HSL 1
Encyclopedia
The HSL 1 is a Belgian
high speed rail line which connects Brussels
with LGV Nord
at the border with France. It is 88 km (54.7 mi) long with 71 km of dedicated high-speed tracks and 17 km of modernised lines. Service began on 14 December 1997.
The line has appreciably shortened journey times, the journey from Paris
to Brussels
now taking 1:22. In combination with the LGV Nord
, it has also impacted international journeys to other cities in France
and to London
, ensuring high-speed through-running by Eurostar
, TGV
, Thalys PBA and Thalys PBKA trainsets.
The total construction cost was €1.42 billion. The signalling system installed is the French TVM-430 in-cab signalling system, the same as LGV Nord in France, and High Speed 1 in the UK.
the train passes the depot where inspections of Thalys and Eurostar trains may be carried out. At Halle
(km 13) the HST enters its own cut-and-cover section before crossing the Brussels-Charleroi Canal
; at km 17 the high speed line proper begins at the Lembeek
Viaduct, supporting 300 km/h speeds.
Between Rebecq
and Enghien
the line parallels the A8 autoroute, separated by a security fence. At Enghien the line parallels the regular Brussels-Tournai
line for approximately 10 km.
The maintenance depot "Le Coucou" is located near Ath
. This station served as the operations base during the construction of the line (from 1993 to 1998) and currently serves as the maintenance depot for HSL 1. Slightly further on is the 2005 m long Arbre Viaduct (one of the longest rail viaducts in Europe) between Ath and Chièvres
; it passes over the Ath-Blaton canal, the Dender River
, the Mons
road and the Ath-Jurbise
railway.
At Antoing
there is a connector to the Mons-Tournai
line, used by the Thalys between Paris and Namur
. After passing over the 483m Scheldt River
Viaduct, and through the 365m Bruyelle cut-and-cover section, the line crosses the Belgian-French border at Wannehain
, km 88. 11 km further on, the Frétin triangle splits the LGV Nord
towards Paris or Lille.
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
high speed rail line which connects Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
with LGV Nord
LGV Nord
The LGV Nord is a French 333-kilometre long high speed rail line, opened in 1993, that connects Paris to the Belgian border and the Channel Tunnel via Lille....
at the border with France. It is 88 km (54.7 mi) long with 71 km of dedicated high-speed tracks and 17 km of modernised lines. Service began on 14 December 1997.
The line has appreciably shortened journey times, the journey from Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
to Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
now taking 1:22. In combination with the LGV Nord
LGV Nord
The LGV Nord is a French 333-kilometre long high speed rail line, opened in 1993, that connects Paris to the Belgian border and the Channel Tunnel via Lille....
, it has also impacted international journeys to other cities in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, ensuring high-speed through-running by Eurostar
Eurostar
Eurostar is a high-speed railway service connecting London with Paris and Brussels. All its trains traverse the Channel Tunnel between England and France, owned and operated separately by Eurotunnel....
, TGV
TGV
The TGV is France's high-speed rail service, currently operated by SNCF Voyages, the long-distance rail branch of SNCF, the French national rail operator....
, Thalys PBA and Thalys PBKA trainsets.
The total construction cost was €1.42 billion. The signalling system installed is the French TVM-430 in-cab signalling system, the same as LGV Nord in France, and High Speed 1 in the UK.
Route
Trains leave Brussels-South station via a new viaduct completed in 2006 to separate high-speed services from local services. From there they parallel the traditional lines. At Forest/VorstForest, Belgium
Forest or Vorst is one of the nineteen municipalities located in the Brussels-Capital Region of Belgium.The town is commonly known for its concert hall...
the train passes the depot where inspections of Thalys and Eurostar trains may be carried out. At Halle
Halle, Belgium
Halle , is a Belgian city and municipality in the district Halle-Vilvoorde of the province Flemish Brabant. The city is located on the Brussels-Charleroi Canal and on the Flemish side of the language border that separates Flanders and Wallonia...
(km 13) the HST enters its own cut-and-cover section before crossing the Brussels-Charleroi Canal
Brussels-Charleroi Canal
The Brussels–Charleroi Canal, also known as the Charleroi Canal amongst other similar names, is an important canal in Belgium. The canal is quite large, with a Class IV Freycinet gauge, and its Wallonian portion is long. It runs from Charleroi in the south to Brussels in the north...
