View source for HSL 1

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}}
{{Infobox rail line
| box_width                       = auto
| name                            = HSL 1
| color                           = 
| logo                            = 
| logo_width                      = 
| image                           = Thalys by Silly.jpg
| image_width                     = 321px
| caption                         = Thalys on HSL 1
| type                            = [[High-speed rail]]
| system                          = [[National Railway Company of Belgium|NMBS/SNCB]]
| status                          = Operational
| locale                          = Belgium
| start                           = [[LGV Nord]] at Fretin Junction
| end                             = {{stnlnk|Brussels-South}}
| stations                        = 1
| routes                          = 
| daily_ridership                 = 
| open                            = 1997
| close                           = 
| owner                           = [[National Railway Company of Belgium|NMBS/SNCB]]
| operator                        = [[Eurostar]]<br>[[Thalys]]<br>[[TGV]]
| character                       = 
| stock                           = 
| linelength                      = {{convert|88|km|mi|abbr=on}}
| tracklength                     = 
| tracks                          = [[Double track]] throughout + loops
| gauge                           = {{RailGauge|sg|allk=on}}
| load_gauge                      = [[Loading gauge#Europe|UIC GC]]
| electrification                 = {{25 kV 50 Hz|conductor=overhead}}
| speed                           = {{convert|300|km/h|mph|0|abbr=on}}
| signalling                      = [[Transmission Voie-Machine|TVM-430]]
| elevation                       = 
| map                             = {{HSL 1}}
| map_state                       = 
}}
The '''HSL 1''' ({{langx|nl|'''Hogesnelheidslijn 1'''}}, {{langx|en|High-Speed Line 1}}) is a [[high-speed rail]] line which connects Brussels, Belgium, with the [[LGV Nord]] at the Belgium–France border. It is {{cvt|88|km}} long with {{cvt|71|km}} of dedicated high-speed tracks and {{cvt|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 hour 22 minutes. 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.{{Citation needed|date=February 2009}} The signalling system installed is the [[Transmission Voie-Machine|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 railway station|Brussels-South]] via a new viaduct completed in 2006 to separate high-speed services from local services.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.eurostar.com/UK/be/leisure/about_eurostar/press_release/press_archive_2006/01_12_2006_viaduct_brussels.jsp |title=Eurostar - New £ 7.5 million railway viaduct at brussels midi station further enhances eurostar reliability on the London-Brussels route  |access-date=5 February 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607011500/http://www.eurostar.com/UK/be/leisure/about_eurostar/press_release/press_archive_2006/01_12_2006_viaduct_brussels.jsp |archive-date=7 June 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> From there they use the conventional [[Belgian railway line 96|line 96]]. At [[Forest, Belgium|Forest/Vorst]], the train passes the depot where inspections of Thalys and Eurostar trains may be carried out. At [[Halle, Belgium|Halle]] ([[milestone#Railway mileposts|km]] 13), the HST tracks split from the mainline and enter their own cut-and-cover section before crossing the [[Brussels–Charleroi Canal]]; at km 17, the high-speed line proper diverges from the mainline at the [[Lembeek]] Viaduct, supporting {{cvt|300|km/h}} speeds. Between [[Rebecq]] and [[Enghien]], the line parallels the A8 motorway, separated by a security fence. At Enghien, the line parallels the regular Brussels–[[Tournai]] line for approximately {{cvt|10|km|sigfig=1}}.

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 {{cvt|2005|m|yd|adj=on}} long [[Arbre Viaduct]] (one of the longest rail viaducts in Europe) between Ath and [[Chièvres]]; it passes over the Ath–Blaton canal, the [[Dender|Dender River]], the [[Mons, Belgium|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 {{cvt|483|m|yd}} [[Scheldt|Scheldt River]] Viaduct, and through the {{cvt|365|m|yd}} [[Bruyelle]] cut-and-cover section, the line crosses the Belgian-French border at [[Wannehain]], km 88. {{Convert|11|km|sigfig=1|spell=In}} further on, the [[Frétin triangle]] splits the [[LGV Nord]] towards Paris or Lille.

==See also==
* [[High-speed rail in Belgium]]

== Notes ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.belrail.be/F/tgv/ligne1.html Belgian high-speed rail site (in French)]

{{High-speed railway lines}}
{{Eurostar navbox}}

{{coord missing|Belgium}}

[[Category:TGV]]
[[Category:Eurostar]]
[[Category:High-speed railway lines in Belgium]]
[[Category:Railway lines opened in 1997]]
[[Category:Standard-gauge railways in Belgium]]
[[Category:Railway lines in Brussels]]
[[Category:Railway lines in Flanders]]
[[Category:Railway lines in Wallonia]]