Not so... High speed

On the day of the big HS2 rail route announcement today, I found myself at odds about how I feel about these new trains whizzing all over the country, at the cost of the countryside in its way. Hearing and reading the details of the new station in the East Midlands is sure to change the place I grew up in beyond recognition - Toton, within the commuter belt? Crazy. Parents are both optimistic about the change (which is not due to be finished for another 20 years!), saying house values should rise and the area will become a "hub" of activity... however, there is a sadness about losing my childhood hangouts to Richard Branson and his mates.
On the other hand, I am looking to the future, and our current home is Cheshire. The other HS2 line will be passing through some beautiful villages, and very close to where we live. I feel for those whose lives will be changed in the future.
I am not someone who is going to tie myself to a tree to protect, but I can see the world through those eyes right now.

Thankfully they have left the Peak District alone.

This is our local station - I went to take a snap of a train from above, but failed and came up with this instead... do you think they will have Primary school art in the new HS2 stations? I think not.