Harmonization with the surroundings
The HSL cuts through the countryside of the provinces North and South Holland and North Brabant. The guiding principle in the design and construction of the HSL is that, wherever possible, the railway line must be integrated with existing infrastructure, such as roads and waterways. This is done to keep fragmentation of the landscape to a minimum. In addition, many extra measures are taken to harmonise the railway line optimally with the natural environment.
_1024x681_tcm112-11557.jpg&alt=Bundeling met de A16 (september 2003)&text=Bundeling met de A16 (september 2003)&width=1024&height=681 )
In consultation with municipalities, neighbouring residents and special interest groups, for each location it was decided how to keep the railway’s negative impact on the environment to a minimum. In several locations it was decided to build a transparent viaduct to keep the view of the landscape intact. Examples are the Haarlemmermeer Polder, where the long, transparent viaduct combines well with the spacious character of the polder landscape, and between Zoetermeer and Bleiswijk, where the rail viaduct leaves the greenhouse area undisturbed thanks to broad spans.
Bored tunnel under the ‘Green Heart’ Area
Sometimes a choice was made for a tunnel to leave the area to be crossed as intact as possible. The most striking example of such a 'harmonization measure' is the bored tunnel under the ‘Green Heart’ Area. The Green Heart Area is characterised by splendid peat meadows and lakes that date back to the Middle Ages. The Green Heart Area is the area of choice for Randstad residents to enjoy the quiet, natural surroundings and recreational facilities. Like the residents and stakeholders, the government attaches great value to the character of this landscape (spacious and quiet). A tunnel with a length of more than 7 kilometres spares this unique Dutch landscape. Only the tunnel buildings give away the existence of the tunnel.
In order to leave the character of the landscape as intact as possible, the vegetation zone directly above the tunnel is left undisturbed and continues as far as possible towards the tunnel buildings. The platforms around the tunnel buildings are covered with grass. Around the buildings, small scenic areas are created.
Rotterdam Noordrand Tunnel
Another example is the Rotterdam Noordrand Tunnel, which prevents the high speed trains from getting in the way of air traffic. In other locations, the railway line is subtly concealed in the landscape by leading the track through a sunken construction, for instance at Breda-Prinsenbeek. There the sunken track is covered in two places by so-called city-ducts: 100 metre-broad viaducts accommodating roads and offering room for bicycle paths, footpaths and green areas.