HS2 completes major foundation milestone at Birmingham’s Curzon Street station

Engineers working on the HS2 project have completed the final concrete pile that will underpin the foundations of Birmingham’s Curzon Street station, marking a major milestone in the construction of the high-speed rail terminus.

More than 2,000 reinforced concrete piles have now been installed across the site, forming the structural base for the station building. The piles, which range between 6 and 24 metres deep, provide essential support for the large-scale structure that will sit above them.

Curzon Street station will stretch over 400 metres between Moor Street station and Millennium Point and feature seven platforms beneath a vast arched roof, inspired by Victorian railway architecture.

Key step forward in construction

The piling programme began in September 2024 and involved the installation of 2,011 piles by HS2’s construction partner Mace Dragados joint venture (MDJV) working alongside contractor Keltbray.

The work also included the construction of an 8-metre-high retaining wall at the western end of the site and the excavation of 47,000 cubic metres of earth to create a level base for the station’s foundations.

HS2 Ltd Senior Project Manager Alistair Morgan said the completion of the piling marks a significant stage in the delivery of the project.

“Once complete, Curzon Street will be a new landmark for Birmingham – and provide a fitting city centre terminus for a railway that will improve journeys and free up space on the existing West Coast Main Line,” he said.

New images show public spaces around station

Alongside the milestone, HS2 has released updated images showing how the public realm around the station will look once completed.

At the main entrance, passengers will arrive through a landscaped station square facing Moor Street Queensway, surrounded by gardens and pedestrian routes.

A tree-lined promenade with terraces will run along the side of the station, while a second entrance serving Digbeth and the eastern side of the city will include a tram stop, taxi drop-off area and improved cycling facilities.

The design also integrates the historic Old Curzon Street station building, originally constructed in 1838, with new public gardens and terraces planned nearby to enhance the setting of the heritage structure.

Extensive engineering works underway

Foundation construction has required substantial quantities of materials, with the underground works expected to use around 19,000 tonnes of reinforced steel and 69,000 cubic metres of concrete.

So far, engineers have installed 7,000 tonnes of reinforcement and poured approximately 29,000 cubic metres of concrete.

Following completion of the piling works, the focus will shift to further foundation construction and preparation for the Digbeth extension of the West Midlands Metro, which will pass beneath the station along New Canal Street.

Wider progress across the HS2 site

Elsewhere on the site, construction continues on supporting infrastructure, including the Curzon 2 viaduct, which will carry HS2 services into Birmingham city centre.

The 40-metre-high structure, the tallest on the HS2 project, is being delivered by Balfour Beatty VINCI and is expected to be slid into position across the Cross City railway line later this year.

At peak construction, more than 1,000 people are expected to be working on the Curzon Street project, supported by a wide supply chain across the UK.

Across the wider HS2 programme between London and Birmingham, the project is currently supporting more than 33,000 jobs, including over 2,000 apprenticeships.

HS2 Ltd Chief Executive Mark Wild is currently overseeing a reset of the programme aimed at ensuring the remaining 140 miles of the route are delivered as efficiently as possible and at the lowest reasonable cost.