RCTS – West Midlands Branch Meeting Report September 21st 2026 – Coventry
Our first speaker of the 2026 / 2027 season was Richard Clifford who presented ”HS2 Construction from the Air”. Richard began with the concept and outline of its construction. As we all know the route has become truncated due to its cost and change in governments. It has now become a third main line from London to Birmingham with no precise knowledge of when it will be completed although several possible dates have been put forward.
The line follows fairly closely to the former GWR and Chiltern main lines from Marylebone and Paddington. It will currently terminate at Old Oak Common before the underground section to Euston is completed. Richard looked in detail at local developments particularly those near Coventry at Burton Green where a ‘Green’ tunnel is nearing completion. Some houses were lost near here, one local resident in the audience added some detail of the upheaval caused although a new Village Hall / Community Centre has been provided and funded by HS2 Ltd. The track and tunnel at Burton Green follows the alignment of the former double trackbed of the Kenilworth to Berkswell line which closed on March 3rd 1969. Of interest there was a siding in which the Royal Train was sometimes stabled overnight.
We were treated to many drone images various stages of construction. The architecture and engineering in the Birmingham is fascinating where it competes roads, existing railways, motorways and canals.
The whole environment is suffering and nature will no doubt take manyy years to recover. As railway enthusiasts we all wish the project every success. We thanked Richard for a very informative and interesting talk.
