HSL 4
Encyclopedia
The HSL 4 is a Belgian
high-speed rail
line which connects Brussels
to the Dutch
border. 87 km long (40 km dedicated high speed tracks, 57 km modernised lines), 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
, Paris
and the Netherlands
. HSL 4 is used by Thalys
trains, and is also planned to be used by fast internal InterCity
and NS Hispeed
trains.
the line splits in two; the eastern branch continues to Liège and the German border, the northern branch towards Antwerp and the Dutch border. Between Brussels and Antwerp (47 kilometres), trains travel at 160 kilometres per hour on the upgraded existing line (with the exception of a few segments where a speed limit of 120 km/h is imposed).
In Antwerp, a tunnel has been constructed underneath the city to permit high-speed trains to run directly through Antwerpen-Centraal station to the new high-speed line north of the city. Trains enter the 1.5-kilometre long, two-tube tunnel at 90 kilometres per hour.
The line returns to the surface at Antwerpen-Dam station, and after crossing the Albert Canal
, joins the existing Antwerp-Essen
line. At the E19/A12 motorway junction, trains leave the regular line to run on new dedicated high-speed tracks to the Dutch border (40 kilometres away) at up to 300 kilometres per hour. The route parallels the E19 motorway until the border, which has required the building of several bridges.
The line passes through Schoten
, Brasschaat
, Brecht, Wuustwezel
, and Hoogstraten
, before crossing the border into the Netherlands
and connecting to the Dutch HSL-Zuid
.
station and Antwerpen-Dam station, passing through Antwerpen-Centraal. With these works completed, the station has four levels and 14 tracks:
The HSL 4 will also be the only high-speed line in Belgium that features an intermediate station at Noorderkempen (Brecht) for use in regular speed passenger service.
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 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...
to the Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
border. 87 km long (40 km dedicated high speed tracks, 57 km modernised lines), it was scheduled for completion by 2007.
Together with the 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 and HSL-Zuid
HSL-Zuid
HSL-Zuid , is a 125 km-long high-speed railway line in the Netherlands to the Belgian border, with a branch to Breda. Together with the Belgian HSL 4 it forms the Schiphol–Antwerp high-speed railway...
to Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, the line has shortened journeys 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 the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. HSL 4 is 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...
trains, and is also planned to be used by fast internal InterCity
InterCity
InterCity is the classification applied to certain long-distance passenger train services in Europe...
and NS Hispeed
NS Hispeed
NS Hispeed is the rail operator in the Netherlands that operates international intercity and high-speed train connections as well as national high-speed trains over the HSL-Zuid high speed line, which are branded as Fyra....
trains.
Route
From Brussels South station, trains travel northwards through the Brussels-Central and Brussels-North stations. At SchaarbeekSchaarbeek
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 line splits in two; the eastern branch continues to Liège and the German border, the northern branch towards Antwerp and the Dutch border. Between Brussels and Antwerp (47 kilometres), trains travel at 160 kilometres per hour on the upgraded existing line (with the exception of a few segments where a speed limit of 120 km/h is imposed).
In Antwerp, a tunnel has been constructed underneath the city to permit high-speed trains to run directly through Antwerpen-Centraal station to the new high-speed line north of the city. Trains enter the 1.5-kilometre long, two-tube tunnel at 90 kilometres per hour.
The line returns to the surface at Antwerpen-Dam station, and after crossing the Albert Canal
Albert Canal
The Albert Canal is a canal located in northeastern Belgium, named after King Albert I of Belgium. It connects the major cities Antwerp and Liège and the Meuse and Scheldt rivers. It has a depth of , a free height of and a total length of...
, joins the existing Antwerp-Essen
Essen, Belgium
Essen is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises the towns of Essen Centrum, Heikant, Horendonk, Wildert, Statie en Hoek. On January 1, 2007 Essen had a total population of 17,143. The total area is 47.48 km² which gives a population density of 358...
line. At the E19/A12 motorway junction, trains leave the regular line to run on new dedicated high-speed tracks to the Dutch border (40 kilometres away) at up to 300 kilometres per hour. The route parallels the E19 motorway until the border, which has required the building of several bridges.
The line passes through Schoten
Schoten
Schoten is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality only comprises the town of Schoten proper. On January 1, 2006 Schoten had a total population of 33,160. The total area is which gives a population density of 1,122 inhabitants per km². Schoten abuts the...
, Brasschaat
Brasschaat
Brasschaat is a municipality located in Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium, and in the Flemish province of Antwerp. The municipality only comprises the town of Brasschaat proper. In November 2006, Brasschaat won the LivCom-Award 2006 for the most liveable municipality in the world....
, Brecht, Wuustwezel
Wuustwezel
Wuustwezel is a municipality located in the north of the Belgian province of Antwerp, at the Dutch border.The municipality as it is now originated in 1977, when Wuustwezel merged with the municipality of Loenhout...
, and Hoogstraten
Hoogstraten
Hoogstraten is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises the city of Hoogstraten proper and the towns of Meer, Meerle, Meersel-Dreef, Minderhout and Wortel,...
, before crossing the border into the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
and connecting to the Dutch HSL-Zuid
HSL-Zuid
HSL-Zuid , is a 125 km-long high-speed railway line in the Netherlands to the Belgian border, with a branch to Breda. Together with the Belgian HSL 4 it forms the Schiphol–Antwerp high-speed railway...
.
Stations
Antwerpen-Centraal station has been completely reorganised. A tunnel has been constructed to permit the passage of trains under the city, additionally creating a subterranean junction between BerchemBerchem
The 'Ring', Antwerp's circular motorway which follows the track of the former city defense walls, cuts Berchem in two parts, separating the urban inner city area of Oud-Berchem from the more residential and suburban areas Groenenhoek en Nieuw Kwartier .-Demography:Berchem's total surface is over ,...
station and Antwerpen-Dam station, passing through Antwerpen-Centraal. With these works completed, the station has four levels and 14 tracks:
- level +1 (the original station) has 6 terminating tracks, arranged as two groups of three and separated by an opening allowing natural light to reach the lower levels
- level 0 contains ticketing facilities and commercial space
- level −1 (7 meters below road level) has 4 terminating tracks, also arranged as two groups
- level −2 (18 meters below road level) has 4 tracks, which end up in the two-track-wide tunnel under the city (used by high-speed trains and fast InterCity services)
The HSL 4 will also be the only high-speed line in Belgium that features an intermediate station at Noorderkempen (Brecht) for use in regular speed passenger service.