Birmingham Interchange HS2 station

[absolutelymilk]

According to Rail Technology Magazine, full construction will only start in early 2026 - how long do people think it will take to build the (four platform) station?

HS2 Solihull: 15 Bridge Beams Installed at Interchange Station

Laing O’Rourke was awarded the contract to build Interchange Station last year, with design work currently underway. Balfour Beatty VINCI (BBV), HS2’s main works civil contractor for the West Midlands, is preparing the site for full construction to begin in early 2026.

 

[The Planner]

According to Rail Technology Magazine, full construction will only start in early 2026 - how long do people think it will take to build the (four platform) station?

HS2 Solihull: 15 Bridge Beams Installed at Interchange Station

Depends what you mean by build it? All the way to fitted out with car parks
etc or the platforms and buildings? 2 years minimum for the latter.

 

[absolutelymilk]

I was wondering both a) how long until it was completed enough that trains could run through it without stopping if needed and b) how long until trains could stop there

 

[The Planner]

I was wondering both a) how long until it was completed enough that trains could run through it without stopping if needed and b) how long until trains could stop there

it will open when HS2 opens, so at least 5 years.

 

[Nottingham59]

I was wondering both a) how long until it was completed enough that trains could run through it without stopping if needed and b) how long until trains could stop there

The central through lines and the lines serving the inner platform lines form a four track railway, so they would have to be built at the same time.


You could leave the outer tracks and the platform islands and fitting out the rest of the station until later, but it would add to the complexity of managing the build.

I'd be surprised if they do that. Stations are relatively cheap compared to new line. HS2 say Interchange will cost £370M at 2019 prices (so probably twice that in real money). But £370M is the cost of just 2km of new route. Far simpler to postpone all spending on Delta to Handsacre if they wanted to spread the spending across more financial years.

EDIT: Map of Interchange station from: https://www.gov.uk/government/publi...f-commons-select-committee-2016-west-midlands

 

[absolutelymilk]

The central through lines and the lines serving the inner platform lines form a four track railway, so they would have to be built at the same time.

View attachment 173859
You could leave the outer tracks and the platform islands and fitting out the rest of the station until later, but it would add to the complexity of managing the build.

I'd be surprised if they do that. Stations are relatively cheap compared to new line. HS2 say Interchange will cost £370M at 2019 prices (so probably twice that in real money). But £370M is the cost of just 2km of new route. Far simpler to postpone all spending on Delta to Handsacre if they wanted to spread the spending across more financial years.

EDIT: Map of Interchange station from: https://www.gov.uk/government/publi...f-commons-select-committee-2016-west-midlands

I realise that they would have to be built together, but presumably while they're building it, there is a stage where the station is safe to run trains through but not for them to stop at (like was the case with Bond Street on the Elizabeth line)? The reason for the question is that on another thread, someone suggested that Birmingham Interchange was on the critical path for HS2 opening.

 

[Nottingham59]

I realise that they would have to be built together, but presumably while they're building it, there is a stage where the station is safe to run trains through but not for them to stop at (like was the case with Bond Street on the Elizabeth line)? The reason for the question is that on another thread, someone suggested that Birmingham Interchange was on the critical path for HS2 opening.

I really don't know.

I can't imagine HS2 planning to do all the testing that would be needed on one configuration of network, and then choosing to do another set of testing to incorporate the changes that would come from bringing the platforms, the tracks, the platform edge doors, information systems, passenger flow trials, staff training etc. etc. into use at Interchange at different date from when those sub-systems brought into use at Curzon St.

But I might be wrong of course.

 

[absolutelymilk]

I was imagining the case where (given that construction is starting much later than Curzon Street) Curzon Street (and the rest of HS2) was ready a year or two before Interchange was. In that situation, would it be likely that the central through lines could be used while the rest of the station completes fit-out and testing?

 

[JamesT]

I was imagining the case where (given that construction is starting much later than Curzon Street) Curzon Street (and the rest of HS2) was ready a year or two before Interchange was. In that situation, would it be likely that the central through lines could be used while the rest of the station completes fit-out and testing?

Although it’s starting later, given it’s a much smaller station won’t Interchange be faster to build than Curzon Street?
I suspect the limitation on running any sort of operation will be Old Oak Common, which is large and complex and constrained by the live railway alongside.

