Midlands’ longest single span railway bridge provides key part in HS2 jigsaw

Tracks recently reopened on the Stechford to Aston freight line in Birmingham following the installation of a 2,600-tonne bridge by Skanska in partnership with Network Rail and HS2.

Situated near Birmingham City Centre, at 92 metres long, the steel and concrete structure becomes the longest single span railway bridge in the Midlands.

It replaces an old nine-span viaduct and provides uninterrupted clearance below which will enable new track to allow HS2 trains to access the Washwood Heath depot. The installation stage of the two-year long project closed an important connection to Birmingham rail freight terminal for just 23 days.

The structure, known as SAS 13, was pre-assembled on site and driven into place by remote-controlled vehicles. Building it on site reduced carbon emissions and cut the number of lorry movements on local roads, minimising impacts on the local community.

Patrick Cawley, director for On Network Works for Network Rail and HS2, said, “Seeing the first train pass over this iconic structure is a proud moment for the hundreds of people who’ve worked throughout the pandemic to make this new bridge a reality.

“It’s also a key part of the jigsaw to ensure the existing railway network works in harmony with HS2. I’m conscious this work has disrupted some passenger journeys over recent weeks and I’d like to thank CrossCountry customers for their patience while we carried out this major project.”

Rosario Barcena, Skanska Rail programme director, added, "Installing a railway bridge over an existing railway line is a complex engineering project that requires a huge amount of skill and dedication from all those involved. To have delivered this on time and despite of Covid-19 restrictions is a fantastic achievement and testament to the team involved."