View source for HSL 3

{{Short description|High-speed railway in Belgium}}
{{One source|date=January 2021}}
{{Infobox rail line
| name            = HSL 3
| color           = 
| logo            = 
| logo_width      = 
| image           = HSL3.png
| image_width     = 
| caption         = 
| type            = [[High Speed Rail]]
| system          = [[High-speed rail in Belgium|Belgian HSL]]
| status          = In operation
| locale          = [[Belgium]]
| start           = [[Chênée]] (in [[Liège]])<!--- point where the high speed section commences, uses slower shared line from main station --->
| end             = Hergenrath (in [[Kelmis]])
| stations        = 0
| routes          = 
| daily_ridership = 
| open            = 14 June 2009
| close           = 
| owner           = [[Infrabel]]
| operator        = [[Thalys]], [[Intercity-Express|ICE]]
| character       = 
| depot           = 
| stock           = [[Thalys PBKA]], [[Intercity-Express|ICE]] [[DBAG Class 406#ICE 3M|3M]]
| linelength      = {{convert|42|km|mi|0|abbr=on}}
| tracklength     = 
| tracks          = 2
| gauge           = {{RailGauge|sg|allk=on}}
| electrification = [[25 kV AC|25 kV, 50 Hz AC]]
| speed           = {{convert|260|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}
| elevation       = 
| map             = {{HSL 3}}
| map_state       = collapsed
}}
The '''HSL 3''' ({{langx|nl|'''Hogesnelheidslijn 3'''}}, {{langx|en|'''High-Speed Line 3'''}}, {{langx|fr|'''LGV 3, ligne à grande vitesse 3'''}}) is a [[Belgium|Belgian]] [[high-speed rail]] line. It connects [[Liège]] to the [[Germany|German]] border near [[Aachen]]. The high-speed track length is {{convert|42|km|mi|abbr=on}}.

The line was technically completed in October 2007; however, it did not come into operation until 14 June 2009,<ref name="rg-complete">[http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view//line-3-completes-high-speed-network.html Line 3 completes high speed network] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120604032116/http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/line-3-completes-high-speed-network.html |date=2012-06-04 }}, [[Railway Gazette International]] 2009-06-15</ref> when [[Intercity-Express|ICE]] trains began service. [[Thalys]] trains have been using the line since 13 December 2009.<ref name="rg-complete" /> The interval between completion of the line and its actual use was due to difficulties in the implementation of the safety system [[European Train Control System|ETCS level 2]], specifically, finding trains with [[ERTMS]] fitted.<ref name="rg-complete" />

Together with the [[HSL 2]] between Louvain and Liège and [[HSL 1]] between Brussels and the French border, the combined eastward high-speed line has greatly reduced journey times between [[Brussels]], [[Paris]] and [[Germany]]. HSL 3 has cut [[Liège]] – [[Cologne]] journey times from 1 h 23 min to 1 h 1 min.<ref name="rg-complete" />  HSL 3 is used only by international [[high-speed trains]] (Thalys, now Eurostar; and ICE), as opposed to HSL 2, which is also used for fast internal [[InterCity]] services.

==Route==
[[File:Réseau grande vitesse Belgique.svg|thumb|left|Belgian high speed network.]]
Trains leave the reconstructed [[Liège-Guillemins railway station|Liège-Guillemins station]] over the upgraded ''classic'' line, at speeds which progressively rise to {{convert|120|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}. The dedicated high-speed tracks branch off from the "slow" line at the bridge over the [[Ourthe]], between [[Angleur]] and [[Chênée]] stations in the suburbs of [[Liège]]. The line crosses the [[Vesdre]] river, then traverses the {{convert|6.5|km|mi|abbr=on}} long [[Soumagne Tunnel]] between {{Interlanguage link multi|Vaux-sous-Chèvremont|fr}} and [[Soumagne]]. This is the longest double-track tunnel in Belgium, and has a speed limit of {{convert|200|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}.<ref name="rg-complete" />

The line then runs parallel to the [[A3 motorway (Belgium)|A3 motorway]] with a speed limit of {{convert|260|km|mi|abbr=on}}<ref name="rg-complete" /> shortly after the village of [[Walhorn]], it passes under the A3 in a cut-and-cover section, and rejoins the regular line. Trains run on the upgraded classic [[Belgian railway line 37|line 37]] at {{convert|140|km/h|mph|round=5|abbr=on}}, pass over the [[Hammerbrücke (bridge)|Hammerbrücke viaduct]] (entirely reconstructed for the project), and cross the border {{convert|2|km}} further on.

Beyond the border, high-speed trains travel along upgraded existing rail lines to [[Aachen Hauptbahnhof]]. Trains  use [[Driving on the left or right#Trains|left-hand running]] along this section (as in Belgium), switching over to right-hand running, which is common in Germany, at Aachen Hauptbahnhof.

==Construction==
[[Infrabel]], the Belgian rail infrastructure manager, constructed the line through its subsidiary [[TUC Rail]], who built the {{convert|36|km}} line between 2001 and 2007 at a cost of €830m, including [[European Train Control System|ETCS]] Level 2 signalling.<ref name="rg-complete" />

The most notable construction subproject is the {{convert|6.505|km|miyd|adj=on}} long tunnel at [[Soumagne]], which is the longest railway tunnel in [[Belgium]]. The bored section is {{convert|5.940|km|miyd}}, extended by covered sections of respectively {{convert|177|m|yd}} and {{convert|388|m|yd}}. 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 {{convert|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 {{convert|69|m2|sqft|abbr=on}}, which restricts speeds to {{convert|200|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}. The tunnel was built between 14 May 2001 and August 2005.

==Gallery==
{{Commons category|HSL 3}}
<gallery>
File:HSL3ViaducDeRyuff02.JPG|Viaduct over the Ruyff valley.
File:HSL3Walhorn.JPG|HSL 3 near [[Walhorn]].
File:HSL3WalhornTunnelWesternPortal.JPG|Walhorn Tunnel West Portal
File:HSL3WalhornTunnelEasternPortal.JPG|Walhorn Tunnel East Portal
File:HSL3RailwayBridgeHauset.JPG|Railway Bridge [[Hauset]]
File:HSL3Baelen.JPG|HSL 3 near [[Baelen]]
</gallery>

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

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.belrail.be/F/tgv/ligne2.html Belgian high-speed rail site] {{in lang|fr}}

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

{{coord missing|Belgium}}

[[Category:High-speed railway lines in Belgium]]
[[Category:Railway lines opened in 2009]]
[[Category:Standard-gauge railways in Belgium]]
[[Category:Railway lines in Wallonia]]
[[Category:Transport in Liège]]