HSL 1

HSL 1
Thalys on HSL 1
Overview
Status	Operational
Owner	NMBS/SNCB
Locale	Belgium
Termini	LGV Nord at Fretin Junction Brussels-South
Stations	1
Service
Type	High-speed rail
System	NMBS/SNCB
Operator(s)	Eurostar Thalys TGV
History
Opened	1997
Technical
Line length	88 km (55 mi)
Number of tracks	Double track throughout + loops
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Loading gauge	UIC GC
Electrification	Overhead line, 25 kV 50 Hz AC
Operating speed	300 km/h (186 mph)
Signalling	TVM-430
Route map Legend km Line 96 to Brussels-South 0.0 Halle to Tournai Line 96 to Mons Arbre Viaduct over the Dender to Tournai│to Mons Scheldt River 73.0 209.8 Belgium France border 198.0 Frétin triangle LGV Nord to Lille & London│to Paris This diagram: view talk edit

The HSL 1 (Dutch: Hogesnelheidslijn 1, English: 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 88 km (55 mi) long with 71 km (44 mi) of dedicated high-speed tracks and 17 km (11 mi) 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]} The signalling system installed is the TVM-430 in-cab signalling system, the same as LGV Nord in France, and High Speed 1 in the UK.