News

• HS2 has been granted Schedule 17 approval by Birmingham City Council for its maintenance facility and main control centre for the whole HS2 network.
• Washwood Heath Depot, the operational heart of HS2, is set to create over 550 jobs in the local area.
• Design images here: https://mediacentre.hs2.org.uk/resources/f/construction/washwood-heath-depot-and-network-control-centre/cgis-5

• Two giant tunnelling machines – named ‘Florence’ and ‘Cecilia’ – pass halfway mark during excavation of the 10 mile long Chiltern tunnels
• 1.3 million cubic metres of material – enough to fill more than 500 Olympic sized swimming pools – excavated during first 5 miles

• The 2.1 mile (3.4km) Colne Valley Viaduct will be 100m longer than Dundee’s Tay Bridge, which currently holds the title.
• Download the latest images showing the design and construction of the Colne Valley Viaduct.

HS2’s construction partner, Eiffage, Kier, Ferrovial Construction and BAM Nuttall (EKFB), is launching an employment scheme to help local people who are out of work develop new skills and progress into paid employment.

• First iconic pier revealed for HS2’s 300 metres long Curzon viaduct, which will bring high speed trains into Birmingham city centre
• Embedded carbon in the piers reduced by 60% through eco-friendly by-product from the steel industry
• New images reveal the big construction milestone for HS2 in the Midlands: https://mediacentre.hs2.org.uk/resources/f/construction/birmingham-viaducts/curzon-viaduct-no-3 
• Watch a video here:  https://youtu.be/GVyQmQIIC8E 

• Around 200 pistol and musket ball marks discovered on the medieval gatehouse of Coleshill Manor in what could have been the first skirmish of the Civil War
• New findings uncovered by HS2 archaeologists are not recorded in any historical records
• Fascinating discovery features on Digging for Britain, with Professor Alice Roberts, on BBC Two and iPlayer