HS2 Construction Updates - Birmingham Area

[Fazaar1889]

And also a RailFocus one

Thanks! Am subscribed to both. They were informative! I'm a biochemist so the engineering aspects were new to me.

 

[bib]

Some drone shots of delta junction area and the approaches to Curzon Street

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 24 Jun 2024 ==

Quite a large stockpile of viaduct sections, I don't think they've actually started installing any of these yet.

 

[Snow1964]

New drone video of Birmingham area construction

 

[bib]

Looks like 5-track viaduct being constructed over the Birmingham-Derby line, I didn't realise quite how complex the track layout was going to be around there. I presume the 4-tracks going north from Interchange and the presence of the eastern stub complicates things.
Not sure if the plans have changed since 2016 but this shows the original plan for the north end of delta junction and eastern spur:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a807a4940f0b62302693be1/C223-CSI-CV-DPP-030-000008-FPD.pdf

 

[snowball]

View attachment 160967
Looks like 5-track viaduct being constructed over the Birmingham-Derby line, I didn't realise quite how complex the track layout was going to be around there. I presume the 4-tracks going north from Interchange and the presence of the eastern stub complicates things.
Not sure if the plans have changed since 2016 but this shows the original plan for the north end of delta junction and eastern spur:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a807a4940f0b62302693be1/C223-CSI-CV-DPP-030-000008-FPD.pdf

I don't think the plans have changed since those.

It's not so much the 4-track section from Interchange that dictates the complexity. It's more that it was designed to allow a Birmingham to NE train to run in parallel with a London to NW train, or a Birmingham-NW in parallel with London-NE, and the corresponding moves southbound. As a side effect of providing the bridges needed for that, the possibility was also created of certain pairs of parallel moves involving one fast line train and one slow line, both to or from the London direction.

Whether anything now comes of the NE arm remains to be seen, but probably not in my lifetime.

 

[Nottingham59]

I didn't realise quite how complex the track layout was going to be around there. I presume the 4-tracks going north from Interchange and the presence of the eastern stub complicates things.

. It's more that it was designed to allow a Birmingham to NE train to run in parallel with a London to NW train, or a Birmingham-NW in parallel with London-NE, and the corresponding moves southbound.

Yes. To get that flexibility, they needed three northbound tracks and three southbound tracks between the Delta Junction and the junction to the Leeds spur. The structure at 6m30s in the video is where HS2 crosses the main Birmingham-Derby line (DPB2) and it clearly in intended to have 6 tracks. This is good to see, as they could have cut some of that to save money, when the Leeds spur was cancelled.

The next question is whether they build the Leeds Spur diveunder, north of Faraday Avenue. Dropping it would save money in the short term, but without it adding the spur at a later date will be hugelydisruptive and expensive. Currently this is just a muddy field: the video at 3m30s shows construction terminating at Faraday Avenue. I wonder if they have deliberately chosen not to start building this section, just in case a future government changes its mind yet again?

Similarly, I note construction on the Fradley to Handsacre spur is not progressing, which would allow a future Transport Secretary to postpone Handsacre, or cancel it altogether, and build Phase 2a instead.

 

[snowball]

I've asked before whether work is still actively progressing on the bridge(s) under the A38 and slip roads at Streethay. It appears from this page on the HS2 site that it is.

https://assets.hs2.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Updated-A38-notice-AWN.pdf

Updated notice of A38 traffic management in Streethay
May 2024 | www.hs2.org.uk

High Speed Two (HS2) is the new high speed railway for Britain. Balfour
Beatty VINCI (BBV) is working in partnership with HS2 Ltd to build the
new high-speed railway in your area.
The design of the railway at Streethay was changed to a cutting during
the Parliamentary stages, to reduce the visual impact of HS2 in the area.
The construction of three bridges will enable the HS2 line to pass under
the A38 in a retained cutting. We constructed and installed Streethay
Overbridge (South Staffordshire Railway) in 2023. The construction of
the A38 Southbound Slip Overbridge is nearing completion prior to the
commencement of the A38 Rykneld Street Overbridge.

A38 southbound slip road to open on 24 June 2024
We will complete construction of the A38 Southbound Slip Overbridge in
June 2024. Due to recent adverse weather conditions and additional
utility design and construction works, we will be opening the A38
southbound slip road at Streethay on Monday 24 June 2024 at 5:30am.

