Production has begun at HS2’s giant viaduct segment factory in Kingsbury, Warwickshire. The factory will produce 2,742 concrete segments that will be used to build the Delta Junction, a triangle-shaped series of viaducts that will take high-speed trains between London, the Midlands, and the North.
The segments are each 3.5 metres high and 7 or 11 metres wide, and weigh up to 80 tonnes. They are being made using a pre-cast method, which involves pouring concrete into moulds and then curing it. The segments are then transported to the construction site by road or rail.
A 54 metre-long gantry crane lifts each segment during the manufacturing cycle, ahead of their onward transport to nearby Water Orton and Coleshill ready for on-site assembly.
The factory is located on a 55,000 square metre site and is also home to a Skills Academy, which is providing training to local people in construction and engineering skills.
The Delta Junction is a key part of the HS2 project and once complete, will allow trains to travel between the Birmingham Curzon Street Station terminus and the North, and between Curzon Street and the South. The junction will also connect HS2 to the existing West Coast Main Line.
HS2 Senior Project Manager for Delta Junction, Panos Psathas said: “We’re pleased to see this next milestone on the Midlands section of HS2, as the first segments come off the production line, ready for the BBV team to start building the viaducts next year.
“The Kingsbury pre-cast segment factory is a major HS2 site in the Midlands, supporting around 1,000 jobs. Importantly, it’s also home to BBV’s Skills Academy, providing training opportunities across a whole range of disciplines for people in the region.”
The factory is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2023. The first segments will be used to build the River Tame West viaduct near Water Orton. Construction of the substructures supporting the viaduct deck started earlier this year, with deck construction set to start by the end of 2023.
The completion of the Delta Junction is scheduled for 2029. Once complete, it will be one of the largest viaducts in the UK.
Photo Credit: HS2
Want to know more about the opportunities to become a key supplier to the UK rail industry? Attend TransCityRail and access an exclusive marketplace of buyers from Network Rail, HS2, Train Operators, Major Contractors, and all other tiers of the supply chain. For more information and to secure your place click here.
