HS2 Photo Diary

HS2

The construction of the HS2 high speed railway line will have a major impact on the Central Chilterns and the Colne Valley Regional Park. Some of these locations will never be the same again and we will keep a record of the changes as construction progresses.

Chiltern Society member Keith Hoffmeister has been taking photographs at a number of locations since plans were first announced in 2010. He is now covering the construction phase and will eventually show the completed phase 1 of the project when trains start to run between Old Oak Common and Birmingham anytime between 2029 and 2033. (Construction of the route beyond Birmingham was cancelled in 2023).

The Society will host a series of online update presentations as construction continues. You can view the first one (January 2021) here, the second one (July 2021) here, the third one (January 2022) here, the fourth one (July 2022) here, the fifth one (January 2023) here.  The sixth one (July 2023) is available here. The 7th one (January 2024) is available here. The latest  presentation is available HERE.

Please note that these videos will load into a new window.

You can view a virtual fly-through along the route across the Chilterns and the Vale of Aylesbury belo

Impact locations

The locations are in geographical order northwards from the Colne Valley Regional Park to Wendover. Where given, directions are in relation to the route. North is towards Birmingham and south towards London.

The enabling works contactors are Fusion JV (Morgan Sindall, BAM Nuttall, Ferrovial Agroman)

Construction contractors for the Colne Valley viaduct and the Chiltern tunnel are Align JV (Bouygues Travaux Publics, VolkerFitzpatrick, Sir Robert McAlpine)

Construction contractors north of the Chiltern tunnel are EKFB JV (Eiffage, Kier, Ferrovial Construction and BAM Nuttall)

Note: PRoW refers to Public Rights of Way, i.e., public footpaths and bridleways. TBMs refers to tunnel boring machines (named Florence and Cecilia).

These images may be reproduced without charge, but please credit the Chiltern Society. To obtain high resolution versions please contact the society at office@chilternsociety.org.uk.

Impact locations

The locations are in geographical order northwards from the Colne Valley Regional Park to Wendover. Where given, directions are in relation to the route. North is towards Birmingham and south towards London.

The locations are in geographical order northwards from the Colne Valley Regional Park to Wendover. Where given, directions are in relation to the route. North is towards Birmingham and south towards London.

The enabling works contactors are Fusion JV (Morgan Sindall, BAM Nuttall, Ferrovial Agroman)

Construction contractors for the Colne Valley viaduct and the Chiltern tunnel are Align JV (Bouygues Travaux Publics, VolkerFitzpatrick, Sir Robert McAlpine)

Construction contractors north of the Chiltern tunnel are EKFB JV (Eiffage, Kier, Ferrovial Construction and BAM Nuttall)

Note: PRoW refers to Public Rights of Way, i.e., public footpaths and bridleways. TBMs refers to tunnel boring machines (named Florence and Cecilia). 

These images may be reproduced without charge, but please credit the Chiltern Society. To obtain high resolution versions please contact the society at office@chilternsociety.org.uk.

Colne Valley Viaduct
Chiltern Tunnel south portal
Chalfont St Peter vent shaft
Chalfont St Peter vent shaft haul road
Chalfont St Giles vent shaft
Chalfont St Giles vent shaft haul road
Bottom House Farm Lane
Amersham vent shaft
Little Missenden vent shaft
Chesham Road intervention shaft
Chiltern Tunnel north portal
Chiltern Tunnel north portal haul road
Great Missenden
South Heath to Wendover Dean overview
PRoW GMI 13/3 - Potter Row
PRoW GMI 12/1 - Potter Row
PRoW GMI 2/1 - Potter Row
Leather Lane overbridge
Cottage Farm overbridge & Grim’s Ditch
PRoW TLE 2/2 - King's Lane
Bowood Lane overbridge & Jones’ Hill Wood
Wendover Dean Viaduct
Rocky Lane underbridge
Small Dean Viaduct
PRoW Wen 57/1 - Small Dean Lane
Wendover Green Tunnel
PRoW Wen 13a - Bacombe Lane
Ellesborough Road
PRoW Wen 11 - Ellesborough Road
PRoW Wen 6 - Ellesborough Road
PRoW Wen 55 - Folly Bridge