Birmingham Interchange HS2 station

[absolutelymilk]

According to Rail Technology Magazine, full construction will only start in early 2026 - how long do people think it will take to build the (four platform) station?

HS2 Solihull: 15 Bridge Beams Installed at Interchange Station

Laing O’Rourke was awarded the contract to build Interchange Station last year, with design work currently underway. Balfour Beatty VINCI (BBV), HS2’s main works civil contractor for the West Midlands, is preparing the site for full construction to begin in early 2026.

 

[The Planner]

According to Rail Technology Magazine, full construction will only start in early 2026 - how long do people think it will take to build the (four platform) station?

HS2 Solihull: 15 Bridge Beams Installed at Interchange Station

Depends what you mean by build it? All the way to fitted out with car parks
etc or the platforms and buildings? 2 years minimum for the latter.

 

[absolutelymilk]

I was wondering both a) how long until it was completed enough that trains could run through it without stopping if needed and b) how long until trains could stop there

 

[The Planner]

I was wondering both a) how long until it was completed enough that trains could run through it without stopping if needed and b) how long until trains could stop there

it will open when HS2 opens, so at least 5 years.

 

[Nottingham59]

I was wondering both a) how long until it was completed enough that trains could run through it without stopping if needed and b) how long until trains could stop there

The central through lines and the lines serving the inner platform lines form a four track railway, so they would have to be built at the same time.


You could leave the outer tracks and the platform islands and fitting out the rest of the station until later, but it would add to the complexity of managing the build.

I'd be surprised if they do that. Stations are relatively cheap compared to new line. HS2 say Interchange will cost £370M at 2019 prices (so probably twice that in real money). But £370M is the cost of just 2km of new route. Far simpler to postpone all spending on Delta to Handsacre if they wanted to spread the spending across more financial years.

EDIT: Map of Interchange station from: https://www.gov.uk/government/publi...f-commons-select-committee-2016-west-midlands

 

[absolutelymilk]

The central through lines and the lines serving the inner platform lines form a four track railway, so they would have to be built at the same time.

View attachment 173859
You could leave the outer tracks and the platform islands and fitting out the rest of the station until later, but it would add to the complexity of managing the build.

I'd be surprised if they do that. Stations are relatively cheap compared to new line. HS2 say Interchange will cost £370M at 2019 prices (so probably twice that in real money). But £370M is the cost of just 2km of new route. Far simpler to postpone all spending on Delta to Handsacre if they wanted to spread the spending across more financial years.

EDIT: Map of Interchange station from: https://www.gov.uk/government/publi...f-commons-select-committee-2016-west-midlands

I realise that they would have to be built together, but presumably while they're building it, there is a stage where the station is safe to run trains through but not for them to stop at (like was the case with Bond Street on the Elizabeth line)? The reason for the question is that on another thread, someone suggested that Birmingham Interchange was on the critical path for HS2 opening.

 

[Nottingham59]

I realise that they would have to be built together, but presumably while they're building it, there is a stage where the station is safe to run trains through but not for them to stop at (like was the case with Bond Street on the Elizabeth line)? The reason for the question is that on another thread, someone suggested that Birmingham Interchange was on the critical path for HS2 opening.

I really don't know.

I can't imagine HS2 planning to do all the testing that would be needed on one configuration of network, and then choosing to do another set of testing to incorporate the changes that would come from bringing the platforms, the tracks, the platform edge doors, information systems, passenger flow trials, staff training etc. etc. into use at Interchange at different date from when those sub-systems brought into use at Curzon St.

But I might be wrong of course.

 

[absolutelymilk]

I was imagining the case where (given that construction is starting much later than Curzon Street) Curzon Street (and the rest of HS2) was ready a year or two before Interchange was. In that situation, would it be likely that the central through lines could be used while the rest of the station completes fit-out and testing?

 

[JamesT]

I was imagining the case where (given that construction is starting much later than Curzon Street) Curzon Street (and the rest of HS2) was ready a year or two before Interchange was. In that situation, would it be likely that the central through lines could be used while the rest of the station completes fit-out and testing?

Although it’s starting later, given it’s a much smaller station won’t Interchange be faster to build than Curzon Street?
I suspect the limitation on running any sort of operation will be Old Oak Common, which is large and complex and constrained by the live railway alongside.

 

[The Planner]

I was imagining the case where (given that construction is starting much later than Curzon Street) Curzon Street (and the rest of HS2) was ready a year or two before Interchange was. In that situation, would it be likely that the central through lines could be used while the rest of the station completes fit-out and testing?

