HS2 Colne Valley Viaduct

[@TheRailwayDrone]

What an absolutely stunning work of engineering. Great, GREAT footage.

[@stevetony6876]

👍👍

[@transylvanianvistas]

Great drone footage and amazing aerial view. 👍👍👍 Thanks for sharing. Subbed and Liked. 👍👍👍

[@DaveFiggley]

Yes, QM. It does appear that the acoustic barrier is lower on the lake side. I'm guessing this is to provide any future travellers with a better eyeball on the water world below them before, after 38 seconds, they are plunged back into darkness via the Copthall and Northolt tunnels. If they don't blink for a few seconds they might catch a glimpse of the Breakspear Arms and River Pinn. Hopefully the perspex that goes on top of the acoustic barrier will provide a level finish to the whole thing. Early on in your video, it looks like huge quantities of topsoil are being spread over the chalk. Who knows? Next time you visit that area there might be picnic tables set out. Keep 'em coming 👍

[@stevetony6876]

Probably the 38 seconds will provide some light relief for passengers as they look up from their mobile phone/laptop/newspaper(?)…👍👍👍

[@PetertheRock.]

I just hope the ducks approve. They are gearing up to be trainspotters, having failed as Piglet spotters....

[@guyroebuck8510]

Certainly looks sharp ❤

[@davecardboard9567]

The noise barriers on the CVV are at varying heights and materials (solid vs transparent) at different points depending on the required noise performance. From memory, the ones on the west side at the northern end needed to be of more "taller and solid" design due to the proximity of some buildings.

[@stevetony6876]

Ah yes that would make sense as I’m aware there’s a few properties nearby which would otherwise be affected ..👍

[@kurran1962]

Is the viaduct wide enough for two sets of tracks?

[@stevetony6876]

Yes it’s 2 tracks all the way London to Birmingham. 👍

[@rppacademic]

@@stevetony6876 Euston to OOC ?

[@rppacademic]

...but why has the viaduct sidewalls? The train-passengers would like to have the view of the countryside.

[@stevetony6876]

They’re acoustic panels to limit sound emission from high speed trains as well as to protect local wildlife. It looks like here on the viaduct they’ll be views of the lakes, but not the other side. 👍

[@PetertheRock.]

​@@stevetony6876also they may stop any kamikaze birds seeking a quick way out...

[@rppacademic]

​​@@stevetony6876 ...dear Steve, you may be right, but I think at this part of CVV the sound panels are mainly part of the over-budget :-)))

[@stevetony6876]

@@rppacademic Infrastructure projects in the UK are always ‘over budget’. it’s just how we do things..nothing to worry about!😊

[@TrevorWilliams-fq8mg]

That right. It's over budget for several reasons. The first reason is the budget was a random figure pulled out of the air by HS2. Then there are a multitude of reasons due to the impossibility of anyone being able to put a proper budget in place. For example thousands of unknown planning conditions, thousands of services diversions, highway alterations and method statements to be agreed with statutory authorities where their infrastructure are impacted upon, such as building bridges over Network Rail's rail tracks.