Work will formally begin on the Curzon Street city centre station next year

Work to build the Birmingham terminus on the HS2 line is set to begin in the new year.

Curzon Street is a key part of phase one of the high-speed rail project, with the first services expected to run between Birmingham and London between 2029 and 2033.

Phase two of the route up to Manchester was scrapped in October.

Contracts worth a total of about £5bn will be awarded by HS2 Ltd covering the construction of the Curzon Street.

A 10-mile long twin-bore tunnel being dug under the Chiltern Hills is also on track to be finished next year.

This year saw the completion of a twin-bore tunnel beneath Long Itchington Wood in Warwickshire.

The tunnels will allow trains to travel through the Midlands

Work also began on platform installation at the new Old Oak Common station in west London, while construction of the Colne Valley Viaduct just outside north-west London has passed the high-way milestone.

Projects relating to many of the contracts awarded by HS2 Ltd are expected to begin in 2026 and 2027 when main civil engineering work reaches its conclusion.

HS2 is expected cut Birmingham to London journey times from one hour 21 minutes, to 52 minutes.

HS2 Ltd executive chair Sir Jon Thompson said: "This is a project of phenomenal scale and ambition, and we're immensely proud of the progress made between London and the West Midlands throughout 2023.

"There will be no let-up in delivery in 2024."