HS2 has completed a series of major construction milestones across the route between London and the West Midlands, as the organisation continues its programme reset while maintaining a strong focus on safety, productivity and value for money.
In a project update, Mark Wilde, CEO of HS2, highlighted progress across tunnelling, stations, viaducts and earthworks, while reaffirming that safety remains the programme’s top priority for its workforce of more than 30,000 people.
Opening his update from site, Wilde said:
“I started my morning with the start of shift briefing with the SCS team just about 400 yards away from here. Really great to be amongst such energised colleagues focusing on their safety as they started their very busy day. Safety, of course, remains our number one priority across this whole programme.”
Productivity and Public Value in Focus
While HS2 continues to reset its programme, Wilde stressed that productivity and responsible use of public funding remain central to day‑to‑day decision‑making.
“Clearly we are resetting the programme, but while we do that, it's absolutely essential that every single day we maximise the productivity we get for the amount of public money that we spend.”
He added that the past year has delivered “many notable milestones” and confirmed that the current financial year has started strongly.
Major Construction Progress Across the Route
HS2 has now completed all tunnelling between Old Oak Common and Birmingham Curzon Street, marking a significant step forward for the project. At Curzon Street, around 2,000 piles have been installed to support the future station structure.
“If you go to Birmingham Curzon Street, you'll see a big change. 2000 piles have been installed that will eventually support the very impressive terminal station that will be built on top of it.”
At Delta Junction in Coleshill, near Birmingham, manufacturing of 2,700 viaduct segments has been completed, with visible progress continuing on site.
“If you travel in that area, you'll see these enormous progress that we're making with Delta Junction.”
Earthworks remain a major priority, with HS2 moving more than 24 million cubic metres of material last year and making a strong start to the current season.
“Huge earthworks challenge that we have. Last year we had a tremendous result. More than 24 million cubic metres of earth moved.”
Stations Taking Shape at Old Oak Common and Euston
At Old Oak Common, station structures are now emerging, with platforms already installed.
“If you look inside Old Oak Common now, you see a station emerging. The platforms are installed and very shortly you will start to see the structure emerging out of Old Oak Common.”
Meanwhile at Euston, preparations continue for the arrival of two tunnel boring machines, alongside extensive ground clearance works.
“Here at Euston itself, you can see great progress in clearing the ground for that very impressive terminal station that will be built here.”
Community Engagement and Programme Reset
Wilde also emphasised HS2’s engagement with communities affected by construction, noting more than 15,000 community interactions in the past nine months alone.
“I've personally spent a lot of time and understood their concerns, how we can help them.”
Looking ahead, HS2 expects to complete its programme reset by the end of the year, supported by the certainty provided by a four‑year funding settlement.
“We've always said, it's taking a couple of years to do this… because this reset will be the last time we do it to the end of the job.”
He concluded by reinforcing the organisation’s dual focus:
“Every single day, we are keeping safe and keeping productive.”
Image & video credit: HS2