; at km 17 the high speed line proper begins at the Lembeek
Lembeek
Lembeek is a village with a population of 7 256 in the municipality of Halle, Belgium.-Location:It is situated to the south-west of the city of Halle, close to the 'language border' - the boundary between the Flemish Region and Wallonia....
Viaduct, supporting 300 km/h speeds.
Between Rebecq
Rebecq
Rebecq is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Walloon Brabant. On 1 January 2006 the municipality had 10,241 inhabitants. The total area is 39.08 km², giving a population density of 262 inhabitants per km².-Notable people:...
and Enghien
Enghien
Enghien is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Hainaut. On January 1, 2006 Enghien had a total population of 11,980. The total area is 40.59 km² which gives a population density of 295 inhabitants per km²....
the line parallels the A8 autoroute, separated by a security fence. At Enghien the line parallels the regular Brussels-Tournai
Tournai
Tournai is a Walloon city and municipality of Belgium located 85 kilometres southwest of Brussels, on the river Scheldt, in the province of Hainaut....
line for approximately 10 km.
The maintenance depot "Le Coucou" is located near Ath
Ath
Ath is a Belgian municipality located in the Walloon province of Hainaut. The Ath municipality includes the old communes of Lanquesaint, Irchonwelz, Ormeignies, Bouvignies, Ostiches, Rebaix, Maffle, Arbre, Houtaing, Ligne, Mainvault, Moulbaix, Villers-Notre-Dame, Villers-Saint-Amand, Ghislenghien...
. This station served as the operations base during the construction of the line (from 1993 to 1998) and currently serves as the maintenance depot for HSL 1. Slightly further on is the 2005 m long Arbre Viaduct (one of the longest rail viaducts in Europe) between Ath and Chièvres
Chièvres
Chièvres is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Hainaut. On January 1, 2006 Chièvres had a total population of 6,198. The total area is 46.91 km² which gives a population density of 132 inhabitants per km²....
; it passes over the Ath-Blaton canal, the Dender River
Dender
The Dendre or Dender is a 65 km long river in Belgium, right tributary of the river Scheldt. The confluence of both rivers is in the Belgian town Dendermonde....
, the Mons
Mons
Mons is a Walloon city and municipality located in the Belgian province of Hainaut, of which it is the capital. The Mons municipality includes the old communes of Cuesmes, Flénu, Ghlin, Hyon, Nimy, Obourg, Baudour , Jemappes, Ciply, Harmignies, Harveng, Havré, Maisières, Mesvin, Nouvelles,...
road and the Ath-Jurbise
Jurbise
Jurbise is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Hainaut. On 1 January 2006 the municipality had 9,571 inhabitants. The total area is 57.86 km², giving a population density of 165 inhabitants per km²....
railway.
At Antoing
Antoing
Antoing is a Walloon municipality of Belgium located in the province of Hainaut. It consists of the former municipalities of Antoing, Maubray, Péronnes-lez-Antoing, Bruyelle, Calonne and Fontenoy.-History:...
there is a connector to the Mons-Tournai
Tournai
Tournai is a Walloon city and municipality of Belgium located 85 kilometres southwest of Brussels, on the river Scheldt, in the province of Hainaut....
line, used by the Thalys between Paris and Namur
Namur (city)
Namur is a city and municipality in Wallonia, in southern Belgium. It is both the capital of the province of Namur and of Wallonia....
. After passing over the 483m Scheldt River
Scheldt
The Scheldt is a 350 km long river in northern France, western Belgium and the southwestern part of the Netherlands...
Viaduct, and through the 365m Bruyelle cut-and-cover section, the line crosses the Belgian-French border at Wannehain
Wannehain
-References:*...
, km 88. 11 km further on, the Frétin triangle splits the LGV Nord
LGV Nord
The LGV Nord is a French 333-kilometre long high speed rail line, opened in 1993, that connects Paris to the Belgian border and the Channel Tunnel via Lille....
towards Paris or Lille.
See also
- High-speed rail in BelgiumHigh-speed rail in BelgiumBelgium has a high-speed rail network providing mostly international connections from Brussels to France, Germany and The Netherlands. The high-speed network began with the opening of the HSL 1 to France in 1997, since then high-speed lines have been expanded towards Germany with HSL 2 in 2002, HSL...
- High Speed 1 — similarly named line in the UK
- LGV NordLGV NordThe LGV Nord is a French 333-kilometre long high speed rail line, opened in 1993, that connects Paris to the Belgian border and the Channel Tunnel via Lille....