A38 northbound slip road to close on 24 June 2024
To construct the A38 Rykneld Street Overbridge we will first build a
temporary diversion of a section of the A38, at Streethay. We aim to
complete and switch traffic onto the new temporary road diversion on
30 September 2024. We previously communicated that we would need
to close the northbound slip road for 20 months. We have reduced this
period to 15 months and will now require the following phases:
• Phase one: We will temporarily close the northbound slip road from
Monday 24 June until 30 September 2024
• Phase two: We will temporarily reopen the northbound slip from 30
September until November 2025
• Phase three: 10 month closure of northbound slip road from
November 2025 until September 2026
Our construction activities over this period will include piling works,
earthworks and bridge deck installation. Our working hours will be from
8am until 6pm Monday to Saturday. Some work will be carried out
overnight and on weekends, details are provided on the following page.

 

[Nottingham59]

I've asked before whether work is still actively progressing on the bridge(s) under the A38 and slip roads at Streethay. It appears from this page on the HS2 site that it is.

Good to see. That's still on the mainline though, isn't it?

 

[snowball]

Good to see. That's still on the mainline though, isn't it?

Yes, so needed for either phase 2a or the Handsacre link.

 

[Snow1964]

New drone video of HS2 site near Water Orton

 

[Nottingham59]

New drone video of HS2 site near Water Orton

Thank you. We seem to be looking at an HS2 compound over the top of the Bromford Tunnel, at its Eastern end.
Is it where the tunnel segemnts are being manufatctured?

 

[snowball]

If so, the road must be the B4118 Water Orton Road which goes over the M6 and then the parallel A452. In the video, the A452 must be hidden by trees. Streetview seems to confirm this by showing this skeletal bridge over the A4118 which seems to be the one in the video.

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

www.google.co.uk

(Link is to streetview)

 

[Nottingham59]

the road must be the B4118

Yes. The house that appears at 1m15s is a definite match.

EDIT: Some of the structures in shot were the on-site slurry treatment plant. See 5m29s in the HS2 video here:

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Thank you. We seem to be looking at an HS2 compound over the top of the Bromford Tunnel, at its Eastern end.
Is it where the tunnel segemnts are being manufatctured?

The tunnel segments for the Bromford tunnel are manufactured in Avonmouth, and transported to the tunnel portal at Water Orton site by road.
There is also a half-way vent shaft being constructed at Orton Way (not in the videos).

 

[Meerkat]

The tunnel segments for the Bromford tunnel are manufactured in Avonmouth, and transported to the tunnel portal at Water Orton site by road.
There is also a half-way vent shaft being constructed at Orton Way (not in the videos).

As Avonmouth is rail connected and there is a freight terminal right near Water Orton how come they are using road?

 

[takno]

As Avonmouth is rail connected and there is a freight terminal right near Water Orton how come they are using road?

I would guess at clearances. The tunnel segments are pretty big

 

[stuving]

As Avonmouth is rail connected and there is a freight terminal right near Water Orton how come they are using road?

The pre-cast factory at Avonmouth was built by Balfour Beatty to make the cooling water tunnels segments and outlets for Hinckley Point C. It has its own dock, for loading parts being sent by sea. Other areas at Avonmouth do have rail access, but they are not close by. No doubt new handling facilities would have been needed, if access to a siding could have been negotiated. Maybe 41,594 segments was not enough to justify the cost of that!

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

The pre-cast factory at Avonmouth was built by Balfour Beatty to make the cooling water tunnels segments and outlets for Hinckley Point C. It has its own dock, for loading parts being sent by sea. Other areas at Avonmouth do have rail access, but they are not close by. No doubt new handling facilities would have been needed, if access to a siding could have been negotiated. Maybe 41,594 segments was not enough to justify the cost of that!

Cement for the Hinckley Point C project is sourced from Padeswood in Flintshire (using local limestone) and is railed to Avonmouth.
I haven't seen a direct link to the HS2 project, but it is possible that Welsh cement is being used for the Bromford tunnel segments.
If so, there would be some rail content in the tunnel's construction.

 

[Geezertronic]

[PEDANT]Hinkley Point C not Hinckley[/PEDANT]

 

[snowball]

NR press release

Major engineering work to affect CrossCountry journeys next month

Rail passengers are being advised about changes to journeys over ten days in August 2024 while essential engineering work takes place in the Duddeston area of Birmingham.

www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk

Rail passengers are being advised about changes to journeys over ten days in August 2024 while essential engineering work takes place in the Duddeston area of Birmingham.

