HS2 Construction Updates - Birmingham Area

[Snow1964]

New drone video from Washwood Heath tunnel portal to Curzon Street.

It shows a concrete stair or vent tower built between the tracks in the cutting where TBMs finished (looks like cutting will be covered for first part to move portal nearer Birmingham.

Evidence of what looks like a massive drainage ditch between HS2 cutting and existing tracks.

Lots of mud at depot site and no sign yet of any depot buildings or stabling sidings etc

The two viaducts (old Ashton Church Road, and Saltney) are still blocking Route, but presumably are scheduled for demolition soon.

The metal skeleton of the curved viaduct that will cross the tracks just before container depot is now visible (does this get pushed across at intervals as it is extended). Some of the piers don't yet seem to be complete.

The large arch bridge has has lot of scaffolding removed (it is due to be slid into position late May).

Curzon Street station is starting to see concrete columns amongst the pile caps

 

[Tobberz]

New drone video from Washwood Heath tunnel portal to Curzon Street.

It shows a concrete stair or vent tower built between the tracks in the cutting where TBMs finished (looks like cutting will be covered for first part to move portal nearer Birmingham.

Evidence of what looks like a massive drainage ditch between HS2 cutting and existing tracks.

Lots of mud at depot site and no sign yet of any depot buildings or stabling sidings etc

The two viaducts (old Ashton Church Road, and Saltney) are still blocking Route, but presumably are scheduled for demolition soon.

The metal skeleton of the curved viaduct that will cross the tracks just before container depot is now visible (does this get pushed across at intervals as it is extended). Some of the piers don't yet seem to be complete.

The large arch bridge has has lot of scaffolding removed (it is due to be slid into position late May).

Curzon Street station is starting to see concrete columns amongst the pile caps

Very exciting, it seems clear that we're going to see a lot of real visual progress over the next 12 months.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

New drone video from Washwood Heath tunnel portal to Curzon Street.

It shows a concrete stair or vent tower built between the tracks in the cutting where TBMs finished (looks like cutting will be covered for first part to move portal nearer Birmingham.

Evidence of what looks like a massive drainage ditch between HS2 cutting and existing tracks.

Lots of mud at depot site and no sign yet of any depot buildings or stabling sidings etc

The two viaducts (old Ashton Church Road, and Saltney) are still blocking Route, but presumably are scheduled for demolition soon.

The metal skeleton of the curved viaduct that will cross the tracks just before container depot is now visible (does this get pushed across at intervals as it is extended). Some of the piers don't yet seem to be complete.

The large arch bridge has has lot of scaffolding removed (it is due to be slid into position late May).

Curzon Street station is starting to see concrete columns amongst the pile caps

Fabulous fly through you can see the challenge of squeezing the line through in this constrained area and in some areas done it with the massive land take you see in the rural sections. Curzon St is also alive with activity since the last video from a few weeks back.

 

[stuving]

A new 3-month "Birmingham construction look ahead", for Spring 2026, has appeared from HS2. This covers the area in the video and includes:
[At Bromford west portal]

Ongoing throughout 2026
• Work on the construction of the aerodynamic boxes is ongoing
• Central shaft structure is ongoing.
• Wolsley Drive realignments works have started

[At Aston Church Road]

Ongoing throughout 2026
Aston Church Road bridge opened earlier this year which ongoing remedial works including surfacing of the footpaths.
The old bridge is due for demolition over the spring There are ongoing utility diversions in the area with small periodic lane closures

[At Saltley]

Ongoing throughout 2026
Saltley Retained Fill West
The first phase of Saltley Retained Fill West is now complete. This section includes the tallest walls in the area, reaching up to 12 metres high, where it connects to Curzon Approach.
Saltley Retained Fill Central
This section has much shorter walls, with a maximum height of around 4 metres. We are currently working on the reinforced concrete construction. This area will carry the new HS2 tracks into Curzon Street, along with tracks providing access to the new depot at Washwood Heath.
Saltley Canal Underbridge
The remaining piling work for this area is now complete.
Saltley Viaduct
Work is continuing at Saltley Viaduct, beginning at the East Abutment area and will continue until 2026. We are preparing for the 18-month closure of Saltley Viaduct these incudes diverting utilities and working with partner organisations to minimise disruption to journey times

