Construction of Birmingham’s new HS2 Curzon Street station has taken a significant step forward with the installation of the first of more than 556 concrete beams that will form a critical part of the platform support structure.
The beams — some stretching up to 34 metres in length and weighing as much as 58 tonnes — are being carefully lifted into place to create a deck that will support the station’s seven high-speed platforms. Each reinforced concrete beam is precast off-site and transported to Birmingham as part of a tightly controlled logistics operation.
Major Progress Moves Above Ground
While much of the project’s early work has focused on subterranean foundations, the installation of these beams marks a visible shift to above-ground construction. It also demonstrates the sheer scale of the Curzon Street development, which will ultimately be enclosed beneath an arched roof comparable in size to London St Pancras International.
Earlier in March, HS2 Ltd confirmed the completion of all 2,011 foundation piles — a key milestone underpinning the station build.
Set to stretch approximately 450 metres between Moor Street and Millennium Point, the station will act as a major transport hub for Birmingham, offering seamless connections to the city centre, Digbeth, and Eastside. A new tram stop beneath the station will integrate with the ongoing West Midlands Metro expansion towards Digbeth and Birmingham City’s future stadium site.
Complex Engineering and Logistics
The station is being delivered by HS2’s construction partner, Mace Dragados, working in collaboration with specialist subcontractor MPB for the beam installation phase. Initial works are focused on the section where the tram line will run beneath the station, enabling early handover to the Midlands Metro Alliance for track installation.
HS2 Ltd’s Project Client for Curzon Street, Jonathan Berry said:
“We’ve been making good progress with the construction of the station, but up to now, it’s mostly been beneath the ground – focused on the piling and foundations that will underpin the building.
“That’s why it’s great to see the first beams in position as we begin to assemble the enormous deck that will support our seven high speed platforms. Once complete, Curzon Street will become a new gateway to Birmingham, offering easy access to the city centre and connections to onward destinations, via tram, bus and rail, improving journeys and supporting growth across the West Midlands.”
The platforms themselves will largely sit on a viaduct-style structure supported by 188 concrete piers. Together, these will form a 13,370 square metre deck — roughly equivalent to two football pitches — linking seamlessly with approach viaducts from the east.
Manufacturing and Delivery at Scale
The beams, ranging from 7 to 34 metres in length and weighing between 14 and 58 tonnes, are being manufactured by Shay Murtagh Precast in Ireland. Transport to Birmingham is carefully scheduled to minimise disruption, with deliveries typically taking place during early morning hours.
In total, the structure includes 488 U-shaped beams and 68 L-shaped beams. While most are installed using large crawler cranes, up to 120 beams located close to the existing railway require a more specialised approach.
These are placed using self-propelled modular transporters (SPMTs) — 96-wheeled vehicles capable of precisely manoeuvring the components into position. This method reduces risk near operational rail lines, allowing services into Birmingham New Street to continue uninterrupted.
Martyn Woodhouse, Project Director, Mace Dragados Joint Venture, said:
"Lifting these first beams into place is a major logistical and engineering achievement, and a testament to the coordination across our teams and supply chain. Each installation has been carefully planned to ensure it’s carried out safely and efficiently, particularly in such a constrained and operational environment.
This work is laying the groundwork for the platforms and brings us another step closer to delivering a world-class station for Birmingham.”
Foundations, Workforce and Next Steps
Beneath the station, extensive groundwork has already been completed, including more than 2,000 piles sunk between 6 and 24 metres deep by Mace Dragados and Keltbray. An 8-metre retaining wall has also been constructed, alongside excavation of 47,000 cubic metres of material to prepare the site for platform construction.
At peak construction, the Curzon Street project is expected to support over 1,000 jobs, both directly and across the UK supply chain. A new temporary office facility opposite Millennium Point will soon serve as the operational hub for the next phase of activity.
Looking ahead, the high-speed route linking London and the West Midlands will play a crucial role in increasing network capacity, enabling more freight and local services on the existing West Coast Main Line.
The wider HS2 programme is currently undergoing a major reset under Chief Executive Mark Wild, aimed at delivering the railway as efficiently as possible and at the lowest reasonable cost.
Image and Video Credits: HS2