If they wanted to they could, but I very much doubt Interchange is going to fall two years behind. Its a green field site without the constraints of Curzon St.

Although it’s starting later, given it’s a much smaller station won’t Interchange be faster to build than Curzon Street?
I suspect the limitation on running any sort of operation will be Old Oak Common, which is large and complex and constrained by the live railway alongside.

HS2 is underground effectively at OOC. The existing railway doesnt really interact.

 

[JamesT]

HS2 is underground effectively at OOC. The existing railway doesnt really interact.

I was thinking of the other half of the OOC station on the GWML. Won’t that need to be completed as well so there is somewhere to send the passengers coming off a HS2 train?

 

[Bald Rick]

I was thinking of the other half of the OOC station on the GWML. Won’t that need to be completed as well so there is somewhere to send the passengers coming off a HS2 train?

That will be finished well ahead of the HS2 side

 

[jhy44]

I do hope that the temporary narrow lanes and 50mph speed limit on this section of the M42 isn’t in place for years and years, it’s very unpleasant at the moment for those of us who have to drive on that section of motorway regularly due to the congestion and scarily close proximity to vehicles in the neighbouring lanes right now, and there’s no real alternative route other than a gridlocked one through Coleshill town.

 

[The Planner]

I do hope that the temporary narrow lanes and 50mph speed limit on this section of the M42 isn’t in place for years and years, it’s very unpleasant at the moment for those of us who have to drive on that section of motorway regularly due to the congestion and scarily close proximity to vehicles in the neighbouring lanes right now, and there’s no real alternative route other than a gridlocked one through Coleshill town.

Everytime I have had a reason to drive along there in the last few years there has always been narrow lanes. Either for the central barrier or that new junction. Id bet the HS2 work is finished sooner.

 

[Geezertronic]

It's been dog doo down that part of the M42 for a while. It's better now that Junction 5A has opened (better for me anyway) as M42 traffic does have a tendency to block the J6 island because of the M42 HS2 roadworks so taking the new A4545 route is preferable for me

 

[djox]

Does anyone know what this station will actually be called, is it Birmingham Interchange or just Interchange. Whilst it's not actually in Birmingham it sounds better than just being called Interchange with no geographical reference. I've also seen Solihull Interchange mentioned. In all of HS2 documents they just say Interchange whereas for Curzon Street they specifically say Birmingham Curzon Street. On Transport for West Midlands website they have gone with Birmingham Interchange.

Who gets to decide on these station names would it be TfWM like they did on Camp Hill line by opening it up to the public or would it be HS2 themselves?

 

[The Planner]

Does anyone know what this station will actually be called, is it Birmingham Interchange or just Interchange. Whilst it's not actually in Birmingham it sounds better than just being called Interchange with no geographical reference. I've also seen Solihull Interchange mentioned. In all of HS2 documents they just say Interchange whereas for Curzon Street they specifically say Birmingham Curzon Street. On Transport for West Midlands website they have gone with Birmingham Interchange.

Who gets to decide on these station names would it be TfWM like they did on Camp Hill line by opening it up to the public or would it be HS2 themselves?

Birmingham Interchange. You can see it on some of the road signs around there.

 

[djox]

Birmingham Interchange. You can see it on some of the road signs around there.

That's good to know, but is there any reason why HS2 in their documents and website just go by Interchange rather than Birmingham Interchange. For Curzon Street they do use Birmingham Curzon Street.

Stations

Find out how HS2 stations are being designed to support growth, connect communities and deliver accessible, sustainable transport hubs that integrate with local networks and city centres.

www.hs2.org.uk

We’re building four new stations – at Old Oak Common and Euston in London, and Curzon Street and Interchange in Birmingham and Solihull. These will unlock thousands of new jobs and homes across the regions.
The Victorians built railway stations that were celebrated as ‘cathedrals of steam’. Today, we’re building stations that set new standards for sustainability and design. Two of our station designs have been officially accredited as among the most sustainable buildings in the world.
The first high-speed trains will run between Birmingham Curzon Street in the city centre and Old Oak Common, our west London transport hub.

 

[poffle]

If there's any renaming in that area I'd suggest it would be renaming Birmingham Airport to London Birmingham Airport.

 

[The Planner]

If there's any renaming in that area I'd suggest it would be renaming Birmingham Airport to London Birmingham Airport.

I really doubt that will ever happen.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 Apr 2025 ==

That's good to know, but is there any reason why HS2 in their documents and website just go by Interchange rather than Birmingham Interchange. For Curzon Street they do use Birmingham Curzon Street.

Stations

Find out how HS2 stations are being designed to support growth, connect communities and deliver accessible, sustainable transport hubs that integrate with local networks and city centres.

www.hs2.org.uk

No idea, ask them?

