HS2 Construction Updates - Birmingham Area

[Snow1964]

Phase 1 does relieve the WCML south of Rugby. But as others say, the business case for 2A must be pretty good, as it releives the WCML Rugby - Crewe (and effectively Stoke), and knocks another 15 mins or so off journey time to Manchester, Liverpool, the North West and Scotland.

Tend to agree 2A is almost certain, more a timing question. It could be as early as approaching an election if Labour are doing poorly, or decision could be decade away.

What none of us currently know, is how much of 2A could be built for the same cost as a variation of length of 200m trains. Has been discussed before but 200m trains don't make sense without a northern extension. It might be that varying the 54 train contract doesn't allow fewer trains at sensible cost, so instead have to buy (very expensive) extra intermediate vehicles.

 

[diffident]

It doesn't help either as time progresses, the costs will go up. If they built 2A as part of the first build, it would be factored in. But now it's going to be way more in cost.

 

[fishwomp]

It doesn't help either as time progresses, the costs will go up. If they built 2A as part of the first build, it would be factored in. But now it's going to be way more in cost.

Not necessarily. It will go up and down by construction inflation. HS2 has caused a lot of that through being a very very big project, eating up a significant portion of domestic manufacturing capacity for things like cement, and people. And doing so at same time as the massive Hinckley Point project. And at the same time as an energy crisis is increasing production costs of cement and steel.

If the demand for construction industry goes down, and/or energy costs came down, then HS2a costs would come down in real terms.

 

[InTheEastMids]

Not necessarily. It will go up and down by construction inflation. HS2 has caused a lot of that through being a very very big project, eating up a significant portion of domestic manufacturing capacity for things like cement, and people. And doing so at same time as the massive Hinckley Point project. And at the same time as an energy crisis is increasing production costs of cement and steel.

If the demand for construction industry goes down, and/or energy costs came down, then HS2a costs would come down in real terms.

Another way to reduce the future costs is continuing to invest in design work that de-risks the contracts and refines the scope.
Refining and de-risking the design provides greater certainty for other contracting models that may deliver lower costs.

 

[bib]

Drone flyover of Curzon St, plenty of piling evident, also quite interesting to see the progress on the metro extension at the start of the video.

Another flyover of the northern end of delta Jn, since they've completed the first viaduct section it looks like they might be starting on another two or possibly three sections judging by where the equipment is.

 

[Russel]

Bit confused with what is what regarding HS2, but are the HS2 works around Tamworth / Kingsbury still going ahead as I think it's part of phase 2?

 

[Snow1964]

Bit confused with what is what regarding HS2, but are the HS2 works around Tamworth / Kingsbury still going ahead as I think it's part of phase 2?

The line currently being built passes west of Tamworth and phase 1 ends near Litchfield.

The eastern branch which would have started near Kingsbury and passed to South East of Tamworth is cancelled (but might one day be revived)

 

[Neen Sollars]

Bit confused with what is what regarding HS2, but are the HS2 works around Tamworth / Kingsbury still going ahead as I think it's part of phase 2?

Rail Focus guy has today given his views and opinions on the most northern section of Phase 1.

Worth a watch

 

[Snow1964]

A short video has been uploaded by MPB (the construction company awarded the contract to build Curzon Street substructures about a month ago). It shows various views of recent HS2 concrete structures between Bromford tunnels and Curzon Street

 

[bib]

Flyover of some Delta Jn viaducts that I dont think I've seen before, appears to be around here - https://maps.app.goo.gl/yFfeETQd3M2DFxZc6
Looks to be a couple of hundred meters of 2x sections completed. You can see the piers for this section on the latest google earth imagery.
I keep thinking it would be interesting to have a tracker, like the HS2 Tunnel tracker, to track how much viaduct is completed and how much is left to go around Delta Jn.

 

[Snow1964]

A new video which explains how the delta junction viaducts are being built, cantilever style with temporary support cables looking like a cable stayed bridge. Explains how the over motorway sections will be on multi-wheel transporters. also includes some views inside the boxes with the post tensioning cables running through.

 

[Snow1964]

New video of HS2 construction in Water Orton area,

from the piers of delta junction viaducts pass the earthworks as tracks descend towards the flying underpass and cutting that leads to Bromford tunnel

Another new drone video is Curzon number 2 viaduct bridge being assembled (Bellingham bridge) which will be slid over the existing electrified railway viaduct later in 2025. It will be a steel bridge.

 

[bib]

Flyover of curzon street, foundations becoming apparent now, along with the tram track progressing towards the old building

 

[TheHSRailFan]

Good to see the foundations finally going in... If only this was the same with Euston...

 

[Pete_uk]

From a high up satellite imagery on Google Earth, HS2 does leave a scar across the country!

 

[absolutelymilk]

From a high up satellite imagery on Google Earth, HS2 does leave a scar across the country!

Only temporarily during construction - the grass will grow back soon enough! For comparison, you'd struggle to spot HS1 from satellite imagery, particularly compared to some of the roads it follows

 

[Geogregor]

From a high up satellite imagery on Google Earth, HS2 does leave a scar across the country!

A lot of those earthworks are excessive and not really needed from purely engineering point of view. They are resulting from perverse obsession of trying to hide the line from the view of all the cows and sheep along the way.

We can thank all the NIMBYs and bureaucrats. But yes, things will grow back.

 

[swt_passenger]

A lot of those earthworks are excessive and not really needed from purely engineering point of view. They are resulting from perverse obsession of trying to hide the line from the view of all the cows and sheep along the way.

We can thank all the NIMBYs and bureaucrats. But yes, things will grow back.

It seems to me most local authorities insisted HS2 contractor traffic be completely banned from the existing local road networks, so HS2 have effectively got a private road network stretching from London to Birmingham.

