In South Yorkshire, a small group of railway maintenance men discover that due to privatisation, their lives will never be the same. When the trusty British Rail sign is replaced by one reading East Midland Infrastructure, it becomes clear that there will be the inevitable winners and losers as downsizing and efficiency become the new buzzwords.

Middle-aged postman and football fan Eric Bishop struggles with her increasingly chaotic existence, but receives some life coaching from the famously philosophical Éric Cantona.