Understand
Twin Water Orton viaducts completed after major HS2 works
Overview
The longest HS2 viaduct structures in the Midlands, spanning 1,400 metres across the M42, have been completed in Water Orton, Warwickshire. Forming the upper section of the Delta Junction, the viaducts stand up to 20 metres tall and will carry trains over the motorway, the Birmingham to Peterborough rail line, and the River Tame.
Key points
- The twin Water Orton viaducts are the longest HS2 viaduct structures in the Midlands at 1,400 metres in length.
- They form the upper section of the Delta Junction, which acts as the railway's equivalent to Spaghetti Junction.
- The structures stand up to 20 metres at their highest point, crossing the M42, the Birmingham to Peterborough rail line, and the River Tame.
- Construction involved assembling pre-cast segments together continuously like Lego blocks by Balfour Beatty VINCI.
- The broader HS2 project has faced increased cost estimates ranging between £87.7bn and £102.7bn, with full services expected between 2040 and 2043.