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Artist's impression of Birmingham Curzon Street Station.
Artist's impression of Birmingham Curzon Street Station.

Birmingham Curzon Street

Birmingham Curzon Street Station, which will be net zero carbon in operation, will be the first brand new intercity terminus station built in Britain since the 19th Century

Sitting at the heart of the high-speed rail network, it will give people more choice about where they live, work and play.

The station itself will be net zero carbon in operation and adopt the latest eco-friendly design and sustainable technologies, including capturing rainwater and utilising sustainable power generation, with over 2,800m2 of solar panels located on platform canopies.

It is designed to meet a ‘BREEAM excellent’ standard, which is an industry recognised standard for buildings that reduce energy usage and materials waste and minimise their impact on the natural environment.

Station construction

HS2’s contractor Mace Dragados Joint Venture (MDJV) have been in Stage One of the contract since 2021, working with HS2 Ltd to develop the detailed programme. Starting January 2024, they will deliver major earthworks to prepare the site for piling and foundations work in the Spring, with construction of the main station building due to start in the Summer.

During construction itself, hundreds of jobs will be created, including an estimated 100 new entrant roles, new apprenticeship positions and Restart scheme opportunities for unemployed people.

Work on the station façade will begin in Summer 2025, with construction of concourse steelwork and the roof due to start in Autumn 2025. The internal fit-out of the station will start towards the end of 2025 and finish at the end of 2028. Operational testing and commissioning will run from Summer 2026 to Autumn 2028.

HS2 worked with WSP and Grimshaw Architects LLP on the design for Curzon Street, which is inspired by the great arched roofs built by the Victorian railway pioneers. The design takes that inspiration into the 21st Century, ensuring accessibility and a focus on the open space and landscaping around it.

Once complete, HS2 will almost halve the journey time between London Euston and Birmingham to just 49 minutes, with trains running north via the existing rail network to destinations such as Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow.

Trains will approach Birmingham through a series of structures being delivered by HS2’s main works contractor for the West Midlands, Balfour Beatty VINCI (BBV). This includes the 3.5 mile Bromford Tunnel and a series of five connected viaducts from Washwood Heath, and over the existing Victorian railway line, Lawley Middleway and Digbeth Canal. The final approach to the station – Curzon Viaduct No.3, also being delivered by BBV, widens from a single deck to four separate decks, spanning 65 metres at the wideset point, to carry seven tracks to the platforms.

Find out more about our Curzon No.3 Viaduct

Station design

HS2 worked with WSP and Grimshaw Architects LLP on the design for Curzon Street, which is inspired by the great arched roofs built by the Victorian railway pioneers. The design takes that inspiration into the 21st Century, ensuring accessibility and a focus on the open space and landscaping around it.

Birmingham Curzon Street Station, which will be net zero carbon in operation, will be the first brand new intercity terminus station built in Britain since the 19th Century.

The station will deliver excellent connectivity to Eastside and Digbeth to enable wider regeneration in the area. There will be seamless connections to the local transport network including buses and the Midland Metro with a tram line running alongside and under the station, connecting the city with Digbeth.

The new high speed rail station is being built on the site of Birmingham’s 19th Century station at Curzon Street. HS2 archaeology has unearthed one of its key features, a train roundhouse, the oldest in the world. The designs will also incorporate the existing historic Old Curzon Street building and link it to the new station’s eastern concourse at New Canal Street.

Find out more about our Archaeology programme

The designs also improve access to different modes of transport, with the Midland Metro running alongside and underneath the station, pedestrian routes to local bus services, Sprint rapid transit bus services and other train services, and space for more than 250 bicycles.

Birmingham City Council’s Curzon Street 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.

New public spaces around the station

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.

BREEAM excellent Recognised standard for buildings that reduce energy usage and minimise impact on the natural environment.

Net zero carbon Net zero carbon in operation and adopt the latest eco-friendly design and sustainable technologies.

Capture rainwater Capturing rainwater and utilising sustainable power generation, with over 2,800m2 of solar panels located on platform canopies.

Artist impression of Curzon Street Station entrance.

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.

Kick-starting regeneration

We’re working with Birmingham City Council, Transport for West Midlands, Midland Metro Alliance, Network Rail and others to make sure that the station is well connected. Some of the key connections that will be provided include:

  • The tram line that will run alongside and underneath the station
  • A shared public space between Curzon Street and Moor Street stations to provide a simple and seamless connection between the two stations
  • Straightforward pedestrian routes allowing easy access to local bus services, Sprint (a rapid transit bus service) and onwards to other train services
  • ‘Station Square’ – a generous public space to be used as a destination and meeting space
  • Good public transport, walking and cycling links into Digbeth and to both the Knowledge Quarter and the central business district in Birmingham City Centre
  • Well-designed public spaces, including space for events and a seamless connection to Eastside City Park
  • Improved pedestrian and cycling links between Digbeth Conservation Area and Birmingham’s Knowledge Quarter.

We’re working with Birmingham City Council to see how our design can best allow for any future improvements to the public space between Curzon Street Station, Moor Street Station and New Street Station to provide a seamless connection between these major stations.

We know that good cycling facilities at the station are important to you, so we’ve made sure that cycle parking has been carefully considered in the design of the new station. There’ll be more than 256 spaces for bicycles, with allocated space for 300 more in the future if required. We’ll clearly mark cycle and pedestrian routes in public spaces to work as part of the Birmingham Cycle Revolution (BCR) programme.

The Curzon Street Masterplan outlines proposals for 141 hectares of regeneration. It covers the area that will house the HS2 Curzon Street station in Birmingham City Centre, along with £724 million in investment into the surrounding area. It envisages the creation of 36,000 new jobs, 4,000 new homes and 600,000 square metres of commercial development.

HS2 is boosting the region’s fast growing economy. Deutsche Bank, Jacobs Engineering and the retail banking arm of HSBC have relocated to Birmingham, with PwC significantly expanding its presence. Inward investment has created more jobs in the West Midlands than any other region outside London.

The West Midlands Combined Authority HS2 Growth Strategy has the potential to add £14 billion to the regional economy and support 100,000 jobs. HS2 is working with Birmingham City CouncilSolihull CouncilWest Midlands Combined Authority and regional stakeholders to ensure that the region achieves the full potential of HS2.

Read how investing in transport for growth will power the Midlands Engine.

What we're delivering for Birmingham Curzon Street

Old Curzon Street Station building

Old Curzon Street Station building

HS2 has announced the start of a major refurbishment project to restore the Grade 1 listed Old Curzon Street Station in Birmingham.

HS2 in the West Midlands

HS2 in the West Midlands

A comprehensive summary of the jobs, skills and supply chain benefits HS2 has already brought to the West Midlands can be found here.

Explore the In Your Area Map

Archaeology

Archaeology

The map displays information about our archaeological sites along the route.

Green Corridor

Green Corridor

The map displays information about our environmental sites along the route.

HS2 funded projects

HS2 funded projects

The map displays information about our funded community and business projects along the route.

Keeping you informed about our works

Stay informed about the works

Stay informed about the works

Find information about HS2 works and activities taking place in your area.

Managing impacts of construction

Managing impacts of construction

Find out information about how we manage construction impacts.

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.

Find out more

Further information

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