Japan’s high-speed rail experts travel to Birmingham to learn about HS2

The delegation from CJR viewing HS2's Curzon Street site from Birmingham City University

Ten experts from CJR travelled to HS2’s Birmingham headquarters where they learned how the company is developing the UK’s new high-speed rail network and what it means for the west midlands.

Under discussion during their visit was how HS2 will be run, including integration with the existing network for services to northern England and Scotland. The delegation also learned how HS2 is working with the aerospace and Formula 1 industries to deliver an extremely reliable and punctual passenger service, and how HS2 passengers will travel on some of the world’s most advanced high-speed trains.

During the visit, the CJR team saw the site where works are currently underway to prepare for Birmingham’s new HS2 station at Curzon Street.

Ben Rule, HS2’s Director of Railway Operations, said: “We were honoured to welcome Central Japan Railway to our Birmingham HQ. In developing HS2 we have drawn on the experiences of other countries’ investment in high-speed rail, and who better to have that dialogue with than the Japanese – the bullet train pioneers.”

He continued: “HS2 is capitalising on technology developed over the last 50 years, as well as developing new innovations, to deliver a 21st century high-speed rail network. It will deliver more seats, greater punctuality and shorter journeys, whilst freeing up space on the existing railway.”

The visit also gave opportunity for the CJR team to share their own experience of operating and investing in one of the most successful high-speed rail networks in the world.

CJR’s Shigeru Araki said: “The railway HS2 Ltd is delivering for the UK takes high-speed rail travel to the next level. It was exciting to see their plans coming to life at Curzon Street, which I’m sure will be a magnificent station for Birmingham and the whole west midlands.”

Organiser of the trip, Adrian Shooter, tells the CJR group about the history of the original Curzon Street station (in the background) as the Birmingham terminus of the London-Birmingham railway.