Major alterations to tracks will take place between 17 and 26 August as part of long-term improvements to the network, including preparations for HS2 – Britain’s new high-speed railway.

The work involves relocating a railway signal and moving a section of track across a new bridge at Duddeston Mill Road which has been built by HS2 and its contractor Balfour Beatty VINCI. The changes will allow HS2 to construct a new viaduct which will carry high speed trains over the existing railway and into Birmingham Curzon Street station in the future.

Between Birmingham New Street and Coleshill Parkway stations Network Rail engineers will also be replacing 450 metres of track and two 'crossovers' which are sections of track that enable trains to move from one track to another. A third crossover is being relocated to help improve the flow of trains through the area. These vital upgrades will help to make journeys smoother and more reliable for passengers and freight services.

The routes affected include services between:

Birmingham New Street and Leicester, Peterborough, Cambridge and Stansted Airport.
Cardiff Central and Birmingham New Street to Nottingham.
Scotland, the North East to Birmingham New Street and the South West.

Every effort is being made during construction to reduce the impact on passengers’ journeys, but the scale of this phase of work means the railway must be closed to trains over the ten days.

Patrick Cawley, director of ‘On Network Works’ for Network Rail and HS2, said: “Work to prepare for HS2 is progressing well in Birmingham and I'd like to thank passengers for their patience while we carry out this next phase of work to move tracks and a railway signal at Duddeston in August.

“If you're planning to travel while the railway is closed, please check your journey in advance with CrossCountry or by using the National Rail Enquiries website or app.”

Georgia Ehrmann, CrossCountry’s Regional Director for the West Midlands and North West, said: “I want to thank passengers in advance for their patience while our industry partners carry out this vital work to prepare for the arrival of HS2.

“We’d ask passengers planning to travel to Water Orton and Coleshill Parkway, or through the Birmingham area between 16 and 27 August to check before travelling and leave more time than usual for their journey.”

To keep passengers on the move, CrossCountry’s long distance trains will be diverted around the work but this will mean longer journey times.

Meanwhile the train operator’s regional services linking the East Midlands and Anglia with Birmingham will start and finish at Coleshill Parkway.

Replacement buses will operate between Coleshill Parkway, Water Orton and Birmingham New Street stations.

Improvement work will also be taking place over the weekends 10 to 11 August and 31 August to 1 September affecting CrossCountry journeys.

Motorists are being advised that during the major work, Coleshill Parkway station car park will be closed between Saturday 17 and Tuesday 27 August. Customers are being asked to remove all vehicles by the end of Friday 16 August.

 

[Snow1964]

Drone video of the section from Lichfield towards Birmingham.

 

[snowball]

Drone video of the section from Lichfield towards Birmingham.

In case anyone needs help with orientation, I've deduced that:

We start near Handsacre looking ESE along the route of the Handsacre spur towards the HS2 mainline.

We move ESE along the route of the spur.

1:30 we pass over A515

2:30 the road on our right, parallel to our motion, is Wood End Lane

3:45 Sadly, a jump cut forwards, before we have got close to the junction with the HS2 mainline at Fradley.

From now on we are looking SE along the HS2 mainline, with which the Handsacre spur has now merged

Traffic on the A38 is visible in the middle distance

Streethay road junction, north end of the A38 Lichfield bypass, comes in sight

5:00 I'm not sure what the concrete structure in the foreground is for. It's probably the NW end of the retained cutting which will pass under the A38, slip roads and Lichfield-Derby line.

5:00-5:25 We pass over the A38, then the route of the still temporarily closed off-slip towards Lichfield, then the bridge under the Lichfield-Derby line.

6:30 bridge under WCML at Huddlesford

7:13 U-turn and head back north

7:20 WCML bridge again

8:00 bridge under Lichfield-Derby line again

8:15 A38 again

9:05 In the distance we can see the future HS2 main line straight ahead with the Handsacre spur curving off to the left. A little bit of the main line beyond the divergence is, or was, included in the phase 1 works, or at least in the Act powers.

9:19 Jump cut back to the A38 Streethay road junction. This seems to be a more recent view as the southbound off slip seems to have been reinstated.

