HSL 2
Encyclopedia
The HSL 2 is a Belgian
high-speed rail line
between Leuven
and Ans
. 64 km (40 mi) 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. It is operated and maintained by Infrabel
.
Now the extension to the German border is complete (the HSL 3
), the combined eastward high speed line has greatly accelerated journeys between Belgium
and Germany
. HSL 2 is currently used by Thalys
and ICE
trains as well as fast internal InterCity
services.
From Brussels-South, trains travel northwards over Line 0 through Central and North
stations. At Schaarbeek
the route splits in two; northward bound trains continue over line 25/27 (later, line 25N) to Antwerp and from there over HSL 4
) to the Dutch border, eastward bound trains continue over line 36/36N to Liège and from there over line 37 and HSL 3
) to the German border. Between Schaarbeek and Leuven
there are four tracks; the two central tracks (line 36N) were planned for 200 km/h (124 mph) direct service, the two outer tracks (line 36) for slower local trains. But the four tracks have platforms at each station and they permit 160 km/h (99 mph) speeds for now.
At Leuven, trains pass through the existing station at 160 km/h (99 mph). Just outside, HSL 2 proper commences with a speed initially limited to 200 km/h (124 mph). After the Bierbeek
tunnel (758 m), maximum speed is increased to 300 km/h (186 mph) alongside the E40
motorway. Over the last few kilometers, curbing away from the E40, speed is limited to 220 km/h (137 mph). After quitting HSL 2, trains pass through Ans station at 140 km/h (87 mph). Between Ans
and Liège-Guillemins station, passenger trains run on the modernised line 36 at a speed of 70 (downwards to Liège) or 140 km/h (87 mph) (EMU's upwards to Ans).
3M EMU
's and 200 km/h (124 mph) domestic InterCity services run by sets of Class 13
locomotives with I11
carriages. Trains with the new SNCB Class 18
locomotives will appear on the line, probably in 2010.
Maintenance bases for the line are situated at Leuven
and Ans
.
The Belgian cabin signaling system TBL 2 has been installed on the HSL 2. It is operated from Block 12 in Brussels.
HSL 2 is standard gauge
, double track
, electrified
at 25 kV, 50 Hz AC
.
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
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...
between Leuven
Leuven
Leuven is the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish Region, Belgium...
and Ans
Ans
Ans is a small Belgian municipality located in the Walloon province of Liège. On January 1, 2006 Ans had a total population of 27,322. The total area is 23.35 km² which gives a population density of 1,170 inhabitants per km²...
. 64 km (40 mi) 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. It is operated and maintained by Infrabel
Infrabel
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. ...
.
Now the extension to the German border is complete (the HSL 3
HSL 3
The HSL 3 is a Belgian high-speed rail line. It connects Liège to the German border near Aachen. The line is long, of which are dedicated high-speed tracks....
), the combined eastward high speed line has greatly accelerated journeys between 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...
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 2 is currently used by 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...
and ICE
InterCityExpress
The Intercity-Express or ICE is a system of high-speed trains predominantly running in Germany and neighbouring countries. It is the highest service category offered by DB Fernverkehr and is the flagship of Deutsche Bahn...
trains as well as fast internal InterCity
InterCity
InterCity is the classification applied to certain long-distance passenger train services in Europe...
services.
Route
Brussels-North railway station
Bruxelles-Nord / Brussel-Noord is one of the three major railway stations in Brussels; the other two are Brussels Central and Brussels South...
stations. At Schaarbeek
Schaarbeek
Schaerbeek or Schaarbeek is one of the nineteen municipalities located in the Brussels-Capital Region of Belgium. The first mention of the name was Scarenbecca, recorded in a document from the Bishop of Cambrai in 1120...
the route splits in two; northward bound trains continue over line 25/27 (later, line 25N) to Antwerp and from there over HSL 4
HSL 4
The HSL 4 is a Belgian high-speed rail line which connects Brussels to the Dutch border. 87 km long , it was scheduled for completion by 2007.Together with the HSL 1 to the French border and HSL-Zuid to Amsterdam, the line has shortened journeys between Brussels,...
) to the Dutch border, eastward bound trains continue over line 36/36N to Liège and from there over line 37 and HSL 3
HSL 3
The HSL 3 is a Belgian high-speed rail line. It connects Liège to the German border near Aachen. The line is long, of which are dedicated high-speed tracks....