The term "aerodynamic box" is used for the porous portal structure at the Bromford east portal. That does not, at the moment, look like what is being built at the west portal. No doubt it will become clearer with time. The term "central shaft structure" is used for the midway ventilation shaft, but that would be a long way to the east - not even on the same location map in the document.

 

[stuu]

Does anyone know what sort of span is planned to cross the lines to Derby? That doesn't look much shorter than the span over the cross city line

 

[Snow1964]

Does anyone know what sort of span is planned to cross the lines to Derby? That doesn't look much shorter than the span over the cross city line

It is a push launched curved viaduct. Look at this video (and pause it at 3:16), you will see skeleton of the viaduct being assembled on the ramp. At intervals these get slid forward and a next section added at rear, then slid bit further etc.

If then move video on few seconds will see what looks like to steel piers, which presumably need a crossbar, and further on more piers. Some of piers not yet built although foundations are clearly visible.

I think once the viaduct is slid, the next section crossing the canal is built by lifting beams with a crane (rather than slid). The big arch bridge is due to be slid over cross city lines end of May, so it's current location will then need viaduct deck too.

From memory this section is 3 track, because there is also a depot road to Washwood Heath (although I think there is another junction nearer depot too) and all tracks are fully reversible if required.

 

[hwl]

The big arch bridge is due to be slid over cross city lines end of May, so it's current location will then need viaduct deck too.

That section will get concrete decks assembled in the same way as the Delta junction segments with the same teams manufacturing and assumbling hence it will take a while as there is plenty to assemble at the Delta Junction first (likely the rest of 2026). A recent HS2 announcement covered this as the had finished manufacturing the segments for Delta Jn and were starting on manufacturing segments for west of Washwood Heath.

 

[Snow1964]

HS2 has announced the first slide of the northbound viaduct over M6 slip roads will be moved 11 April. This is on 4 track section.

The west deck of the M6 South viaduct, which will carry high speed trains towards Birmingham, is being assembled in four sections. The first 107 metre section will be slid over the M6 junction 4 southbound slip road on 11th April 2026.

The engineering team from Balfour Beatty VINCI, HS2’s contractor in the West Midlands, forecast that it will take just two days to safely manoeuvre the 1250-tonne weathering steel structure into place. Using the tried and tested slide technique, a giant hydraulic jack will pull the viaduct over the concrete piers, 102 metres away, where it will then be locked into position.

The slip road will close at 5am on Saturday, 11th April for the slide to begin. The viaduct is expected to be in position by Sunday evening and the 45-strong crew leading the operation will conduct final safety checks ahead of the slip road’s planned reopening at 10pm on 12th April.

The 320-metre-long West deck will be positioned parallel to the East deck, which was safely installed over the M6 in three stages in 2025. The final stage of the East deck installation was a UK-first in civil engineering, with the main carriageway remaining open and traffic flowing below as the viaduct was slid into place.

HS2 engineers prepare to launch second viaduct over the M6

Engineers working on the West Midlands section of the HS2 network are getting ready to launch the second viaduct over the M6 near Chelmsley Wood. Link to images showing the west deck of the M6 South viaduct:https://visual-library.hs2.org.uk/s/5w66fsq56ztr572nnntcbr Link to B-roll. Drone footage...

mediacentre.hs2.org.uk

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 1 Apr 2026 ==

HS2 has issued update that first of 4 tower cranes at Curzon Street will be erected 17-27 April