9:50 End

 

[Snow1964]

HS2 has released series of photos of the large concrete viaduct piers approaching Curzon Street (second link)

Seems they are also calling the bridge over existing rail line Bellingham bridge, after Jude Bellingham (a Real Madrid player, born in Stourbridge), but I don't see the connection to East Birmingham

HS2’s “Bellingham Bridge” takes shape in Birmingham

Giant piers completed for the 150-metre-long HS2 superstructure which will take high-speed trains in and out of Birmingham. Dubbed the “Bellingham Bridge” by the HS2 team after England footballer Jude Bellingham – the bridge is designed to celebrate the area’s industrial heritage and make a...

mediacentre.hs2.org.uk

HS2 News and Information - Media gallery

News and information from HS2 for the media

mediacentre.hs2.org.uk

EDIT
Just realised there is a drone video, and animation of the 4000t bridge being slid from Curzon no 1 viaduct in summer 2025

HS2 B-roll for media: Curzon No. 2 Viaduct piers complete (Summer 2024)

This is "HS2 B-roll for media: Curzon No. 2 Viaduct piers complete (Summer 2024)" by High Speed Two (HS2) Ltd on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos…

vimeo.com

 

[JamesT]

HS2 has released series of photos of the large concrete viaduct piers approaching Curzon Street (second link)

Seems they are also calling the bridge over existing rail line Bellingham bridge, after Jude Bellingham (a Real Madrid player, born in Stourbridge), but I don't see the connection to East Birmingham

HS2’s “Bellingham Bridge” takes shape in Birmingham

Giant piers completed for the 150-metre-long HS2 superstructure which will take high-speed trains in and out of Birmingham. Dubbed the “Bellingham Bridge” by the HS2 team after England footballer Jude Bellingham – the bridge is designed to celebrate the area’s industrial heritage and make a...

mediacentre.hs2.org.uk

HS2 News and Information - Media gallery

News and information from HS2 for the media

mediacentre.hs2.org.uk

Jude Bellingham did previously play for Birmingham City FC whose stadium isn’t too far away.

 

[Bald Rick]

Seems they are also calling the bridge over existing rail line Bellingham bridge, after Jude Bellingham (a Real Madrid player, born in Stourbridge), but I don't see the connection to East Birmingham

He played for the bluenoses just down the road.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Early main lines were often named after reigning royalty, who generally signed the acts for construction.
Austria had its Kaiser Ferdinand Nordbahn (Vienna-Bohumin), and Empress Elisabeth Westbahn (Vienna-Salzburg), and several others.
Savoy had the Victor Emmanuel* Railway (Culoz-Chambery-Turin-Novara), Bavaria its Maximilian Bahn (Ulm-Munich-Salzburg).
Princes and princesses often got into the act too (eg Kronprinz Rudolf Bahn in Austria).
Our equivalent today would be to name HS2 the King Charles Railway (or maybe Carolingian) when he opens it (assuming he does).
Britain never got royal patronage for its railway lines, bar several Victoria stations, but we already have an Elizabeth Line in London.

So far we have airports named after stars of pop music (John Lennon) and football (George Best).
Goodness knows what we will get if England win the footy on Sunday.

* who became the first king of a united Italy

 

[takno]

Early main lines were often named after reigning royalty, who generally signed the acts for construction.
Austria had its Kaiser Ferdinand Nordbahn (Vienna-Bohumin), and Empress Elisabeth Westbahn (Vienna-Salzburg), and several others.
Savoy had the Victor Emmanuel* Railway (Culoz-Chambery-Turin-Novara), Bavaria its Maximilian Bahn (Ulm-Munich-Salzburg).
Princes and princesses often got into the act too (eg Kronprinz Rudolf Bahn in Austria).
Our equivalent today would be to name HS2 the King Charles Railway (or maybe Carolingian) when he opens it (assuming he does).
Britain never got royal patronage for its railway lines, bar several Victoria stations, but we already have an Elizabeth Line in London.

So far we have airports named after stars of pop music (John Lennon) and football (George Best).
Goodness knows what we will get if England win the footy on Sunday.

* who became the first king of a united Italy

I think that (aside from Boris) we've moved on a bit from naming infrastructure after whichever oddball or chancer is currently wearing the fancy hat.

 

[Bald Rick]

Britain never got royal patronage for its railway lines, bar several Victoria stations, but we already have an Elizabeth Line in London.

And the Victoria Line, of course.

 

[takno]

And the Victoria Line, of course.

The Grand Duchess Metropolitan Bakerloo of Piccadilly has three named after her

 

[snowball]

We're in danger off drifting off topic.