Free the Roads

Free The Roads is the first episode of the twenty-third series.

Plot
Bulgy thinks that people should travel by bus instead of rail until he learns that having so many passengers is not easy for the buses on their own.

Characters

 * Thomas
 * Percy
 * Annie and Clarabel
 * Bertie
 * Bulgy
 * Max and Monty
 * Sir Topham Hatt
 * The Knapford Stationmaster
 * The Teacher
 * Albert's Wife
 * The Great Railway Show Judge
 * The Grumpy Passenger
 * Gordon
 * Butch
 * One of Dowager Hatt's Friends
 * The Bird Watcher
 * Sodor United Football Team
 * Rebecca

Locations

 * Knapford
 * Dryaw
 * Maithwaite
 * Ffarquhar
 * Wellsworth
 * Vicarstown

Trivia

 * This episode marks the first of a few things:
 * The first time since the seventh series episode, Bulgy Rides Again that Bulgy has had a leading role in an episode.
 * The first episode since the twentieth series finale, Over the Hill to be produced by Ian McCue.
 * Max and Monty's first speaking roles since the twentieth series episode, Mucking About.
 * Bertie mentions the events of the twenty-first series episode, Unscheduled Stops.

Goofs

 * Max and Monty have their US voices in the UK dub.
 * Additionally, Kerry Shale is not credited in either the US or UK end credits despite voicing Max.
 * Rob Rackstraw is also not credited in the UK end credits for voicing Monty. However, Rasmus Hardiker is credited despite not voicing him.
 * Max and Monty have Sidney and Paxton's horn sounds.
 * As Percy starts leaving Maithwaite, his last two coaches are not rendered properly as they are merged together.

UK

 * John Hasler as Thomas
 * Nigel Pilkington as Percy
 * Teresa Gallagher as Annie, Clarabel, the Teacher and Albert's Wife
 * Keith Wickham as Bertie and Sir Topham Hatt
 * Colin McFarlane as Bulgy
 * Kerry Shale as Max
 * Rob Rackstraw as Monty, the Knapford Stationmaster and a Passenger
 * Christopher Ragland as a Passenger

US

 * Joseph May as Thomas
 * Christopher Ragland as Percy and a Passenger
 * Teresa Gallagher as Annie, Clarabel, the Teacher and Albert's Wife
 * Keith Wickham as Bertie and Sir Topham Hatt
 * Colin McFarlane as Bulgy
 * Kerry Shale as Max
 * Rob Rackstraw as Monty, the Knapford Stationmaster and a Passenger

In Other Languages
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