The ET122 is a

diesel multiple unit A diesel multiple unit or DMU is a multiple-unit train powered by on-board diesel engines. A DMU requires no separate locomotive, as the engines are incorporated into one or more of the carriages. Diesel-powered single-unit railcars are also ...

(DMU) train type operated by the third-sector railway operator

Echigo Tokimeki Railway The (ETR) is a Japanese third-sector railway operating company established in 2010 to operate passenger railway services on the sections of the JR East Shinetsu Main Line and JR West Hokuriku Main Line within Niigata Prefecture when they were ...

(ETR) on the

Nihonkai Hisui Line The (ETR) is a Japanese third-sector railway operating company established in 2010 to operate passenger railway services on the sections of the JR East Shinetsu Main Line and JR West Hokuriku Main Line within Niigata Prefecture when they were ...

between and in

Niigata Prefecture is a Prefectures of Japan, prefecture in the Chūbu region of Honshu of Japan. Niigata Prefecture has a population of 2,227,496 (1 July 2019) and is the List of Japanese prefectures by area, fifth-largest prefecture of Japan by geographic area ...

since operations on the line were transferred from

West Japan Railway Company , also referred to as , is one of the Japan Railways Group (JR Group) companies and operates in western Honshu. It has its headquarters in Kita-ku, Osaka. It is listed in the Tokyo Stock Exchange, is a constituent of the TOPIX Large70 index, and ...

(JR West) on 14 March 2015. Built by

Niigata Transys is a Japanese railway vehicle and equipment manufacturer based in Chiyoda, Tokyo. The company is a subsidiary of IHI Corporation and has a factory in Niigata, and representative offices in Osaka, Sapporo, Sendai, and Niigata. Products Low-f ...

and based on the JR West

KiHa 122 series The and are diesel multiple unit (DMU) train types operated by West Japan Railway Company (JR-West) on the Kishin Line between and . A total of 19 cars have been delivered, formed as seven single-car KiHa 122 series units and six two-car KiHa ...

DMU design, the fleet consists of a total of eight single-car units.

Variants

* Standard cars ET122-1 to ET122-6 * Special event cars ET122-7 and ET122-8 * Resort train ''Setsugekka'' ET122-1001 + ET122-1002 The fleet consists of six standard cars, numbered ET122-1 to ET122-6, and two special-event cars, numbered ET122-7 to ET122-8. The former have reversible transverse seating arranged 2+1 abreast with longitudinal bench seating at one end (total seating capacity 33), and the latter have fixed 4-person seating bays with tables (total seating capacity 40). Both types have a wheelchair space at one end and a

universal access Apple Universal Access is a component of the macOS operating system that provides computing abilities to people with visual impairment, hearing impairment, or physical disability. Components Universal Access is a preference pane of the Sys ...

toilet. File:DMU ET122-1000 Setsugekka.jpg, The ET122-1000 ''Setsugekka'' train in service in November 2016 File:Series-ET122 Inside.jpg, The interior of a standard car in October 2021 A two-car resort train classified ET122-1000 (cars ET122-1001 + ET122-1002) and branded was built by Niigata Transys and delivered in March 2016. This trainset entered service on 23 April 2016, operating mainly at weekends.

Operations

The trains normally operate on the ETR's

between and in

, with through-running to and from on the

Ainokaze Toyama Railway Line The is a Japanese third-sector railway operating company established in 2012 to operate passenger railway services on the section of the JR West Hokuriku Main Line within Toyama Prefecture when it was separated from the JR West network in Mar ...

Toyama Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of Honshu. Toyama Prefecture has a population of 1,044,588 (1 June 2019) and has a geographic area of 4,247.61 km2 (1,640.01 sq mi). Toyama Prefecture borders Ishikawa Prefecture to the ...

Exterior

The two special-event cars, ET122-7 and ET122-8, are finished in liveries designed by students at the

Nagaoka Institute of Design The is a public university in Nagaoka, Niigata is a Cities of Japan, city located in Niigata Prefecture, Japan. It is the second largest city in the prefecture, after the capital city of Niigata, Niigata, Niigata. , the city had an estimated ...

. One is branded "Nihonkai Stream" and the other is branded "3 Cities Flowers". File:ETR ET122kei Naoetsu Station.jpg, Special-event car ET122-7 in "Nihonkai Stream" livery in July 2018 File:Echigo Tokimeki Railway ET122-8 20150510 01.jpg, Special-event car ET122-8 in "3 Cities Flowers" livery in May 2015

History

Test running began on the

Hokuriku Main Line The Hokuriku Main Line ( ja, 北陸本線, ) is a 176.6 kilometer railway line owned by the West Japan Railway Company (JR West) connecting the Maibara Station in Maibara, Shiga, with the Naoetsu Station in Joetsu, Niigata. The section betwee ...

in December 2014. In May 2017, the ET122-1000 was awarded the 2017

Laurel Prize The is an award presented annually in Japan since 1961 by the Japan Railfan Club. It is awarded for railway vehicles that entered service in the previous year and voted by the selection committee as having the most outstanding functional and des ...

, presented annually by the Japan Railfan Club.

Fleet details

The individual build histories are as follows.

References

External links

ET122 details published by ETR
{{in lang, ja Diesel multiple units of Japan Niigata Transys rolling stock Train-related introductions in 2015