HS2 construction reaches key milestone in West Midlands

The High-Speed 2 (HS2) railway project connecting London and Birmingham has hit a major construction milestone, with over half of the required concrete now poured for structures between Leamington Spa and Birmingham.

November saw further progress in Warwickshire and the West Midlands, with the opening of a second crucial road bridge in Aylesbury and the completion of half of Burton Green’s ‘green tunnel’, an innovative feature designed to minimize environmental disruption by providing a green space above for the local community.

With 1.9 million cubic metres of concrete due to be used across the area, the one million cubic meters poured by 7 November pushes the project over the halfway line.

HS2 […] is set to ease the burden on current rail infrastructure by creating additional capacity for local trains

HS2, designed to cut travel times between England’s two largest cities, is set to ease the burden on current rail infrastructure by creating additional capacity for local trains. Currently, services by Avanti West Coast and West Midlands Trains share tracks on key stretches, leading to congestion and limiting the potential for additional services. HS2 will provide a dedicated route for high-speed trains, freeing up space on existing lines for local and regional rail traffic.

Originally envisioned to connect cities across the north of England, HS2 has faced setbacks. The Sunak government controversially scrapped the planned extension to Manchester in 2023, disappointing those who saw the project as a chance to remedy the UK’s regional inequalities.

Green Party co-leader, Carla Denyer, has argued that the London-Birmingham route […] risks turning Birmingham into a “commuter town” for London

Environmental advocates, including the Green Party, have voiced concerns over the impact of HS2’s construction. Green Party co-leader, Carla Denyer, has argued that the London-Birmingham route, which runs through ecologically sensitive areas, risks turning Birmingham into a “commuter town” for London rather than serving northern communities as originally intended.

The Greens stood in opposition to the project before revising their policy at their 2024 party conference.

Despite these challenges, HS2 remains a critical part of the UK’s transport future, promising a cleaner alternative to car travel and potential economic benefits. As construction progresses, the project’s impact on the West Midlands will continue to grow, with both opportunities and challenges as it reshapes the transport links between London and Birmingham.