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Architect's impression of Birmingham Curzon Street Station – view of main station entrance.
Architect's impression of Birmingham Curzon Street Station.

Birmingham Curzon Street

Birmingham Curzon Street Station is set to become a key destination and thriving departure point as part of Britain’s new high-speed railway. Journey times between London and Birmingham will be nearly halved to just 49 minutes and trains will be able to continue on the existing rail network to destinations including Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow. The station will be the first brand new intercity terminus to be built in Britain since the 19th Century and will be net zero in operation.

49 minutes to London Journey times for London commuters will nearly half to just 49 minutes.

21st Century design The first new intercity terminus to be built in Britain since the 19th Century.

'Excellent' sustainability Recognised by the world’s largest building sustainability certification provider.

Artists impression of people inside the new Curzon Street Station.

Station design

Birmingham Curzon Street Station is set to become a key destination and thriving entry and departure point as part of Britain’s new high-speed railway. The building’s design is inspired by the great arched roofs built by the Victorian railway pioneers, and takes that inspiration into the 21st Century, ensuring accessibility and a focus on the open space and landscaping around it.

Passenger experience has been a key driver in the detailed design process, which incorporates a number of improvements to the station’s features. These include:

  • additional cycle parking
  • rainfall capture in planted areas, with landscaping, lighting, paving and seating spaces
  • better accessibility at pedestrian entrances
  • durable external ceramic tiling, and
  • a more unified internal layout of the eastern concourse which allows passengers to change platforms without leaving the ticketed area, enhancing the experience of people using the station.

The new station design focuses on accessibility and sustainability and is classed as ‘excellent’ by the world’s largest building sustainability certification provider, BREEAM. This classification is a result of the reduced energy usage, achieved through initiatives such as the use of LED lighting and solar panels, materials waste, and impact on the natural environment of the building.

As well as the modern features the seven-platform station also takes inspiration from the Victorian railway pioneers with its elegant arched roof. There is also an emphasis on open spaces with the design featuring four new public areas, including two squares and a promenade, as well as cycle parking for more than 550 bicycles and accessible pedestrian routes.

Once built, the station will strengthen Birmingham’s transport connections, support the regeneration of Eastside and Digbeth, and play a vital role in the long-term economic future of the West Midlands.

Read our latest news about Birmingham Curzon Street Station.

Station construction

Foundation works for the new Birmingham Curzon Street Station were started in January 2024 with installation of the 2,000 concrete columns beginning in October 2024. The majority of these columns will support the new station building and platforms above with a smaller number being used to create the main walls of the station basement, which will house operational facilities. The station building itself will start to be built in 2025 with the walls going up first followed by work on the concourse and roof. The internal fit-out of the station will start towards the end of 2025 and finish at the end of 2028 and operational testing and commissioning will run from summer 2026 to autumn 2028.

The project will create more than 1,000 jobs in its main works phase. This is part of a transformative investment in the West Midlands, with contracts worth £816 million awarded to local companies in 2022 alone – almost twice the economic value delivered by the Commonwealth Games. Birmingham City Council also intends to spend £724 million on regeneration through its Curzon Investment Plan. Taking place over three decades, the scheme is set to create several new neighbourhoods across almost 150 hectares, including up to 4,000 homes and 36,000 jobs.

Once operational, HS2’s Birmingham terminus will offer seamless connections to the local transport network, including buses and the Midland Metro, with a tram line running alongside and under the station.

New public spaces

The new station will feature four new public spaces, supporting travel, recreation and leisure:

  • Station Square: Station Square will create a new, green and attractive meeting place in the city that will provide easy links into the city centre and Digbeth, generating a sense of local pride and identity. It’s been designed as the ‘front door’ to the HS2 journey to and from Birmingham.
  • Curzon Square: This area will reflect its historic setting and buildings and complement the setting of Eastside City Park. It provides an enhanced setting for the Grade I listed former Curzon Street Station and Grade II listed Woodman pub. There will also be space for outdoor public events.
  • Curzon Promenade: Curzon Promenade is located along the northern side of the station and links with Eastside City Park. This area will be used by pedestrians and cyclists who are heading towards the bus and Sprint stops north of the station, the Knowledge Quarter and future canalside developments. We’ve designed Curzon Promenade to encourage people to stop and enjoy the vibrant, characterful landscape which is made up of garden spaces that extend downhill to Curzon Square.
  • Paternoster Place: As a gateway to Digbeth, Paternoster Place will provide a new, attractive pedestrian route and urban space that will open up a key link to the future regeneration potential of Digbeth. We’ve designed it to encourage activity and investment to Enterprise Zone sites.

Kick-starting regeneration

This state-of-the-art terminus will be at the heart of the region’s high-speed rail network. It will catalyse the creation of four new public spaces – including two squares and a promenade.

The station design is integrated with local public transport links, including the extended Midland Metro. Work will also be undertaken to improve pedestrian routes to local bus services, install Sprint rapid transit bus services, boost local train services, and create space for hundreds of bicycles.

Birmingham City Council’s Curzon Investment Plan will see £724 million spent on regenerating the area around the new station. The scheme will take place over 30 years, leading to the creation of several new neighbourhoods across almost 150 hectares, including 4,000 homes and 36,000 jobs.

The station is located on the doorstep of Digbeth, a neighbourhood once dominated by heavy industry and manufacturing. Having been home to a burgeoning metal works trade, as well as the Typhoo Tea factory and Bird’s Custard Factory, the area is now undergoing a renaissance with huge investment in creative industries, leisure venues and residential projects boosting footfall.

The rejuvenation of the local canal network is enhancing the appeal of new housing and providing new pedestrian links across core parts of the city.

Arts, culture and heritage

We’ve worked with Birmingham City Council to develop designs that respect the existing historic Old Curzon Street Station building, and also link it to the new station’s eastern concourse at New Canal Street.

Public space will surround the new station which includes the area around the Old Curzon Street Station building. The design of the space will enhance the setting of the station and recognise the heritage of the site, in particular, the historic track alignments of the former goods yard that used to lie to its east.

The feature gardens and new eastern concourse façade have also been designed to complement the architecture of the existing Old Curzon Street Station building.

Curzon Promenade, the public spaces surrounding the new station, and the decision not to divert New Canal Street all retain and frame important views of the old station.

Keeping you informed

Stay informed about the works

Stay informed about the works

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Managing impacts of construction

Managing impacts of construction

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Construction look-ahead

Construction look-ahead

Read our three-month look ahead for associated work in Birmingham.

Find out what HS2 means for Birmingham

This section provides you with information about HS2 works and developments in your area.

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