Birmingham Curzon Street Station Contract

On 11 May 2021, HS2 Ltd confirmed that a team made up of Mace and Dragados will build Birmingham’s new city centre high speed railway station, in a deal that is set to further boost the West Midlands economy. The deal worth up to 570 million GBP will see Mace Dragados work with HS2 Ltd in two stages to finalise the detailed design and then build the landmark station.

The station itself will be net zero carbon in operation and adopt the latest eco-friendly design and sustainable technologies, including capturing rainwater and utilising sustainable power generation, with over 2,800 m² of solar panels located on platform canopies. It is designed to meet a ‘BREEAM excellent’ standard, which is an industry recognised standard for buildings that reduce energy usage and materials waste and minimise their impact on the natural environment.

Mace and Dragados have a strong track record delivering some of the world’s most complex infrastructure projects, including the refurbishment of Birmingham New Street, Battersea Power Station (phase 2) and work on delivering the Spanish high speed rail network, including the new Madrid Atocha and Barcelona Sants stations. They are also working together in a separate joint venture delivering HS2’s London terminus at Euston.

HS2 worked with WSP and Grimshaw Architects LLP on the design for Curzon Street, which is inspired by the great arched roofs built by the Victorian railway pioneers. The design takes that inspiration into the 21st Century, ensuring accessibility and a focus on the open space and landscaping around it. Passengers will also be able to access up to nine high speed trains an hour travelling north and south, and the Midland Metro - which runs alongside and underneath the station. Accessible pedestrian routes will connect to local bus services, Sprint rapid transit bus services and local rail services from the neighbouring Moor Street station. Cycle parking has also been incorporated, providing space for more than 550 bicycles.

Significant progress has already been made on site at Curzon Street. Site clearance is now complete and a massive archaeological programme, involving 70 archaeologists, has unearthed the world’s oldest railway roundhouse.