Installation of tower cranes -Curzon St station

Location Curzon Street Duration Friday 17 April to Monday 27 April 2026 What we are doing Installation of the first of four tower cranes on site. What to expect We will put the tower cranes together on site using a mobile crane. HGVs will deliver the components of the crane during normal working...

www.hs2.org.uk

Also issued notice that they will be launching Duddeston viaduct over existing Network Rail tracks 2-5 May

Notice:Duddeston Viaduct

Location Duddeston Duration These works will be between Saturday 2 May 2026 to Tuesday 5 May 2026 and will require a 24-hour working pattern. What we are doing As works are progressing in the area, we will now be launching the Duddeston Viaduct over the existing Network Rail lines. This is a key...

www.hs2.org.uk

So lots of progress on HS2 construction in Birmingham area

 

[Jamesrob637]

The viaduct behind/just north of Berkswell station is progressing nicely.

 

[Snow1964]

Been announced that Saltney Viaduct (road over railway) will be closed 16th May for about 18 months for demolition and rebuild with extra clearance for HS2.

Duration
A full road closure in both directions from Sunday 10 May 2026 for approximately 18 months

What we are doing
As we build the new high speed railway line in Birmingham, we need to demolish and rebuild the existing viaduct over the railway and river Rea in Saltley. We need to do this work because the existing bridge does not currently have enough headroom for the new HS2 trains to pass underneath. To rebuild the bridge, we will need to close Saltley High Street for approximately 18 months from Sunday 10 May 2026. These dates are the earliest dates and are subject to change.

Notice of road closure – Saltley Viaduct/High Street

Location Saltley Viaduct/High Street Duration A full road closure in both directions from Sunday 10 May 2026 for approximately 18 months What we are doing As we build the new high speed railway line in Birmingham, we need to demolish and rebuild the existing viaduct over the railway and river...

www.hs2.org.uk

 

[The Planner]

Been announced that Saltney Viaduct (road over railway) will be closed 16th May for about 18 months for demolition and rebuild with extra clearance for HS2.

Notice of road closure – Saltley Viaduct/High Street

Location Saltley Viaduct/High Street Duration A full road closure in both directions from Sunday 10 May 2026 for approximately 18 months What we are doing As we build the new high speed railway line in Birmingham, we need to demolish and rebuild the existing viaduct over the railway and river...

www.hs2.org.uk

Autocorrect there. Saltley Viaduct.

 

[Geezertronic]

Autocorrect there. Saltley Viaduct.

I preferred Saltney, although that sounds too posh for us Brummies

 

[Snow1964]

The first of 4 Tower cranes is being erected at Curzon Street station

 

[bib]

Drone flyover from Curzon St out to the tunnel portal

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

Drone flyover from Curzon St out to the tunnel portal

Great drone fly through. The sequencing of the works to complete is a few years off completion by the looks of it.

 

[Dave61]

Great drone fly through. The sequencing of the works to complete is a few years off completion by the looks of it.

Its when you see something like this that you realise the sheer magnitude of the Civil Works required to build the thing - and why it is taking so long and costing so much.

 

[Snow1964]

New drone videos of all the progress of HS2 construction in delta junction, showing the various flyovers, viaducts, bridges and earthworks.

Looks like the flyovers will be ready soon for the embankments to be constructed to link upto them

 

[Geezertronic]

The B4114 Birmingham Road is closed this week for more HS2 work to be done. I wonder what they are doing now?

 

[Snow1964]

The B4114 Birmingham Road is closed this week for more HS2 work to be done. I wonder what they are doing now?

https://assets.hs2.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/2621-Notice-of-road-closure-on-B4114-Birmingham-Road.pdf

https://assets.hs2.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Notice-of-lane-closure-on-B4114-Birmingham-Road.pdf

 

[quantinghome]

Its when you see something like this that you realise the sheer magnitude of the Civil Works required to build the thing - and why it is taking so long and costing so much.

