Echigo Line

The Echigo Line (越後線, Echigo-sen) is a railway line operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) which connects the cities of Kashiwazaki and Niigata in Niigata Prefecture, Japan. The line's name is taken from the name of the ancient Echigo Province, which corresponds to most of modern-day Niigata Prefecture.

Echigo Line
An 115 series EMU between Aoyama and Sekiya stations
Overview
Native name越後線
StatusIn operation
OwnerJR East
LocaleNiigata Prefecture
TerminiKashiwazaki
Niigata
Stations32
Service
TypeHeavy rail
Operator(s)JR East
History
Opened1912
Technical
Line length83.8 km (52.1 mi)
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification1,500 V DC overhead catenary
Operating speed85 km/h (53 mph)
Route map

History
An overhead line of Echigo Line (between Izumozaki and Myōhōji)

.

The Echigo Railway Co. opened the Hakusan - Kashiwazaki section of the line in 1912, and was nationalised in 1927. In 1951, the Hakusan - Niigata section was opened, CTC signalling was commissioned in 1982, the line was electrified at 1,500 V DC in 1984, and freight services ceased in 1987.

Former connecting lines
  • Teradomari Station: The Nagaoka Railway Co. opened a 39 km line to Raikoji (on the Shin'etsu Line) between 1915 and 1921. This company introduced Japan's first diesel railcar in 1928, and in 1951 electrified 31 km of the line at 750 V DC in 70 days, completing the balance the following year. Significant typhoon damage occurred in 1966, and in 1972, passenger services ceased between Raikoji and Nishinagaoka, with the entire line becoming freight-only three years later. The line closed in 1995.
  • Sekiya Station: The Niigata Kotsu Co. opened a 34 km line, electrified at 1,500 V DC, to Tsubame on the Yahiko Line between 1933 and 1934. Freight services ceased in 1982, and the line closed between 1993 and 1999.

Services
Stations of Echigo Line

Although most services are operated to and from Niigata Station, operations are divided into two sections: Kashiwazaki – Yoshida and Yoshida – Niigata. Some services operate over the entire line and through to Niitsu on the Shinetsu Main Line, Shibata on the Hakushin Line, or Higashi-Sanjō on the Yahiko Line.

Between Kashiwazaki and Yoshida, there is a period of over three hours where no trains operate. Between Niigata and Uchino there are three trains per hour, with another one to two trains per hour to Yoshida.

Station list
  • All stations are located within Niigata Prefecture.
  • Trains can pass each other at stations marked "◇", "∨", and "∧"; they cannot pass at stations marked "｜".
Station Japanese Distance (km) Transfers   Location
Between
stations		 Total
Kashiwazaki 柏崎 - 0.0 ■Shinetsu Main Line ∨ Kashiwazaki
Higashi-Kashiwazaki 東柏崎 1.6 1.6   ｜
Nishi-Nakadōri 西中通 3.4 5.0   ｜
Arahama 荒浜 1.6 6.6   ｜ Kariwa, Kariwa District
Kariwa 刈羽 3.3 9.9   ｜
Nishiyama 西山 2.9 12.8   ◇ Kashiwazaki
Raihai 礼拝 2.2 15.0   ｜
Ishiji 石地 3.7 18.7   ｜
Oginojō 小木ノ城 4.0 22.7   ｜ Izumozaki, Santō District
Izumozaki 出雲崎 2.1 24.8   ◇
Myōhōji 妙法寺 4.6 29.4   ｜ Nagaoka
Ojimaya 小島谷 3.0 32.4   ◇
Kirihara 桐原 3.8 36.2   ｜
Teradomari 寺泊 2.8 39.0   ◇
Bunsui 分水 2.5 41.5   ◇ Tsubame
Aouzu 粟生津 4.3 45.8   ｜
Minami-Yoshida 南吉田 2.0 47.8   ｜
Yoshida 吉田 2.0 49.8 ■Yahiko Line ◇
Kita-Yoshida 北吉田 1.9 51.7   ｜
Iwamuro 岩室 2.1 53.8   ｜ Nishikan-ku, Niigata
Maki 巻 4.0 57.8   ◇
Echigo-Sone 越後曽根 4.6 62.4   ◇
Echigo-Akatsuka 越後赤塚 2.5 64.9   ◇ Nishi-ku, Niigata
Uchino-Nishigaoka 内野西が丘 3.8 68.7   ｜
Uchino 内野 1.6 70.3   ◇
Niigata University 新潟大学前 2.0 72.3   ｜
Terao 寺尾 2.1 74.4   ◇
Kobari 小針 1.9 76.3   ◇
Aoyama 青山 1.4 77.7   ｜
Sekiya 関屋 1.5 79.2   ◇ Chūō-ku, Niigata
Hakusan 白山 1.5 80.7   ◇
Niigata 新潟 3.1 83.8
∧
  1. Although the official start of the Banetsu West Line is at Niitsu, some trains travel through via the Shinetsu Main Line to Niigata.

Rolling stock
  • Operations in Niigata area
  • 115 series EMU (Aōzu - Bunsui, October 2019)

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References

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