 

[matt]

Reopened for @absolutelymilk to post an update

 

[absolutelymilk]

There's a new video of construction of Birmingham Interchange. Looks like reasonably good progress on groundworks, but not close to the stage of foundations going in? This seems a bit worrying if it's on the critical path of Washwood Heath to Wendover...

HS2 Birmingham Interchange, November 2025

I headed over to the new Birmingham Interchange HS2 station site to get an up-close look at how the major infrastructure works are taking shape.
A lot has happened since my last visit here: • HS2 Interchange Station October 2025 #hs2 ...
From the air, the drone footage captures a busy, fast-moving construction environment with constant muck shifting, active sheet piling operations, heavy plant in motion, and tight site traffic management keeping everything flowing. You’ll see earthworks progressing across multiple zones, haul roads being reshaped, and crews working on key structural elements that will form part of the wider HS2 network. Watch the full 4K aerial overview to get a clear sense of the scale and pace of the project, and share your thoughts in the comments — do you reckon the build is moving faster or slower than you expected?

 

[birchesgreen]

I work near to the interchange construction site, work has been ongoing for years but has definitely ramped up recently if the number of cranes are any indication.

 

[Nottingham59]

Looks like reasonably good progress on groundworks, but not close to the stage of foundations going in? This seems a bit worrying if it's on the critical path of Washwood Heath to Wendover...

It looks like a relatively simple build at ground level with canopies on the platforms, instead of a vault over the running lines. See slide 13 of 15 in the HS2 presentation here: https://www.hs2.org.uk/building-hs2/stations/interchange/

They only need to finish the central 4-track railway through the middle, and the overbridges, to allow initial testing between Wendover and Washwood Heath. I wouldn't expect that to be on the critical path.

 

[Snow1964]

A drone video of construction at Birmingham Interchange HS2 station has been uploaded. Lots of earthworks, some bridges starting to appear, but no sign yet of any platforms or buildings

 

[SCDR_WMR]

I imagine those views will look quite different this time next year. Prep always takes time. There's been no hint of delay to this part of the project that I've heard, possibly just isn't yet time.

 

[Snow1964]

New drone video of HS2 construction, from M6 viaducts, past Birmingham Interchange, to A45 Coventry Road bridges.

A few lengths of earthworks look done (although not yet landscaped), but there are number of bits of trackbed (especially near incomplete bridges) that are clearly being held back, due to access roads etc still in use.

Not much sign of any Birmingham International station being built yet, but site generally appears levelled, and is of course wide as there are 6 tracks (two outer island platforms and 2 central through tracks)

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

New drone video of HS2 construction, from M6 viaducts, past Birmingham Interchange, to A45 Coventry Road bridges.

A few lengths of earthworks look done (although not yet landscaped), but there are number of bits of trackbed (especially near incomplete bridges) that are clearly being held back, due to access roads etc still in use.

Not much sign of any Birmingham International station being built yet, but site generally appears levelled, and is of course wide as there are 6 tracks (two outer island platforms and 2 central through tracks)

Excellent video although I still find it amazing the amount of land take HS2 has take to undertake construction. Also there never seems to be much activity going on but maybe they fly the drones at a weekend to keep a low profile.

 

[The Planner]

Excellent video although I still find it amazing the amount of land take HS2 has take to undertake construction. Also there never seems to be much activity going on but maybe they fly the drones at a weekend to keep a low profile.

Most of it is due to landscaping I assume. Drones around there are probably a bit close to the airport too.

 

[TransportHub]

Does anyone know what this station will actually be called, is it Birmingham Interchange or just Interchange. Whilst it's not actually in Birmingham it sounds better than just being called Interchange with no geographical reference. I've also seen Solihull Interchange mentioned. In all of HS2 documents they just say Interchange whereas for Curzon Street they specifically say Birmingham Curzon Street. On Transport for West Midlands website they have gone with Birmingham Interchange.

Who gets to decide on these station names would it be TfWM like they did on Camp Hill line by opening it up to the public or would it be HS2 themselves?

Having two separate stations close together, with trains to similar destinations, called Birmingham International and Birmingham Interchange is just asking for trouble. So many tourists or passengers unfamiliar with the area are going to end up at the wrong one.

I'd call the HS2 station Birmingham Junction. That removes the similarities and is a better name anyway than Interchange.

Alternatively (or in addition to) rename the current station from International to Birmingham Airport for NEC. Harwich aside the general consensus is stations called international have/had/were intended to have international trains not planes. Every other rail served airport station is XX Airport.