HS2 Construction Updates - Birmingham Area

[swt_passenger]

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

Ok, but I do think NR are confusing things - most of their statements are in the past tense as though “installed” or “complete”. I can see why @Nicholas Lewis thought it meant ‘final position’.

 

[hwl]

Ok, but I do think NR are confusing things - most of their statements are in the past tense as though “installed” or “complete”. I can see why @Nicholas Lewis thought it meant ‘final position’.

Some of the temporary steelwork has already been removed from the "front right"

 

[takno]

Ok, but I do think NR are confusing things - most of their statements are in the past tense as though “installed” or “complete”. I can see why @Nicholas Lewis thought it meant ‘final position’.

Oh absolutely, it definitely needs a couple of read-throughs, and I would probably have misread it myself if I hadn't read your questioning of it first

 

[Snow1964]

Hwl:
Some of the temporary steelwork has already been removed from the "front right"

The temporary nose was always asymmetric, because there is an intermediate concrete pillar between old railway viaduct and pier on one side, so didn't need to reach as far to get to a support.

There is one diagonally opposite one too on other side of railway due to crossing on a skew

 

[stuving]

I expect they will remove this final piece pinned to the end of the "nose" (seen here before the move). Most likely that's needed to make it short enough for the final push into position, and the fact that it's too long with it attached explains why this two-step pushing procedure was needed.

 

[swt_passenger]

I expect they will remove this final piece pinned to the end of the "nose" (seen here before the move). Most likely that's needed to make it short enough for the final push into position, and the fact that it's too long with it attached explains why this two-step pushing procedure was needed.
View attachment 205216

Yes, the upturned piece in the centre of your picture had definitely been repositioned (hinged downwards?), by the time the recent videos appeared. It looks very much as though it would be too long for the next part of the move with it fitted.

 

[Geogregor]

Yes, the upturned piece in the centre of your picture had definitely been repositioned (hinged downwards?), by the time the recent videos appeared. It looks very much as though it would be too long for the next part of the move with it fitted.

This is temporary addition, just for the move. It will be removed. Actually it might be already removed before the final push.

 

[swt_passenger]

This is temporary addition, just for the move. It will be removed. Actually it might be already removed before the final push.

I did know that, I’m referring specifically to the relatively small hinged part, right at the leading edge, its position has varied during the move, up or down, the but like the one that was on the other side it seems to be easily removable from the rest of the temporary leading framework.

 

[hwl]

I did know that, I’m referring specifically to the relatively small hinged part, right at the leading edge, its position has varied during the move, up or down, the but like the one that was on the other side it seems to be easily removable from the rest of the temporary leading framework.

Apparently the current lack of cantilevered sections welded on the outside of the closest part of main longitudinal beams on the section of viaduct deck to the west leaves just enough room for the temporary structure to be slid further west without removing any of the temporary structure first.

The 3 (probably more e.g. 4 as there was big pause over the weekend closure slide) part move suggests that the sliding equipment has to be repositioned every 30-40m of slide completed? Hence we are probably in the final reposition pause before the final push.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

I did know that, I’m referring specifically to the relatively small hinged part, right at the leading edge, its position has varied during the move, up or down, the but like the one that was on the other side it seems to be easily removable from the rest of the temporary leading framework.

HS2 Ltd have posted a video of the slide which should answer your question

 

[swt_passenger]

Apparently the current lack of cantilevered sections welded on the outside of the closest part of main longitudinal beams on the section of viaduct deck to the west leaves just enough room for the temporary structure to be slid further west without removing any of the temporary structure first.

That makes sense, if anything the truss viaduct is a bit wider than the Lawley St section, so it’s even possible the main longitudinals can temporarily overlap.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Jun 2026 ==

HS2 Ltd have posted a video of the slide which should answer your question

Well that video is very similar to the ‘B roll’ segment included in the NR website article that started me off. My original question was just about the point that the move was not complete - and as far as I can see it still isn’t.

 

[WillC]

Jings... this sort of macro-engineering stuff is very impressive. It's such a shame HS2 is politically tarnished, the actual 'thing' is amazing. I can imagine the effort required for people to work out how to slide a huge bridge without screwing it all up and killing anyone. Bravo.

