New Mobile Site
We have just launched a new mobile version of this site - m.trainspots. This page will use your smart device's GPS to loctate you and guide you to locations that are close to your present location.
Location notes
A footbridge over the Midland Main Line just south of Ampthill Tunnel and the former Ampthill station.
Railway type and traffic
Standard south end Midland Main Line fare: HSTs, 222s, 387s, 377s (very few 319s now) and a reasonable amount of freight.
Link to Real Time Trains
RTT Link Ampthill Industrial Estate footbridge
This link should be close to the location, but may not be the actual location so please check the page. This link will take you to what is happening 'around now'. Dates and times can be changed at the top of the page.
This link should be close to the location, but may not be the actual location so please check the page. This link will take you to what is happening 'around now'. Dates and times can be changed at the top of the page.
Environment
This is a new footbridge which was built to replace a footpath crossing. It is located at the edge of an industrial estate which partly occupies the site of the former Ampthill station. It is pretty quiet; you will get occasional walkers and you might also get a friendly query as to whether there is anything interesting coming from the workers in the nearby units. There is no lighting so not much use after dark.
Road directions
From the M1 southbound, Junction 13:
Take the A507 towards Ampthill. As you approach the town, the road will bear sharp right; shortly afterwards you will come to a mini-roundabout at which you turn right (signposted "Ampthill Industrial Estate (Station Road)". Take this road until just before it ends in a cul-de-sac and you will see another anonymous road on the left. Take this road and after about 1/4 mile you will see the footbridge on the right. You can park on the road but if you're there during working hours, be careful not to block access to any of the industrial units.
From the M1 northbound, Junction 12:
Take the A5120 towards and past Flitwick to Ampthill; on the outskirts of Ampthill you will come to a roundabout; turn left onto the A507 (signposted Milton Keynes). At the next roundabout, the A507 bears right; follow the A507 and the Station Road turning is left at the second roundabout after you turn right.
If coming from the east, take the A507 from the A1 (M) junction 10; Ampthill is about 12 miles along this road and then follow the same directions as above.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Ampthill Industrial Estate footbridge map co-ordinates
Take the A507 towards Ampthill. As you approach the town, the road will bear sharp right; shortly afterwards you will come to a mini-roundabout at which you turn right (signposted "Ampthill Industrial Estate (Station Road)". Take this road until just before it ends in a cul-de-sac and you will see another anonymous road on the left. Take this road and after about 1/4 mile you will see the footbridge on the right. You can park on the road but if you're there during working hours, be careful not to block access to any of the industrial units.
From the M1 northbound, Junction 12:
Take the A5120 towards and past Flitwick to Ampthill; on the outskirts of Ampthill you will come to a roundabout; turn left onto the A507 (signposted Milton Keynes). At the next roundabout, the A507 bears right; follow the A507 and the Station Road turning is left at the second roundabout after you turn right.
If coming from the east, take the A507 from the A1 (M) junction 10; Ampthill is about 12 miles along this road and then follow the same directions as above.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Ampthill Industrial Estate footbridge map co-ordinates
Parking
There is some roadside car parking but as it is an industrial area, make sure you are not blocking access to any units.
Public transport
Probably the easiest way is by bus from Flitwick or Bedford to Ampthill town centre and then walk out of the town along Station Road until you get to the roundabout mentioned earlier. It is probably about a 20-30 minute walk from the town centre.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Amenities
None at the location. Ampthill town centre has all the usual facilities and there is also a Shell petrol station by the A5120/A507 roundabout.
Sun Compass
Sun Compass using Suncalc by brought to you by Vladimir Agafonkin:
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Ampthill Industrial Estate footbridge
Streetmap links
Ampthill Industrial Estate footbridge general view map
Ampthill Industrial Estate footbridge close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Ampthill Industrial Estate footbridge
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Ampthill Industrial Estate footbridge
Googly map
Ampthill Industrial Estate footbridge general view map
Ampthill Industrial Estate footbridge close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Ampthill Industrial Estate footbridge
Who likes this location on facebook
Photographic notes
This location is only good in the afternoon when the sun is on the open, west side of the line. The bridge itself is caged in but you can poke the camera through some gaps to get a passable shot of a southbound train. Best shots are either of northbound trains from the bridge steps or southbound standing under the bridge - you can poke the camera through the gaps in the palisade fencing. OLE is not too much of a problem here.
