Engineers finish 2,011 piles for Curzon street station foundations

Construction of the HS2 Curzon Street station in Birmingham has reached a significant milestone with the completion of 2,011 reinforced concrete piles forming the foundations of the new high-speed rail terminus.

The piles, installed between September 2024 and early March 2026, range from 6 to 24 metres deep and provide the structural base required to support the large station building. 

Before piling began, engineers excavated approximately 47,000 cubic metres of material to create a level platform for construction. An 8-metre-high retaining wall was also installed at the western end of the site to stabilise the ground.

The piles were constructed using Continuous Flight Auger (CFA) piling rigs, which allow reinforced concrete to be installed efficiently while maintaining stability in the surrounding soil. In total, the station’s substructure will require 69,000 cubic metres of concrete and more than 19,000 tonnes of reinforced steel, making it one of the largest foundation works on the HS2 project.

Curzon Street station will extend over 400 metres between Moor Street Station and Millennium Point, serving as the city-centre terminus for HS2 services arriving from London.

The design includes seven platforms beneath a large arched roof, inspired by historic Victorian railway architecture. The surrounding public realm has also been designed to integrate the station into Birmingham’s urban environment.

Key elements include:

• A station square facing Moor Street Queensway with landscaped gardens

• A tree-lined promenade with terraces along the station’s side

• A second entrance toward Digbeth with taxi access and cycle facilities

• Integration with the West Midlands Metro extension, which will run beneath the station

The eastern entrance will also open onto a new public square facing the historic Old Curzon Street station, originally built in 1838, with additional gardens and terraces designed to complement the heritage building.