Curzon Street approach viaducts
Connecting to the heart of Birmingham
The Curzon Street approach viaducts will carry HS2 trains into Birmingham city centre. They form the final section of elevated railway before services arrive at Birmingham Curzon Street station.
The approach spans more than 1.5 kilometres and includes five key viaducts: Duddeston Junction, Curzon 1, Curzon 2, Lawley Middleway and Curzon 3. Together, they navigate Birmingham’s historic industrial landscape, crossing existing rail corridors, waterways and major roads before connecting with the new terminus.
Five structures working together
We’ve engineered each structure to respond to its specific urban setting while forming part of a continuous elevated route into the station.
One of the most significant elements is the 150-metre Curzon 2 viaduct. This eye-catching bridge crosses the Cross-City line near Duddeston and will be lit up with a unique light installation by artist Liz West titled ‘Out of the Blue’.
Engineering and construction
Building more than 1.5 kilometres of elevated railway through an active city presents unique challenges.
The Duddeston Junction viaduct must span existing freight and passenger rail lines without interrupting operations. This 375 metre long structure will be assembled in section before being slid out over the railway.
The Curzon 1 viaduct crosses the River Rea, threading carefully between the existing railway and local businesses.
High-speed rail infrastructure
The Curzon 2 viaduct is the tallest viaduct on the HS2 project. Assembled on top of the piers for the Curzon 1 viaduct, the 25m high weathering steel truss will be slid into position across the adjacent Cross-City line in Summer 2026.
The next structure is the 112-metre-long Lawley Middleway viaduct which was also assembled off site. It was slid out over part of Birmingham’s ring road in Summer 2025.
The final structure before the station is the Curzon 3 viaduct. At this point, the structures widen from a single deck to four separate decks, spanning 65 metres at the widest point, as the railway splits to enter Curzon Street’s seven platforms.
The structures use reinforced concrete decks supported by in-situ piers and deep piled foundations. Their alignment meets the demanding tolerances required for high-speed operation as trains slow down approaching the terminus.
A new skyline to Birmingham
When complete, the Curzon Street approach viaducts will form the final elevated gateway into HS2’s Birmingham terminus. They’ll be a visible symbol of the city’s central role in Britain’s new high-speed network.
Together with Birmingham Curzon Street station, they’ll:
- improve connections between Birmingham, London and the North
- increase rail capacity, allowing more trains and passengers to use the network
- support economic growth and job creation
- help transform east Birmingham
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