The only clue that there was a station here (apart from the Station Road name!) is that the fast and slow lines diverge slightly just north of the bridge where the up platform used to be.
The only clue that there was a station here (apart from the Station Road name!) is that the fast and slow lines diverge slightly just north of the bridge where the up platform used to be.
General views - All photographs © Richard Allen unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking north
Fig 2 - Looking south
Fig 3 - Looking north
Disclaimer
All information contained within this is site is © Trainspots. The images used on this site remain the property of the original photographer, as credited at the top of the page, and are used with their kind permission.
The information on these pages is supplied for the benefit of railway enthusiasts who carry out a harmless hobby, and through the medium of photography and video, actually promote the railway industry. Railway enthusiasts can also act as eyes and ears against railway vandalism, and as such should surely be encouraged to do so by the supply of adequate information such as is found on this website.
This site has been created to assist railway photographers in their travels around the country. It is based on the personal knowledge and experience. No liability can be held against the web site or its contributions for incorrect information. Trainspots will endeavour to check all information and corrections will be accepted and posted accordingly.
Advice as to the locations general environment is given as a guide on each page. This information is a GUIDE only. ALWAYS be careful with your equipment, Trainspots can not be held responsible for your personal security. Avoid leaving your property on display for all to see, be aware of your surroundings at all times. There are, sadly, people who will not think twice about trying to steal your equipment.
Trainspots DOES NOT condone trespass and none of the information on this site should be taken as a right to trespass on either railway or private land. To the best of our knowledge all locations are publicly accessible areas, where they are not contact information will be given to the appropriate authority for permission to be obtained.
The content of this site is created and intended for all age ranges but the content of sites linked from this site are not subject to the same intentions. Trainspots will attempt to check links for validity but as time passes and the site grows this will not always be possible. Broken, or indeed updates to, links should be submitted to the editor for inclusion in the updates. All links external to the Trainspots site are opened in a new browser window. Trainspots has been running now for over 10 years and there are imitation sites and guides to railfotspots. But we are a free site and we continue on the path we started out on over a decade ago to provide a useful guide to UK Railway Photographic Locations.
The information on these pages is supplied for the benefit of railway enthusiasts who carry out a harmless hobby, and through the medium of photography and video, actually promote the railway industry. Railway enthusiasts can also act as eyes and ears against railway vandalism, and as such should surely be encouraged to do so by the supply of adequate information such as is found on this website.
This site has been created to assist railway photographers in their travels around the country. It is based on the personal knowledge and experience. No liability can be held against the web site or its contributions for incorrect information. Trainspots will endeavour to check all information and corrections will be accepted and posted accordingly.
Advice as to the locations general environment is given as a guide on each page. This information is a GUIDE only. ALWAYS be careful with your equipment, Trainspots can not be held responsible for your personal security. Avoid leaving your property on display for all to see, be aware of your surroundings at all times. There are, sadly, people who will not think twice about trying to steal your equipment.
Trainspots DOES NOT condone trespass and none of the information on this site should be taken as a right to trespass on either railway or private land. To the best of our knowledge all locations are publicly accessible areas, where they are not contact information will be given to the appropriate authority for permission to be obtained.
The content of this site is created and intended for all age ranges but the content of sites linked from this site are not subject to the same intentions. Trainspots will attempt to check links for validity but as time passes and the site grows this will not always be possible. Broken, or indeed updates to, links should be submitted to the editor for inclusion in the updates. All links external to the Trainspots site are opened in a new browser window. Trainspots has been running now for over 10 years and there are imitation sites and guides to railfotspots. But we are a free site and we continue on the path we started out on over a decade ago to provide a useful guide to UK Railway Photographic Locations.