 

[The Planner]

I was imagining the case where (given that construction is starting much later than Curzon Street) Curzon Street (and the rest of HS2) was ready a year or two before Interchange was. In that situation, would it be likely that the central through lines could be used while the rest of the station completes fit-out and testing?

If they wanted to they could, but I very much doubt Interchange is going to fall two years behind. Its a green field site without the constraints of Curzon St.

Although it’s starting later, given it’s a much smaller station won’t Interchange be faster to build than Curzon Street?
I suspect the limitation on running any sort of operation will be Old Oak Common, which is large and complex and constrained by the live railway alongside.

HS2 is underground effectively at OOC. The existing railway doesnt really interact.

 

[JamesT]

HS2 is underground effectively at OOC. The existing railway doesnt really interact.

I was thinking of the other half of the OOC station on the GWML. Won’t that need to be completed as well so there is somewhere to send the passengers coming off a HS2 train?

 

[Bald Rick]

I was thinking of the other half of the OOC station on the GWML. Won’t that need to be completed as well so there is somewhere to send the passengers coming off a HS2 train?

That will be finished well ahead of the HS2 side

 

[jhy44]

I do hope that the temporary narrow lanes and 50mph speed limit on this section of the M42 isn’t in place for years and years, it’s very unpleasant at the moment for those of us who have to drive on that section of motorway regularly due to the congestion and scarily close proximity to vehicles in the neighbouring lanes right now, and there’s no real alternative route other than a gridlocked one through Coleshill town.

 

[The Planner]

I do hope that the temporary narrow lanes and 50mph speed limit on this section of the M42 isn’t in place for years and years, it’s very unpleasant at the moment for those of us who have to drive on that section of motorway regularly due to the congestion and scarily close proximity to vehicles in the neighbouring lanes right now, and there’s no real alternative route other than a gridlocked one through Coleshill town.

Everytime I have had a reason to drive along there in the last few years there has always been narrow lanes. Either for the central barrier or that new junction. Id bet the HS2 work is finished sooner.

 

[Geezertronic]

It's been dog doo down that part of the M42 for a while. It's better now that Junction 5A has opened (better for me anyway) as M42 traffic does have a tendency to block the J6 island because of the M42 HS2 roadworks so taking the new A4545 route is preferable for me

 

[djox]

Does anyone know what this station will actually be called, is it Birmingham Interchange or just Interchange. Whilst it's not actually in Birmingham it sounds better than just being called Interchange with no geographical reference. I've also seen Solihull Interchange mentioned. In all of HS2 documents they just say Interchange whereas for Curzon Street they specifically say Birmingham Curzon Street. On Transport for West Midlands website they have gone with Birmingham Interchange.

Who gets to decide on these station names would it be TfWM like they did on Camp Hill line by opening it up to the public or would it be HS2 themselves?

 

[The Planner]

Does anyone know what this station will actually be called, is it Birmingham Interchange or just Interchange. Whilst it's not actually in Birmingham it sounds better than just being called Interchange with no geographical reference. I've also seen Solihull Interchange mentioned. In all of HS2 documents they just say Interchange whereas for Curzon Street they specifically say Birmingham Curzon Street. On Transport for West Midlands website they have gone with Birmingham Interchange.

Who gets to decide on these station names would it be TfWM like they did on Camp Hill line by opening it up to the public or would it be HS2 themselves?

Birmingham Interchange. You can see it on some of the road signs around there.

 

[djox]

Birmingham Interchange. You can see it on some of the road signs around there.

That's good to know, but is there any reason why HS2 in their documents and website just go by Interchange rather than Birmingham Interchange. For Curzon Street they do use Birmingham Curzon Street.

Stations

Four new train stations will be built between London and the West Midlands: Euston, Old Oak Common, Interchange and Curzon Street.

www.hs2.org.uk

 

[poffle]

If there's any renaming in that area I'd suggest it would be renaming Birmingham Airport to London Birmingham Airport.

 

[The Planner]

If there's any renaming in that area I'd suggest it would be renaming Birmingham Airport to London Birmingham Airport.

I really doubt that will ever happen.

That's good to know, but is there any reason why HS2 in their documents and website just go by Interchange rather than Birmingham Interchange. For Curzon Street they do use Birmingham Curzon Street.

Stations

Four new train stations will be built between London and the West Midlands: Euston, Old Oak Common, Interchange and Curzon Street.

www.hs2.org.uk

No idea, ask them?