Following the nationalisation of public transport in 1948, the British Transport Commission set up its own in-house film production unit. Launched on 1 May 1949, British Transport Films was led for 25 years by Edgar Anstey – a founding father of the British documentary movement – and became one of the largest industrial film units in Britain. Over a period of more than 35 years, BTF produced an unrivalled documentary film legacy for generations of film and transport enthusiasts. The BFI's previous Blu-ray and DVD releases of BTF films are amongst its all-time best sellers.

This latest two-disc DVD collection, Life on the Line, features 14 films, including Our Business is Moving, Sea Road to Britain, Life on the Line, TOPS for Industry and Round Trip to Glasgow. The set contains an illustrated booklet with new writing on the films by BFI curator and BTF expert Steven Foxon and post-war transport historian and enthusiast Stephen Edwards.

Disc One contains the following films:

• Multiple Aspects (1969)
• Top Levels of Transport (1969)
• A Tale Out of School (1969)
• Our Business is Moving (1970)
• A Day with SELNEC (1972)
• Sea Road to Britain (1974)
• Keep Your Business Moving (1977)

Disc Two contains:

• The Kowloon Connection (1979)
• Life on the Line (1979)
• Who's in Charge? (1980)
• TOPS for Industry (1981)
• Round Trip to Glasgow (1982)
• Robbie (Overhead Lines) (1986)
• Channel Tunnel: Tomorrow's Way (1986)

British Transport Films Collection Volume 15: Life on the Line will be released as a 2-DVD set on5 December 2023 by the BFI at the RRP of £19.99.

2-DISC DVD SPECIAL FEATURES:

• King of the Road (1986, 11 mins)
• Illustrated booklet with new writing on the films by BFI curator and BTF expert Steven Foxon and post-war transport historian and enthusiast Stephen Edwards