 

[Bald Rick]

It seems to me most local authorities insisted HS2 contractor traffic be completely banned from the existing local road networks, so HS2 have effectively got a private road network stretching from London to Birmingham.

Quite. HS2 (rail) has also required the building of LS (road), which hasnot helped with cost. Although this was d9ne, in part, for CTRL, the road was not sealed, and you needed a 4x4 to drive it (which I did).

 

[absolutelymilk]

Quite. HS2 (rail) has also required the building of LS (road), which hasnot helped with cost. Although this was d9ne, in part, for CTRL, the road was not sealed, and you needed a 4x4 to drive it (which I did).

What are LS and CTRL?

 

[TheHSRailFan]

From a high up satellite imagery on Google Earth, HS2 does leave a scar across the country!

a bit off topic but I give you LGV Sud Europe Atlantique (2015 Vs 2017)

 

[Bald Rick]

What are LS and CTRL?

Sorry
LS = Low Speed
CTRL = Channel Tunnel Rail Link

 

[Geogregor]

Detailed flyover over different areas of delta junction:

 

[chris2]

Detailed flyover over different areas of delta junction:

Great progress at the south end particularly, and looks to me like the northerly ones are coming along faster than the first one did.

Does anyone know how they plan to build the spans across the main M42 / M6 toll motorway? Will they do an offline build and then slide / crane into place, or continue with the current method all the way over? I presume not the latter.

 

[The Planner]

Great progress at the south end particularly, and looks to me like the northerly ones are coming along faster than the first one did.

Does anyone know how they plan to build the spans across the main M42 / M6 toll motorway? Will they do an offline build and then slide / crane into place, or continue with the current method all the way over? I presume not the latter.

The ones over the M42/M6 link were slid I think.

 

[stuving]

The ones over the M42/M6 link were slid I think.

Yes, last year. The first one was a year a go: see post #171 for a timelapse.

 

[Snow1964]

Does anyone know how they plan to build the spans across the main M42 / M6 toll motorway? Will they do an offline build and then slide / crane into place, or continue with the current method all the way over? I presume not the latter.

I think it crosses at a shallow angle and is referred to as the Coleshill Box.

The support pillars either side of the motorway and an intermediate one are now under construction. They appear to be very long, guessing around 100m each, but staggered due to the intersection angle

Can't find a reference at the moment, but I think I have previously read it is a steel frame structure that will be moved into place on multi-wheel transporters. The suspension on each axle allows it to be lowered straight onto the bearings. Presumably assembled nearby then moved during a shortish motorway closure.

 

[stuving]

I think it crosses at a shallow angle and is referred to as the Coleshill Box.

The support pillars either side of the motorway and an intermediate one are now under construction. They appear to be very long, guessing around 100m each, but staggered due to the intersection angle

Can't find a reference at the moment, but I think I have previously read it is a steel frame structure that will be moved into place on multi-wheel transporters. The suspension on each axle allows it to be lowered straight onto the bearings. Presumably assembled nearby then moved during a shortish motorway closure.

There's another crossing of the M42 and M6 toll further north, by the two Water Orton viaducts, but there's no named structure involved. The viaducts just take a couple of very long steps to get over the carriageways, so how they are built will indeed be interesting to see. Can the segment-dangling method be used safely at this height over an open motorway and double the span? This is what it ends up like.

There is another box to the south of Delta Junction, at the NEC/Solihull:

The M42 Twin Box structure will carry the new HS2 line across the M42 near Birmingham Business Park and the NEC in Solihull. The new structure will measure approximately 300m length by 25m width and will cover around 130m of the M42. The structure will be built in position while keeping three lanes of traffic open on the M42.

In that case there will be transverse beams (295 of them!) craned into place between supporting walls. Coleshill is also called a triple box - presumably because it has a central part spanning the whole motorway, and part each side only across one carriageway. But the walls do seem to be built differently, so putting the lid on may be different too.

 

[swt_passenger]

This drawing I’ve linked to suggests that at the west end of the Water Orton viaducts there’ll be piers between the M42 carriageways, and also between the southbound M42 and the M42/M6 link.

(I think the drawing @stuving has included is a bit further round, crossing the A446 - please note that it shows a T junction with traffic lights.)

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7f462be5274a2e87db4dab/C223-CSI-CV-DPP-030-000020-FPD.pdf

I’ve also highlighted the details on a screenshot:

 

[stuving]

This drawing I’ve linked to suggests that at the west end of the Water Orton viaducts there’ll be piers between the M42 carriageways, and also between the southbound M42 and the M42/M6 link.

(I think the drawing @stuving has included is a bit further round, crossing the A446 - please note that it shows a T junction with traffic lights.)

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7f462be5274a2e87db4dab/C223-CSI-CV-DPP-030-000020-FPD.pdf

I’ve also highlighted the details on a screenshot:

You're right - and that does make more sense, so thanks for that. I was going by what is already being built, which shows two spans of nearly 90 m in each viaduct, where the usual is 45 m.

I chose the render as a better link than CGI video which does include the M42 crossing, though neither is very reliable as a technical source. But the video shows piers not just in the centre of the M42 but between that and the northbound M42/M6 link slip. On the ground that slip has already joined the M42 by the time it passes that first pier from the abutment. So it looks as if the northbound M42 is going to be shifted westwards by about 10 m, presumably to make more space to build the central piers.

The same arrangement of piers and lanes is shown (not to scale!) in "Water Orton Viaducts Design January 2021":

That document also says this:

Some spans will be built in a compound in land adjacent to the M42 on a temporary truss. During night time closures of the motorway these spans will be put in place using self-propelled modular transporters. This will help minimise the construction programme.

I guess that will be specifically for these spans over the M42 and slip roads, which answers the question raised by chris2.