM – Museum of the Great Western Railway

Another interesting volume with a tremendous amount of research having been undertaken by Martyn Pring as evidenced from the Bibliography and Newspapers/periodicals noted.

A well produced heavyweight volume, majoring in a previously neglected area of transport history.

6024 Preservation Society

Like its companion volume, Boat Trains is crammed with fascinating detail as well as a most impressive array of full-colour illustrations reproducing posters and historic photographs of trains, docks and stations. These will most certainly appeal to enthusiasts and to some general readers.

Read the full review here

Professor Hugh Clout, University College London