 

[sturmey_archer]

Looking at the hinged nose... Launched bridges will sag very slightly when you launch them, such that the leading edge of the bridge will be too low by the time it gets to the supports. An important job of the lightweight temporary framework on the front is to lift the leading edge of the bridge onto the support and start providing support to the bridge deck before it sags too much. The usual way of doing this is just to provide a tapered/ramped nose on the temporary framework so that it rides over the 'bump' as it is jacked forwards, just like a sledge. You can see this in the M6 bridge slide, which had a bright blue nose on it - the bridge lifts when the blue nose ramps onto the supports.

But I guess this enormous bridge was just too big and heavy for that crude trick. Instead, you can see that when the bridge gets to a supporting pier, the hinged section is lowered and the bridge rises very slightly. I guess there are some hidden hydraulic jacks somewhere that lift the bridge so that the nose can lowered and locked into place, and then the slide continues with full support.

 

[Wyrleybart]

Jings... this sort of macro-engineering stuff is very impressive. It's such a shame HS2 is politically tarnished, the actual 'thing' is amazing. I can imagine the effort required for people to work out how to slide a huge bridge without screwing it all up and killing anyone. Bravo.

Have to say it is very impressive, and I guess thoughts will become fundamentally more positive as the permanent infrastructure is completed and the railway opens. Obviously cannot really compare it to Crossrail, but where would folk be now without the Liz Line and those 345s

 

[Snow1964]

Couple of videos of this weekends demolition of the Old Aston Church Road viaduct and Saltley viaducts which have insufficient space for HS2 tracks.

A byproduct of getting rid of these low clearance bridges is would now allow route to Water Orton to be electrified, which if bi-modes replaced the diesel trains, would free Birmingham New Street of worst of its diesel emissions. Although with virtually everything on the route being diesel only unlikely to happen for 15 years.

 

[The Planner]

Couple of videos of this weekends demolition of the Old Aston Church Road viaduct and Saltley viaducts which have insufficient space for HS2 tracks.

A byproduct of getting rid of these low clearance bridges is would now allow route to Water Orton to be electrified, which if bi-modes replaced the diesel trains, would free Birmingham New Street of worst of its diesel emissions. Although with virtually everything on the route being diesel only unlikely to happen for 15 years.

That assumes the other overbridges elsewhere are clear. They might be W10, but I doubt everything north of there is capable of wires, and you aren't just going to wire to Water Orton.

 

[Snow1964]

That assumes the other overbridges elsewhere are clear. They might be W10, but I doubt everything north of there is capable of wires, and you aren't just going to wire to Water Orton.

The significance of extending the wires from Saltley area to Water Orton is that the new HS2 tracks run alongside the existing tracks, so will get electrified tracks alongside diesel tracks. It would also allow some West Midlands services to switch from DMUs to BEMUs

But ultimately yes, wires need to continue further.

 

[GraphitProjekt]

I wonder if any useful freight electrification could be enabled taking wires further to Nuneaton. Also I find it surprising no actual intention has ever been made to think about electrifying Birmingham - Derby, one of the last 125mph areas with no electrification

 

[S101]

Also I find it surprising no actual intention has ever been made to think about electrifying Birmingham - Derby, one of the last 125mph areas with no electrification

I think that would have been more likely if the Midland Mainline was electrified. Of course, thats never going to happen now.

 

[zwk500]

I wonder if any useful freight electrification could be enabled taking wires further to Nuneaton.

Not without last mile capability for the terminals. Better focus for the business case would be Birmingham-Leicester services, IMO.

Also I find it surprising no actual intention has ever been made to think about electrifying Birmingham - Derby, one of the last 125mph areas with no electrification

Unfortunately the only 125mph services that use that section go way beyond derby and Birmingham so would need the voyagers replacing with bimodes.

 

[GraphitProjekt]

The IET replacement for Voyagers feels pretty inevitable. Even with MML and Derby-Birmingham wired, they still have to run deep into the west country or negotiate power supply weaknesses on ECML and around Manchester.

