HS2 has unveiled enhanced designs for Birmingham Curzon Street Station, with a focus on improving passenger experience, accessibility, and the overall station layout.
The revised designs incorporate additional cycle parking, improved accessibility, and rain gardens featuring seating areas. Furthermore, the internal layout has been simplified to make navigation easier for passengers.
The materials used in construction have also been updated to improve efficiency and reduce long-term maintenance.
Birmingham City Council originally granted consent for the station in 2020, based on an outline scheme. Since then, HS2’s appointed construction partner, Mace Dragados Joint Venture (MDJV), along with Arcadis and WSP Joint Venture and Grimshaw architects, has worked on refining the design.
The proposed revisions will be submitted to the council for approval by late 2024.
The station design draws inspiration from Victorian-era arched roofs, blending historical elements with 21st-century features. It aims to create a vibrant, accessible space, with a focus on the surrounding open areas and landscaping.
Specific improvements to the design include increased cycle parking, rainwater capture through planted areas, better pedestrian access, and ceramic tiling for the exterior, which ensures durability.
The internal layout of the eastern concourse has also been optimised, allowing easier platform changes within the ticketed area, enhancing passenger flow.
What’s more, the southern entrance has been redesigned to create a more welcoming experience, with improved links to the Digbeth area. A covered space, simplified façades with graffiti-resistant ceramic tiling, and improved pedestrian access are among the changes.
Additionally, updates to construction materials aim to ensure long-term durability, including a switch from timber to aluminium for the station roof, improving fire safety and reducing maintenance costs.
Construction at the site is already underway, with major earthworks in progress. Foundation work is expected to begin in autumn 2024, with the main station structure set to follow next year.
