Geograph IrelandLatest Images by Andrew Bodman
https://www.geograph.ie/
2024-03-28T21:47:55+00:00text/html2020-10-08T15:30:04+00:00https://www.geograph.ie/profile/116162Andrew Bodman52.086912 -1.193608SP5543 : HS2 effects
https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6630733
This is Greatworth Park. During the second world war it was a radio transmitter station for Bletchley Park. The buildings in this photo are currently being used by HS2 contractors. The HS2 tracks will use a green tunnel following a line from this photographer to pass just to the left of these buildings.text/html2020-10-08T15:22:28+00:00https://www.geograph.ie/profile/116162Andrew Bodman52.126718 -1.244455SP5147 : HS2 effects
https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6630721
This is Trafford Bridge near Edgcote which carries the Welsh Road over the River Cherwell. It was constructed in the 18th century and now has Grade II listed status. Using local honey coloured stone, it blends in well to the local surroundings. It just needs a bit of repair work doing.
Near to the line of trees at the far left of the photo, HS2 Ltd will be constructing Edgcote Viaduct. This structure will be 600 metres long, the longest HS2 viaduct in Northamptonshire, and 9 metres high. Assuming it follows the generic HS2 designs to be used elsewhere, it will be a grey concrete structure with sharp angles. It will be topped by overhead catenary (8 metres high) supplying the electrical power for the trains.
Less than a mile south east of Trafford Bridge, HS2 will cross the site of the battle of Edgcote (1469) https://chippingwarden.org/battle-of-edgcote/text/html2020-10-08T15:04:57+00:00https://www.geograph.ie/profile/116162Andrew Bodman52.160444 -1.304699SP4751 : HS2 effects
https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6630690
The end of a footpath where it joins an unclassified road south west of Lower Boddington. The metal gates and wooden fencing are all new, and previously this was an entirely open field entrance. In the past walkers using this footpath would have followed its existing route across this and other fields without being constricted into a narrow channel. This footpath currently joins the road at the same place as where HS2 is planned to cross it. A similar wooden fencing channel has been constructed on a footpath where it joins an unclassified road north east of Greatworth. Likewise this is another place where HS2 will cross an unclassified road.text/html2020-10-08T14:56:31+00:00https://www.geograph.ie/profile/116162Andrew Bodman52.178458 -1.325916SP4653 : HS2 effects
https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6630676
This is the Glyn Davies Wood Nature Reserve overseen by the Banbury Ornithological Society. It is a small wood which is situated in both Warwickshire and Northamptonshire. Part of it will be cut down to make way for the HS2 line and also for the rerouting of Stoneton Lane. HS2 is wider here as it incorporates two maintenance loops as well as the two high speed tracks. If you include the width of the cutting, the total width of land take for HS2 at this point will be approximately 130 metres. That does not include the diverted Stoneton Lane and realigned Banbury Road.text/html2020-10-08T14:48:20+00:00https://www.geograph.ie/profile/116162Andrew Bodman52.253298 -1.417658SP3961 : HS2 effects
https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6630659
This HS2 construction site is adjacent to the south eastern Long Itchington Wood tunnel portal. The site intrudes onto the Dallas Burston Polo Grounds. This view is taken from the pavement of the A425 looking north westwards.
HS2 Ltd has just advised that a section of this A425 main road will be closed for nine months. The company has provided three weeks notice of this closure, which will necessitate lengthy diversions for many road users.text/html2020-09-24T16:53:26+00:00https://www.geograph.ie/profile/116162Andrew Bodman52.285579 -1.456523SP3765 : Unspoilt view prior to the arrival of HS2
https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6615858
This view was taken from Long Itchington Road (in 2014) looking south eastwards in the direction of the HS2 route (which will be straight ahead). The HS2 tracks will be sunk into a cutting. The nearest line of trees running from left to right indicate the route of the Fosse Way. The gap in the trees on the right indicates the position of the Fosse Way/Welsh Road intersection. The Fosse Way will be realigned closer to the photographer by 50 metres.
This part of the Long Itchington Road will be closed as a result of these workings and traffic will have to use Welsh Road instead. This presumably saves the cost of building one bridge over the HS2 rail tracks. The line of trees along the Fosse Way has now been removed completely as shown in this photo [[6615641]].text/html2020-09-24T16:21:31+00:00https://www.geograph.ie/profile/116162Andrew Bodman52.295420 -1.465640SP3666 : Trees felled for HS2
https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6615761
This view is taken from Hunningham Road north of Offchurch. Behind two layers of fencing are some of the recently felled trees. They represent a tiny proportion of the many thousands of mature trees that have been felled to make way for HS2.text/html2020-09-24T15:58:56+00:00https://www.geograph.ie/profile/116162Andrew Bodman52.282268 -1.459935SP3665 : Radically changed view due to HS2
https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6615716
This view is looking south eastwards along the Welsh Road. In the distance it intersects with the Fosse Way which runs from left to right. The route of HS2 will be almost parallel to the Welsh Road but a few hundred metres further to the left from the edge of this photo. The Fosse Way will be realigned as part of the HS2 workings, and will be moved approximately 50 metres towards the photographer.
