Looking north from the Calvert work site on June 23 along the HS2 trace/route at the point where it will go underneath East West Rail. Some of the future bridge’s foundations can already be seen.
ALL PHOTOS BY PHIL MARSH
THE East West Rail (EWR) ‘Varsity Line’ and HS2 routes are due to cross at the northern stub of the former Great Central Railway at Calvert, 10 miles north of Aylesbury, with EWR crossing over HS2 by bridge.
HS2 has been given the construction powers for the 3.5km section of EWR to the west and south of Calvert (towards Oxford and Aylesbury respectively), plus a kilometre beyond Claydon loop towards the east (Bletchley). HS2 is responsible for the earthworks and structures in this area, while EWR will install the track and signalling.
This location is known as the HS2/EWRA Integration Area, and also includes the 10km section from just north of Calvert to Quainton Road station, currently known as the HS2 trace or future railway. Within this is the Calvert North HS2 construction compound, which will become the HS2 Rail Systems maintenance depot once the line opens.