I got the train from New Street for the first time in a while last week and the works are looking extremely impressive. Once it's done the pressure to extend north will be overwhelming. That infra can't exist just for 3 tph.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

I got the train from New Street for the first time in a while last week and the works are looking extremely impressive. Once it's done the pressure to extend north will be overwhelming. That infra can't exist just for 3 tph.

The scale of it is incredible but of course it needs shallow curves although not sure what speed will be realised. The bridges over the M42 may not see trains for sometime though.

 

[Dave61]

I got the train from New Street for the first time in a while last week and the works are looking extremely impressive. Once it's done the pressure to extend north will be overwhelming. That infra can't exist just for 3 tph.

I'm in Long Eaton and the line would have passed the end of our garden on a 10m viaduct, would have created hell for traffic in the town but facinating to watch in progress - I was going to do a daily time lapse photo of it!

 

[Nottingham59]

The scale of it is incredible but of course it needs shallow curves although not sure what speed will be realised. The bridges over the M42 may not see trains for sometime though.

The design speed for the Birmingham spur is only 230km/h. Dropping to 200km/h (125mph) on the West-South chord at Delta, and just 170km/h on the North chord over the M42.

I assume they will use the North chord occasionally when the line first opens as that will be the only place where they can turn sets round.

 

[Snow1964]

A new drone video has been posted, showing construction progress from south of M6, through Coleshill, along delta junction south to west spur to Bromford tunnel portal.

Can see the second M6 viaduct being extended before being pushed out, the dive under and flyover junctions and lots of earthworks

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 18 May 2026 ==

HS2 has issued media update with videos regarding upcoming installation of viaducts over the motorways

The M42 overhead works begin on the evening of Friday, 26th June 2026, with the installation of the roof deck for the twin box. This 300-metre-long structure will allow the high-speed line to be built over the M42. Once complete, vehicles will drive through the box, while trains travel above.

The walls for twin box are being built using a modular construction method, and these works are progressing at pace, without closing the motorway.

The roof deck will be constructed over four weekend closures, allowing engineers to install 175 individual beams, each weighing between 56 and 92-tonnes. The giant beams, which have been manufactured off-site in Leicestershire, will be lifted into place using a 300-tonne crawler crane.

At the same time, engineers in nearby Water Orton are preparing to extend two single-track viaducts that will carry high-speed trains into Birmingham Curzon Street and the rolling stock depot at Washwood Heath.

Already circa 1200 metres long, the team will use a different construction technique to build the remaining 135-metre sections of the Water Orton 1 and 2 viaducts that will bridge the gap between the piers either side of the motorway.

Instead of continuing with the cantilever construction method, the viaducts will be prefabricated in sections adjacent to the carriageway – removing the need for further closures. Once fully assembled, they will be moved into position using self-propelled modular transporters and locked into place above the piers. This significantly reduces the installation time and means engineers can complete the works in just four weekends. This programme of work will commence at 9pm on Friday, 24th July 2026.

The final construction challenge – the installation of the M6 South Viaduct West – requires just one weekend motorway closure, as two stages of the fully restrained slide process will take place over live traffic, eliminating the need to close the carriageway. The single weekend closure will commence at 9pm on Friday, 21st August 2026.

HS2 viaducts to be installed over busy motorways in major milestone

Motorists given advanced warning of M6 and M42 works between June and November Number of motorway closures reduced to minimise disruption, with diversion routes put in place HS2 works with National Highways, Birmingham Airport and NEC to coordinate motorway programme B-roll footage shows...

mediacentre.hs2.org.uk

 

[Wyrleybart]

Thanks for the video link
Impressive amount of concrete but I can't deny a concern for Attleboro / Castle Bromwich Jn where the points appear to be at the bottom of a deep concrete cavern. How will technicians /;p way staff get to it, and more importantly, is it a risk of flooding ? As a rather mature W Mids railway man I have recurring memories of Water Orton suffering flooding during deluge.,

 

[The Planner]

Thanks for the video link
Impressive amount of concrete but I can't deny a concern for Attleboro / Castle Bromwich Jn where the points appear to be at the bottom of a deep concrete cavern. How will technicians /;p way staff get to it, and more importantly, is it a risk of flooding ? As a rather mature W Mids railway man I have recurring memories of Water Orton suffering flooding during deluge.,

If its that bad a risk I expect there will be pumps. As for pway staff getting to it, the same way as anywhere else, through an access point and walking or a road railer.

