HSL 3
Encyclopedia
The HSL 3 is a Belgian
high-speed rail
line. It connects Liège to the German
border near Aachen
. The line is 56 km (34.8 mi) long, of which 42 km (26.1 mi) are dedicated high-speed tracks.
The line was technically completed in October 2007, however it did not come into to operation until June 14, 2009, when ICE trains began service. Thalys
trains have been using the line since December 13, 2009. The gap between completion of the line and its actual use is due to difficulties in the implementation of the safety system ECTS level 2
, specifically, finding trains with ERTMS fitted.
Together with the HSL 2
and HSL 1
to the French border, the combined eastward high speed line has greatly reduced journey times between Brussels
, Paris
and Germany
. HSL 3 has cut Liège – Köln journey times from 1 h 23 min to 1 h 1 min. HSL 3 is used only by international Thalys and ICE trains, as opposed to HSL 2, which is also used for fast internal InterCity
services.
Trains leave the reconstructed Liège-Guillemins station
over the upgraded classic line, at speeds which progressively rise to 160 km/h (99.4 mph). Chênée marks the beginning of the dedicated high-speed tracks. The line crosses the Vesdre
river, then traverses the 6.5 km (4 mi) long Soumagne Tunnel
between Vaux-sous-Chèvremont and Soumagne
. This is the longest double-track tunnel in Belgium, and has a speed limit of 200 km/h.
The line then runs parallel to the E40 motorway
with a speed limit of 260 km/h; shortly after the village of Walhorn
, it passes under the E40 in a cut-and-cover section, and rejoins the regular line. Trains run on the upgraded classic line at 160 km/h (99.4 mph), pass over the Hammerbrücke viaduct (entirely reconstructed for the project), and cross the border 2 km further on.
Beyond the border, high-speed trains travel along upgraded existing rail lines to Aachen Hauptbahnhof
. Trains use left-hand running along this section (as in Belgium), switching over to right-hand running, which is common in Germany, at Aachen.
, the Belgian rail infrastructure manager, constructed the line through its subsidiary TUC Rail, who built the 36 km line between 2001 and 2007 at a cost of €830m, including ETCS
Level 2 signalling.
The most notable construction subproject is the 6505 metres (7,114 yd) long tunnel at Soumagne
, which is the longest railway tunnel in Belgium
. The bored section is 5940 metres (6,496.1 yd), extended by covered sections of respectively 177 and 388 m. Dozens of geological layers of differing hardness had to be tunnelled through, lime layers needing to be blasted through with dynamite. The tunnel reaches a depth of 127 m in some areas; it has an average ramp height of 1.7%, with a maximum of 2% at the entrance in Soumagne. The free space profile in the tunnel is approximately 69 m² (742.7 sq ft), which restricts speeds to 200 km/h (124.3 mph). The tunnel was built between 14 May 2001 and August 2005.
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
High-speed rail
High-speed rail is a type of passenger rail transport that operates significantly faster than the normal speed of rail traffic. Specific definitions by the European Union include for upgraded track and or faster for new track, whilst in the United States, the U.S...
line. It connects Liège to the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
border near Aachen
Aachen
Aachen has historically been a spa town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Aachen was a favoured residence of Charlemagne, and the place of coronation of the Kings of Germany. Geographically, Aachen is the westernmost town of Germany, located along its borders with Belgium and the Netherlands, ...
. The line is 56 km (34.8 mi) long, of which 42 km (26.1 mi) are dedicated high-speed tracks.
The line was technically completed in October 2007, however it did not come into to operation until June 14, 2009, when ICE trains began service. Thalys
Thalys
Thalys is an international high-speed train operator originally built around the high-speed line between Paris and Brussels. This track is shared with Eurostar trains that go from Paris or Brussels to London via Lille and the Channel Tunnel and with French domestic TGV trains. Thalys reaches...
trains have been using the line since December 13, 2009. The gap between completion of the line and its actual use is due to difficulties in the implementation of the safety system ECTS level 2
European Train Control System
The European Train Control System is a signalling, control andtrain protection system designed to replace the many incompatible safety systems currently used by European railways, especially on high-speed lines.- History :...
, specifically, finding trains with ERTMS fitted.
Together with the HSL 2
HSL 2
The HSL 2 is a Belgian high-speed rail line between Leuven and Ans. long, all of it dedicated high-speed tracks, it began service on 15 December 2002. As a part of the Belgian railway network, its formal owner is the Railway Infrastructure Fund...
and HSL 1
HSL 1
The HSL 1 is a Belgian high speed rail line which connects Brussels with LGV Nord at the border with France. It is long with 71 km of dedicated high-speed tracks and 17 km of modernised lines. Service began on 14 December 1997....
to the French border, the combined eastward high speed line has greatly reduced journey times between 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...