 

[JamesT]

Not sure if there's a more appropriate thread for this - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c33yjy4gdm3o

The extension of a rail tunnel built for HS2 did not have the correct planning permission, the Court of Appeal has ruled.

HS2 has already constructed the 5.8km (3.6 miles) long Bromford Tunnel, the longest rail tunnel to be built in the West Midlands, between Water Orton in Warwickshire and Washwood Heath in Birmingham.

North Warwickshire Borough Council took the matter to court claiming the extended tunnel did not have planning permission under the High Speed Rail (London-West Midlands) Act 2017.

The borough council said it had secured "an important victory" in a long running dispute. The government has said it is considering the judgement.

Seems fairly ridiculous to go through this legal procedure to get a declaration that the planning process hadn't been properly followed.

 

[Noddy]

Not sure if there's a more appropriate thread for this - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c33yjy4gdm3o

Seems fairly ridiculous to go through this legal procedure to get a declaration that the planning process hadn't been properly followed.

No doubt it’ll go to the UK Supreme Court for a final judgement, but once again it’s another council wasting huge amounts of tax payers money (both directly and indirectly) to achieve nothing because the nimby residents have voted them in.

And yet folk on this forum continue to wonder why infrastructure is so expensive in this county?

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Wasn't the tunnel extension to placate the residents anyway, avoiding surface disruption?
It might have not been authorised correctly, and have increased costs, but was I thought a "popular" measure by HS2.

 

[growse]

No doubt it’ll go to the UK Supreme Court for a final judgement, but once again it’s another council wasting huge amounts of tax payers money (both directly and indirectly) to achieve nothing because the nimby residents have voted them in.

And yet folk on this forum continue to wonder why infrastructure is so expensive in this county?

What's the remedy likely to be here (assuming the judgement holds)? I can't see them demolishing it and doing it again....

 

[Noddy]

What's the remedy likely to be here (assuming the judgement holds)? I can't see them demolishing it and doing it again....

According to para 22 of the ruling they were no longer seeking a quashing order but only declaratory relief. Which basically means nothing happens apart from the statement and a lot of wasted time, energy and money. And it still could end up in the Supreme Court as it was Goverment ministers who gave the go ahead for the extension and the Government may want to seek further legal opinion as the current judgement restricts their ability permit development in future.

 

[bib]

A new drone video showing the route from Curzon out to the Bromford tunnel portal

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

A new drone video showing the route from Curzon out to the Bromford tunnel portal

Another great video that shows how intricate it is to weave the new new line into Curzon Street

 

[CharlieSpotted]

Wow, loved that video! Kinda hypnotic just floating down the route. Loved seeing the container crane doing it's thing too! And the final shot of the Birmingham skyline in the distance... cinema.

 

[Snow1964]

Lot going on this weekend, motorway is closed for sections of North viaduct expected to be installed over the motorway.

Parts of viaduct are sitting on SPMTs self propelled modular transporters waiting to be moved over motorway, the second half is in few weeks time

There is more general drone views of the works and viaducts near Water Orten here

In months time the M6 will be closed Friday evening 21 Aug for the weekend to push second viaduct across the motorway

M6 full weekend closure between J4 and J4A northbound and southbound

Location M6 full weekend closure between J4 and J4A northbound and southbound (including the M42 J7A link to M6 southbound). Duration From 9pm on Friday 21 August 2026 until 6am on Monday 24 August 2026. What we are doing As we progress with construction of the M6 South Viaduct in Solihull...

www.hs2.org.uk

Also appear to be doing detailed surveys for the people mover linking the airport and Birmingham International starting 10th August. First indication of work on the people mover

Notice of survey works around M42, A45, NEC area

Location At multiple locations in the area highlighted on the map below around the M42, A45 and Birmingham Airport and NEC area. Duration From Monday 10 August for around 17 weeks (subject to weather, access and site conditions). Working hours will typically be Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm. To...

www.hs2.org.uk

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 25 Jul 2026 ==

Any early morning video (Saturday) of viaduct sections being moved across M42