 

[Snow1964]

Thanks for the video link
Impressive amount of concrete but I can't deny a concern for Attleboro / Castle Bromwich Jn where the points appear to be at the bottom of a deep concrete cavern. How will technicians /;p way staff get to it, and more importantly, is it a risk of flooding ? As a rather mature W Mids railway man I have recurring memories of Water Orton suffering flooding during deluge.,

If you go back to videos about 9-15 months ago when the concrete base of the junction area was being built and walls were being started. There is clearly a maintenance refuge area where points would be. I suspect a staircase leads to it, bearing in mind the final ground level will be nearer where the flyover track is.

I also have vague memories of seeing wider bits with what looked like sump areas (but was long time ago since I watched construction videos whilst base slab section was in process of being built). So I am guessing there are pump rooms to deal with water

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 27 May 2026 ==

Network Rail has issued Media update about 3 day closure at Duddeston to allow Curzon number 2 bridge to be slid across railway

Passengers are being reminded to plan their journeys in advance of a three-day closure of the Cross City line between Birmingham New Street and Lichfield Trent Valley, as HS2 engineers carry out major work to install a new viaduct.

No trains will run between Birmingham New Street and Lichfield Trent Valley from Friday 29 May to Sunday 31 May, with normal services resuming on Monday 1 June.

Train services will continue to operate as normal on the southern section of the Cross City line between Birmingham New Street and Redditch/Bromsgrove.

To safely carry out the complex installation, services between Birmingham New Street and Tame Bridge Parkway will also be affected. Rail replacement buses will run between:

• Birmingham New Street and Lichfield Trent Valley
• Birmingham New Street and Tame Bridge Parkway

Services to Rugeley Trent Valley will be diverted and journeys will take longer than usual.

During the closure, HS2 engineers will install a 150-metre-long viaduct deck near the new Curzon Street station. Once complete, the structure will carry HS2 trains over the existing Victorian railway viaduct between Duddeston and Birmingham New Street.

Three-day Cross City line closure begins this Friday for vital HS2 work

Passengers are being reminded to plan their journeys in advance of a three-day closure of the Cross City line between Birmingham New Street and Lichfield Trent Valley, as HS2 engineers carry out major work to install a new viaduct.

www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

NR have uploaded a video of the bridge in its final position. There closing the gap to Curzon St bit by bit

https://www.networkrailmediacentre....hs2-viaduct-installation-over-cross-city-line

 

[swt_passenger]

NR have uploaded a video of the bridge in its final position. There closing the gap to Curzon St bit by bit

https://www.networkrailmediacentre....hs2-viaduct-installation-over-cross-city-line

Thats puzzling, because none of the photos, or the video, actually show it in the final position. In HS2 renders (see picture below), the main viaduct structure outer ends align exactly with the large concrete ‘Y piers’.

A few of the various YouTube videos seem to include comments saying there’s still another move then the lightweight temporary works will be removed from the front.

 

[takno]

Thats puzzling, because none of the photos, or the video, actually show it in the final position. In HS2 renders (see picture below), the main viaduct structure outer ends align exactly with the large concrete ‘Y piers’.

A few of the various YouTube videos seem to include comments saying there’s still another move then the lightweight temporary works will be removed from the front.

The linked Network Rail article doesn't say the bridge is in its final position. It says that the bridge has completed its move over the Cross-City Line, and that innovative techniques mean that they will be able to move it the rest of the way without closing the railway