, 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...
and Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. HSL 3 has cut Liège – Köln journey times from 1 h 23 min to 1 h 1 min. HSL 3 is used only by international Thalys and ICE trains, as opposed to HSL 2, which is also used for fast internal InterCity
InterCity
InterCity is the classification applied to certain long-distance passenger train services in Europe...
services.
Route
Liège-Guillemins railway station
Liège-Guillemins train station is the main station of the city of Liège, the third biggest city in Belgium. It is one of the most important hubs in the country and is one of the 3 Belgian stations on the high-speed rail network...
over the upgraded classic line, at speeds which progressively rise to 160 km/h (99.4 mph). Chênée marks the beginning of the dedicated high-speed tracks. The line crosses the Vesdre
Vesdre
thumb|right|250px|The course of the VesdreThe Weser or Vesdre is a river in eastern Belgium, in the province of Liège, and is a right tributary to the river Ourthe. Its source lies in the High Fens , close to the border with Germany near Monschau...
river, then traverses the 6.5 km (4 mi) long Soumagne Tunnel
Soumagne Tunnel
The Soumagne Tunnel is the longest rail tunnel in Belgium, with a length of . Built on the HSL 3 line of the Belgian TGV service for Brussels-Liège-Cologne, the tunnel was completed in 2004. The new line was opened on 12 June 2009. The tunnel links the Liège conurbation with the Herve plateau at a...
between Vaux-sous-Chèvremont and Soumagne
Soumagne
Soumagne is a municipality of Belgium. It lies in the country's Walloon Region and Province of Liege. On September 1, 2008 Soumagne had a total population of 15,894...
. This is the longest double-track tunnel in Belgium, and has a speed limit of 200 km/h.
The line then runs parallel to the E40 motorway
European route E40
European route E 40 is the longest European route, more than long, connecting Calais in France via Belgium, Germany, Poland, Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Kyrgyzstan, with Ridder in Kazakhstan near the border to China....
with a speed limit of 260 km/h; shortly after the village of Walhorn
Walhorn
Walhorn is a village in the municipality of Lontzen, in the German speaking area of the province of Liège, Belgium.The HSL 3 passes immediately next to Walhorn....
, it passes under the E40 in a cut-and-cover section, and rejoins the regular line. Trains run on the upgraded classic line at 160 km/h (99.4 mph), pass over the Hammerbrücke viaduct (entirely reconstructed for the project), and cross the border 2 km further on.
Beyond the border, high-speed trains travel along upgraded existing rail lines to Aachen Hauptbahnhof
Aachen Hauptbahnhof
Aachen Central Station is the train station for the city of Aachen, in the far west of Germany near the Dutch and Belgian border. It is the largest of the four currently active Aachen stations, and is integrated into the long-distance network.- History :...
. Trains use left-hand running along this section (as in Belgium), switching over to right-hand running, which is common in Germany, at Aachen.
Construction
InfrabelInfrabel
Infrabel is a Belgian government-owned public limited company. It was created on 1 January 2005 from the split of the once unitary SNCB/NMBS. It builds, maintains and upgrades the Belgian railway network, makes its capacity available to railway companies, and handles the train traffic control. ...
, the Belgian rail infrastructure manager, constructed the line through its subsidiary TUC Rail, who built the 36 km line between 2001 and 2007 at a cost of €830m, including ETCS
European Train Control System
The European Train Control System is a signalling, control andtrain protection system designed to replace the many incompatible safety systems currently used by European railways, especially on high-speed lines.- History :...
Level 2 signalling.
The most notable construction subproject is the 6505 metres (7,114 yd) long tunnel at Soumagne
Soumagne
Soumagne is a municipality of Belgium. It lies in the country's Walloon Region and Province of Liege. On September 1, 2008 Soumagne had a total population of 15,894...
, which is the longest railway tunnel in Belgium
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...
. The bored section is 5940 metres (6,496.1 yd), extended by covered sections of respectively 177 and 388 m. Dozens of geological layers of differing hardness had to be tunnelled through, lime layers needing to be blasted through with dynamite. The tunnel reaches a depth of 127 m in some areas; it has an average ramp height of 1.7%, with a maximum of 2% at the entrance in Soumagne. The free space profile in the tunnel is approximately 69 m² (742.7 sq ft), which restricts speeds to 200 km/h (124.3 mph). The tunnel was built between 14 May 2001 and August 2005.