) to the German border. Between Schaarbeek and Leuven
Leuven
Leuven is the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish Region, Belgium...
there are four tracks; the two central tracks (line 36N) were planned for 200 km/h (124 mph) direct service, the two outer tracks (line 36) for slower local trains. But the four tracks have platforms at each station and they permit 160 km/h (99 mph) speeds for now.
At Leuven, trains pass through the existing station at 160 km/h (99 mph). Just outside, HSL 2 proper commences with a speed initially limited to 200 km/h (124 mph). After the Bierbeek
Bierbeek
Bierbeek is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant. The municipality comprises the towns of Bierbeek proper, Korbeek-Lo, Lovenjoel and Opvelp. On January 1, 2006 Bierbeek had a total population of 9,147. The total area is 39.73 km² which gives a population density of 230...
tunnel (758 m), maximum speed is increased to 300 km/h (186 mph) alongside the E40
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....
motorway. Over the last few kilometers, curbing away from the E40, speed is limited to 220 km/h (137 mph). After quitting HSL 2, trains pass through Ans station at 140 km/h (87 mph). Between Ans
Ans
Ans is a small Belgian municipality located in the Walloon province of Liège. On January 1, 2006 Ans had a total population of 27,322. The total area is 23.35 km² which gives a population density of 1,170 inhabitants per km²...
and Liège-Guillemins station, passenger trains run on the modernised line 36 at a speed of 70 (downwards to Liège) or 140 km/h (87 mph) (EMU's upwards to Ans).
Other
HSL 2 is used by 300 km/h (186 mph) Thalys PBKA sets, 250 km/h (155 mph) ICEInterCityExpress
The Intercity-Express or ICE is a system of high-speed trains predominantly running in Germany and neighbouring countries. It is the highest service category offered by DB Fernverkehr and is the flagship of Deutsche Bahn...
3M EMU
Electric multiple unit
An electric multiple unit or EMU is a multiple unit train consisting of self-propelled carriages, using electricity as the motive power. An EMU requires no separate locomotive, as electric traction motors are incorporated within one or a number of the carriages...
's and 200 km/h (124 mph) domestic InterCity services run by sets of Class 13
SNCB Class 13
SNCB's Class 13 is a derivative of SNCF's class 36000 electric locomotive. They work both freight and passenger trains and can work through into Luxembourg and France. They also are functional at the line from Liège to Maastricht in the Netherlands. From the Belgium - Dutch border onto Maastricht,...
locomotives with I11
I11
The I11 is a type of passenger car used since 1995 in the network of the Belgian railway company NMBS/SNCB for long distance trains.-Description:The carriages were built by BN in Bruges, Belgium between 1995 and 1997...
carriages. Trains with the new SNCB Class 18
SNCB Class 18 (Siemens)
The new SNCB/NMBS Class 18 is a series of Siemens EuroSprinter ES60U3 locomotives. 60 were ordered in December 2006 for delivery between January 2009 and June 2010. The order is worth € 211 million...
locomotives will appear on the line, probably in 2010.
Maintenance bases for the line are situated at Leuven
Leuven
Leuven is the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish Region, Belgium...
and Ans
Ans
Ans is a small Belgian municipality located in the Walloon province of Liège. On January 1, 2006 Ans had a total population of 27,322. The total area is 23.35 km² which gives a population density of 1,170 inhabitants per km²...
.
The Belgian cabin signaling system TBL 2 has been installed on the HSL 2. It is operated from Block 12 in Brussels.
HSL 2 is standard gauge
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
, double track
Double track
A double track railway usually involves running one track in each direction, compared to a single track railway where trains in both directions share the same track.- Overview :...
, electrified
Railway electrification system
A railway electrification system supplies electrical energy to railway locomotives and multiple units as well as trams so that they can operate without having an on-board prime mover. There are several different electrification systems in use throughout the world...
at 25 kV, 50 Hz AC
25 kV AC
The 25 kV Alternating current railway electrification system is commonly used in railways worldwide, especially for high-speed rail.-Overview:This electrification system is ideal for railways that cover long distances and/or carry heavy traffic...
.