lack of rail scenes in modern day films

[whole diary]

[infoman]

Watching Talking pictures during the lock down,it surprises me the amount of train stations, engines and coaching stock seen.

Compare that to todays films,I presume its all to do with elf and safety.

In the old days,I presume it was just turn up and film what you like,and let us know when your leaving.

[Bmblbzzz]

Films are shot in all sorts of risky locations or their replicas: roads, factories, battlefields, race circuits, intergalactic space battles where dangerous extraterrestrials shoot people with lasers. If films are no longer including scenes with railways, it's probably because writers are no longer writing such scenes.

[johnneyw]

Heritage railways do seem to have been used fairly regularly as film sets in relatively recent times, especially for TV and I've certainly seen station scenes used in non-period dramas too.  In the world of film, Didcot Railway Centre seems to have been used for a number of productions which were publicised quite prominently when I was there. 
There's also possibly more cost involved in location filming these days compared to the mid C20th.

[infoman]

Understand what your saying,but I think a heritage railway rail would be more wellcoming as it would get any all the monies from the filming.

Where as the train station boss/s in todays age would not benefit  their budgets.

[grahame]

Understand what your saying,but I think a heritage railway rail would be more wellcoming as it would get any all the monies from the filming.

Where as the train station boss/s in todays age would not benefit  their budgets.

Filming is a bit of a nightmare at present, isn't it?  Regular shows / series shut down largely in March and ran on stock and repeats for as long as practical, so there may not be the customers out there for the set providers.

Hosting film and media is something of a double edged sword - good for publicity, but often a darned nuisance as it happens and even if paid for is unlikely to make the venue provider a financial windfall directly.   Been there, both as the subject for the recording and as a provider to the entertainment and media folks.  Some are lovely ....

[eightonedee]

I'm looking forward to seeing Michael Portillo's collection of colourful face masks in his next series of Great Railway Journeys!

[southwest]

Films are shot in all sorts of risky locations or their replicas: roads, factories, battlefields, race circuits, intergalactic space battles where dangerous extraterrestrials shoot people with lasers. If films are no longer including scenes with railways, it's probably because writers are no longer writing such scenes.

The BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) wanted to use Waterloo for the opening scene of "Bodyguard" however, having talked with Network Rail, the TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) etc it was decided it wasn't feasible to close part of Waterloo for filming or to take a train out of service to do so, which is why a Heritage train was used instead. 

[Sixty3Closure]

Its a few years ago but when I was a journalist for the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) I'd often try to film rail related stories at a station. I generally gave up as there were so many obstacles put in my way by what was then Rail Track. It has got better but talking to colleagues in 'real' telly as opposed to News it surprising how many cities don't make filming easy. A couple of councils do have liaison officers now which may explain why some locations do better than others or appear more often on our screens.

[broadgage]

I doubt that the present lockdown is the reason for limited railway scenes in feature films, as distinct from news and current affairs.
The pandemic has only been a problem for less than a year, and most feature films currently being shown were filmed longer ago than that.

As others have said, it is more likely to be be the costs and aggravation factors of filming on network rail property. For a minor scene in a low budget film, there might be a temptation to go ahead without permission with only a hand held camera or even a smart phone. That can end badly due to concerns about terrorism.
There is also a certain amount of hysteria about photographs or film that show children. Whilst child porn is a most serious matter, I am not convinced that an incidental view of fully clothed children in a public place really matters.

Anything involving actual or simulated gunfire or explosions is frowned upon lest a panic be caused.

All a lot simpler on a heritage line. Exclusive use is easy to arrange, children can be excluded, parking is often easier. Gunfire and explosions are little problem in a more isolated location.