As part of the Belgian railway network, it is owned, technically operated and maintained by Infrabel.

Since the extension to the German border was completed (the HSL 3), the fastest journey time between Brussels South and Cologne Central Station is 1 hour and 47 minutes.

HSL 2 is used by Thalys and ICE trains as well as fast internal Belgian Railways InterCity services.

From Brussels South, trains travel northwards over Line 0 through Central and North stations.

HSL 2 is standard gauge, double track, electrified at 25 kV, 50 Hz AC.