HS2's Curzon Street Station Reaches Major Construction Milestone
New photographs and visualisations have been released, showcasing a significant achievement for the HS2 project in Birmingham, though officials emphasise that substantial work remains before the station opens to passengers.
Foundation Works Completed
This week, engineers successfully installed the final batch of more than 2,000 concrete piles that will form the foundational support for Birmingham's Curzon Street station. This marks a crucial phase in the construction process, described by project leaders as a "major milestone."
The newly published images provide a detailed visualisation of the public spaces surrounding the station building. These designs have been refined and are currently being submitted to Birmingham City Council for formal approval.
Design and Public Space Features
Curzon Street station, stretching over 400 metres between Moor Street station and Millennium Point, is planned to feature seven platforms sheltered by a vast arched roof. The design draws inspiration from Victorian-era railway architecture, blending historical elements with modern functionality.
At the primary entrance, passengers will traverse a paved "station square" flanked by gardens facing Moor Street Queensway. The visualisations highlight a tree-lined promenade with landscaped terraces running alongside the station building.
Key design improvements include enhanced rainwater drainage management and better integration of cycling and walking routes that will connect the station to the wider city network. These updates aim to improve accessibility and environmental sustainability.
Secondary Entrance and Transport Links
A second entrance at the opposite end of the station will provide access to Digbeth and the eastern part of the city. This entrance will include a tram stop, taxi drop-off points, and improved cycle access facilities.
Adjacent to this eastern entrance, a new public square will face the historic Old Curzon Street station building, constructed in 1838. Plans also include creating a new terrace and gardens behind the old station to complement and preserve the setting of this heritage structure.
Project Leadership Statements
Alistair Morgan, Senior Project Manager at HS2 Ltd, stated, "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 added, "These new images also show how it will be integrated into the rest of the city – with new green spaces, better accessibility and onward public transport links. It’s great to see how much progress has been made on the foundation works."
Rodger Storey, Senior Project Manager at the Mace Dragados joint venture, HS2's construction partner, described the completion as a "major milestone." He said, "Completing the foundation works for Curzon Street station marks a major milestone in the delivery of the project. The team is proud of the major achievement represented by the extensive piling operation."
Construction Timeline and Next Steps
The final piles were installed in late February and early March 2026, following a brief pause to allow Network Rail to perform essential maintenance on the adjacent railway viaduct. With piling now finished, the primary focus shifts to preparing for the Digbeth extension of the West Midlands Metro, which will include a stop under the station on New Canal Street, and completing the remaining foundation tasks.
On-site progress continues with the development of a temporary office block that will serve as the central hub for the next construction stage. At peak activity, over a thousand individuals are expected to be employed directly or through the supply chain on the Curzon Street project.
Broader HS2 Progress and Employment Impact
Elsewhere on the HS2 route, advancements are being made on the viaducts that will carry high-speed services into Birmingham city centre. The Curzon 2 viaduct, standing 40 metres tall and the tallest structure in the project, is nearly complete and is scheduled to be slid into place across the Cross City line during the summer.
These viaducts are being constructed by Balfour Beatty VINCI, another HS2 contractor. Overall, the HS2 project supports more than 33,000 jobs and recently celebrated the appointment of its 2,000th apprentice, a 19-year-old from Bordesley Green in Birmingham.
Despite these achievements, HS2 officials caution that "significant work" remains across the entire 140-mile route between London and Birmingham, underscoring the ongoing scale and complexity of this national infrastructure endeavour.
