HS2 Progress near Kenilworth

[absolutelymilk]

A new HS2 newsletter, Chiltern area winter 2025 has just been released

https://assets.hs2.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/NC2A-South-Winter-newsletter-2025-Final-1.pdf

Towards the end is a section on construction to working railway, and it states a 50 mile test section for trains will include the Warwickshire section (it defines it as Washwood Heath to Wendover Green tunnel north portal), so this is now priority section for construction so overhead, track and signalling can be installed for train testing.

Burton Green - Kenilworth is close to middle of this testing section.

I make that section more like 70 miles than 50, are they rounding?

 

[Snow1964]

A new drone video of HS2 construction where the line crosses the existing rail line near Berkswell station. Earthworks appear to be progressing to bring the trackbed to level of the structures.

 

[Snow1964]

New drone video of the recent HS2 viaduct slide over Grand Union canal at Longhole (near Leamington Spa)

 

[Snow1964]

New video from north of Kenilworth of the HS2 construction

This shows progress on the viaduct near Truggist Lane (near Balsall Common) with some views into the distance.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

That is very close to Berkswell station, which you can see in the trees to the west. The two routes cross (WCML underneath HS2) just to the south.

The Google Map of this area looks almost up to date, and yet the Old Oak Common area still shows the Heathrow Express depot before it was demolished so that work on the HS2 site could start - must be 3 years old at least.
The Colne Valley Viaduct hardly makes an appearance yet, either.

 

[Snow1964]

3 new drone videos of HS2 construction progress have been posted
Quite a lot of the embankments and cuttings are now grassed

Kenilworth - Coventry gap
Kenilworth - Burton Green
Burton Green - Balsall Common

 

[Snow1964]

Couple of new drone videos of HS2 construction,

And near Southam (where there is little evidence yet of anything resembling a trackbed, but hugely wide earthworks)

 

[MrJeeves]

And near Southam (where there is little evidence yet of anything resembling a trackbed, but hugely wide earthworks)

Worth considering this footage was from Oct/Nov 2025, yet only published recently.

Not sure how much more progress has been made since.

 

[Snow1964]

New drone video of HS2 construction in Crackley and Burton Green area. Parts of Burton Green tunnel are now covered, but still seem to be doing lots of earthmoving

 

[Snow1964]

HS2 have announced that Burton Green tunnel is now structurally complete, the link includes a video

HS2 engineers have installed the final roof segment on the 700-metre-long Burton Green tunnel - illustrating the progress being made on the West Midlands section of Britain’s new railway.

The 16-metre-wide twin-box-shaped tunnel will carry high-speed trains beneath the village of Burton Green, near Kenilworth. The internal wall separates trains travelling north to Birmingham, Manchester and Scotland, and south towards HS2’s two London stations in Old Oak Common and Euston.

Now structurally complete, engineers and ecologists will turn their attention towards the tunnel’s 500-metre-long ‘green roof’, to ensure the structure blends seamlessly into the natural landscape, with ample green space above for local communities to enjoy

HS2’s Burton Green tunnel structurally complete

B-roll - New drone footage shows it’s now possible to walk through the entire structure Images reveal the latest construction progress

mediacentre.hs2.org.uk

 

[Geezertronic]

The A452 between Hampton-in-Arden/Meriden and Balsall Common is now routed over the new alignment & bridge that will take the A452 over the HS2 alignment. Still a bit of work to do as the route is only one side of the new alignment and single lane

 

[Snow1964]

A series of 3 new drone videos of HS2 construction in Kenilworth, Burton Green, Balsall Common area 1st August 2026

Looks like majority of trackbed is now complete, number of bridges are in use, and looks like landscaping is principally the work currently going on in this area.

Doesn't seem to be much earthmoving equipment on this section anymore, and the giant construction compounds look rather empty nowadays

 

[swt_passenger]

It seems to be taking a heck of a long time to reinstate the road bridge in Burton Green, it’s looked almost finished for about a year now…

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

A series of 3 new drone videos of HS2 construction in Kenilworth, Burton Green, Balsall Common area 1st August 2026

Looks like majority of trackbed is now complete, number of bridges are in use, and looks like landscaping is principally the work currently going on in this area.

Doesn't seem to be much earthmoving equipment on this section anymore, and the giant construction compounds look rather empty nowadays

Great set of drone videos still feel the land take was unnecessarily large and it now leaves a lot of remediation to complete. Certainly going to be a surplus of site accommodation blocks available.

Given the track is going on precast concrete segments I wonder whether there just laid on the haul road or is there another level of preparation work that has to be undertaken before that can happen?

 

[Snow1964]

A new drone video, (multiple videos linked in one long flight) from Kenilworth / Burton Green area through to A45 just before Interchange station showing HS2 construction progress

The trackbed is now fairly obvious for majority of this section, with remaining earthworks mainly around the bridges, and some areas where landscaping has been partly left

 

[Geezertronic]

Is the alignment going over the A45 or under the A45 at the southern end of Interchange?

 

[The Planner]

Is the alignment going over the A45 or under the A45 at the southern end of Interchange?

Under

 

[swt_passenger]

Is the alignment going over the A45 or under the A45 at the southern end of Interchange?

I think the A45 bridge over HS2 is in the centre of the very last shot in the video, at 8m 49s.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

A new drone video, (multiple videos linked in one long flight) from Kenilworth / Burton Green area through to A45 just before Interchange station showing HS2 construction progress

The trackbed is now fairly obvious for majority of this section, with remaining earthworks mainly around the bridges, and some areas where landscaping has been partly left

Given good progress along this section you have wonder how Wilde tells Public Accounts Committee a couple of weeks ago that hopes to start track relaying in 2030. To my mind they should be in a position by 2030 to get mast foundations and steelwork up.

 

[TheHSRailFan]

Given good progress along this section you have wonder how Wilde tells Public Accounts Committee a couple of weeks ago that hopes to start track relaying in 2030. To my mind they should be in a position by 2030 to get mast foundations and steelwork up.

I wouldn't be surprised if he gives dates later than at this current rate, just in case there's a hiccup and he has to delay a certain section. Means less bad press!

 

[stuu]

Given good progress along this section you have wonder how Wilde tells Public Accounts Committee a couple of weeks ago that hopes to start track relaying in 2030. To my mind they should be in a position by 2030 to get mast foundations and steelwork up.

Quite common elsewhere for the masts to be up before the tracklaying. But another 3.5 years before they can start tracklaying seems unbelievable, although not in the context of this farce

 

[Snow1964]

Quite common elsewhere for the masts to be up before the tracklaying. But another 3.5 years before they can start tracklaying seems unbelievable, although not in the context of this farce

Unless I have completely missed it, HS2 hasn't yet ordered the plain line track, or the medium speed station throat turnouts

From memory (and apologies if wrong) HS2 did order (about 3-5 years ago now), the specialist very long high speed points, due to known long lead times. The crossovers and high speed junction points. They are rated at something like 220km/h (137mph) or higher, and possibly only one factory that can machine them

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

Unless I have completely missed it, HS2 hasn't yet ordered the plain line track, or the medium speed station throat turnouts

From memory (and apologies if wrong) HS2 did order (about 3-5 years ago now), the specialist very long high speed points, due to known long lead times. The crossovers and high speed junction points. They are rated at something like 220km/h (137mph) or higher, and possibly only one factory that can machine them

Correct Voest Alpine were awarded the contract three years ago for 250 high-speed, low-speed and depot points plus associated point machines. Another contract that will have penalties for prolongation potentially which makes slowing down HS2 a bizarre choice.