The Welsh Road and Fosse Way were previously lined with mature trees and hedgerows on both sides. Here are two “before” views of the Fosse Way in this locality [[6237900]] and [[6237877]]. This vegetation has been completely removed over a distance of more than half a mile on the Fosse Way, leaving behind an unsightly view.text/html2020-09-24T15:22:16+00:00https://www.geograph.ie/profile/116162Andrew Bodman52.285310 -1.456673SP3765 : Radically changed view due to HS2
https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6615641
This photo is of the Fosse Way as it heads north eastwards, and was taken immediately after its intersection with the Welsh Road. Close to the brow of this hill, HS2 will cross at approximately a right angle to the Roman road. In this area, the Fosse Way will be realigned approximately 50 metres to the west side of the original. Its new alignment can be seen on the left where a road roller is operating.
This part of the Fosse Way was previously lined with many trees and hedgerows on both sides of the road, which have now been completely removed by HS2 contractors, despite how far away the new Fosse Way will be positioned.
The following photo provides a “before” view of this very part of the Fosse Way taken a few yards earlier so it includes the intersection with Welsh Road [[6237900]].
Here is another “before” view of the Fosse Way about half a mile prior to the Welsh Road intersection and still facing the same direction [[6237877]]. Note the mature trees and hedgerows on both sides of the road in both of these photos. They have all been removed from the latter photo position up to the point where the Fosse Way crosses the HS2 route, a distance of about 0.6 miles. Was all this vegetation removal necessary when the alignment of the Fosse Way is being moved 50 metres westwards?text/html2020-09-24T14:33:45+00:00https://www.geograph.ie/profile/116162Andrew Bodman52.277627 -1.447973SP3764 : Preparing for HS2
https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6615568
View looking south eastwards towards Long Itchington Wood on top of the distant hill. To the right (in the foreground) is Welsh Road. In the distance you can see preparations for HS2, and much earth moving has already taken place. To the right of some of those workings and below Long Itchington Wood, there is a grey concrete wall. A tunnel boring machine will be launched through this wall to create a twin bore tunnel 2 kilometres long. HS2 will follow an almost straight route to cross the Welsh Road on the left side of this photo. For a similar view before work started see [[6615450]]text/html2020-09-24T12:52:48+00:00https://www.geograph.ie/profile/116162Andrew Bodman52.278620 -1.448693SP3764 : Unspoilt view prior to the arrival of HS2
https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6615450
Not far from Offchurch, looking south eastwards towards Long Itchington Wood on top of the distant hill. In between is the Grand Union Canal, although not visible in this photo. To the right is Welsh Road, which bends left and then runs diagonally across this view. HS2 will pass to the left of this stack of bales and then continue in a largely straight line on an embankment for part of the way to enter a tunnel under Long Itchington Wood.text/html2020-09-24T12:20:08+00:00https://www.geograph.ie/profile/116162Andrew Bodman52.277267 -1.447831SP3764 : Removal of trees for HS2
https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6615395
View northwestward along Welsh Road showing the effects of recent tree felling. HS2 will cross at a shallow angle and head to the top right of this photo. These mature trees were shown on the far right of the photo [[6613920]]. The viewing point of the latter photo is well to the left of this photo.text/html2020-09-23T14:21:29+00:00https://www.geograph.ie/profile/116162Andrew Bodman52.276453 -1.446668SP3764 : Unspoilt view prior to the arrival of HS2
https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6613920
Standing not far from where the Grand Union Canal is crossed by a footpath, looking to the north west, the HS2 route will run from the bottom right towards the top left of this photo. The mature trees on the right (by the side of the Welsh Road) will be cut down to make way for the new rail line.text/html2018-09-16T10:28:20+00:00https://www.geograph.ie/profile/116162Andrew Bodman52.168220 0.102072TL4354 : Varsity Line
https://www.geograph.ie/photo/5907276
The Varsity Line connected Oxford and Cambridge and train services ran on the section between Bedford and Cambridge until the end of 1967 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varsity_Line . Plans are underway to reopen the line in stages between Oxford and Cambridge, and the route is now known as East West Rail.
Some local authorities have taken steps to protect disused rail routes. Hence much of the original alignment between Oxford and Bedford will be/is being reused as it was because it was not built over in the meantime. However, there are several places between Bedford and Cambridge where the old route has been built over, and consequently a completely fresh route is likely to be constructed for this section.
This photo shows the newly built Mardler Close in the Trumpington Meadows housing development. This road has been built on the alignment of the old Varsity Line. Further west on this line, you will find the Mullard Radio Astronomy Observatory which has made use of the very straight trackbed https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mullard_Radio_Astronomy_Observatory . Towards the centre of Cambridge, the route of the Varsity Line has been taken over by the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cambridgeshire_Guided_Busway .
More details of future plans for East West Rail are available from https://www.eastwestrail.org.uk/central-section-overview/text/html2018-09-16T09:54:07+00:00https://www.geograph.ie/profile/116162Andrew Bodman52.150615 -0.180287TL2451 : Varsity Line
https://www.geograph.ie/photo/5907233
The Varsity Line connected Oxford and Cambridge and train services ran on the section between Bedford and Cambridge until the end of 1967 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varsity_Line . Plans are underway to reopen the line in stages between Oxford and Cambridge, and the route is now known as East West Rail.
Some local authorities have taken steps to protect disused rail routes. Hence much of the original alignment between Oxford and Bedford will be/is being reused as it was because it was not built over in the meantime. However, there are several places between Bedford and Cambridge where the old route has been built over, and consequently a completely fresh route is likely to be constructed for this section.
This business facility has been built on the route of the old Varsity Line, close to the former Gamlingay Station http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/g/gamlingay/index.shtml . There are also some houses nearby which have been built on the alignment of the Varsity Line.
More details of future plans for East West Rail are available from https://www.eastwestrail.org.uk/central-section-overview/