Echigo Line on:
[Wikipedia]
[Google]
[Amazon]
The is a railway line operated by
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.
A new station, Kamitokoro Station, opened on 15 March 2025. This station was built on the section between Niigata and Hakusan stations, becoming the first new station on the line and in Niigata Prefecture (except Shinkansen) since Uchino-Nishigaoka was opened in 2005.
Although most services are operated to and from Niigata Station, operations are divided into two sections: Kashiwazaki – and Yoshida – Niigata. Some services operate over the entire line and through to on the
JRNiigataUsage_Latest.svg, Operations in Niigata area
Series115_1000_Echigo-Line.jpg, 115 series EMU ( - , October 2019)
Stations of the Echigo Line
(JR East) {{East Japan Railway Company Lines Lines of East Japan Railway Company Rail transport in Niigata Prefecture Railway lines opened in 1912 1067 mm gauge railways in Japan 1912 establishments in Japan
East Japan Railway Company
The is a major passenger railway company in Japan and the largest of the seven Japan Railways Group companies. The company name is officially abbreviated as JR-EAST or JR East in English, and as in Japanese. The company's headquarters are in ...
(JR East) which connects the cities of Kashiwazaki and Niigata in Niigata Prefecture
is a Prefectures of Japan, prefecture in the Chūbu region of Honshu of Japan. Niigata Prefecture has a population of 2,131,009 (1 July 2023) and is the List of Japanese prefectures by area, fifth-largest prefecture of Japan by geographic area ...
, Japan. The line's name is taken from the name of the ancient Echigo Province
was an old provinces of Japan, old province in north-central Japan, on the shores of the Sea of Japan. It bordered on Uzen Province, Uzen, Iwashiro Province, Iwashiro, Kōzuke Province, Kōzuke, Shinano Province, Shinano, and Etchū Province, ...
, which corresponds to most of modern-day Niigata Prefecture
is a Prefectures of Japan, prefecture in the Chūbu region of Honshu of Japan. Niigata Prefecture has a population of 2,131,009 (1 July 2023) and is the List of Japanese prefectures by area, fifth-largest prefecture of Japan by geographic area ...
.
History
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.
A new station, Kamitokoro Station, opened on 15 March 2025. This station was built on the section between Niigata and Hakusan stations, becoming the first new station on the line and in Niigata Prefecture (except Shinkansen) since Uchino-Nishigaoka was opened in 2005.
Former connecting lines
* Teradomari Station: The Nagaoka Railway Co. opened a 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 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 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
Although most services are operated to and from Niigata Station, operations are divided into two sections: Kashiwazaki – and Yoshida – Niigata. Some services operate over the entire line and through to on the Shinetsu Main Line
The is a railway line, consisting of three geographically separated sections, operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East) in Japan. It was originally one continuous line connecting and via . Since the opening and later extension of ...
, on the Hakushin Line
The is a Japanese railway line which runs between and stations in the cities of Niigata, Niigata, Niigata and Shibata, Niigata, Shibata in Niigata Prefecture. It is part of the East Japan Railway Company (JR East) network.
Basic data
*Operato ...
, or 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 withinNiigata Prefecture
is a Prefectures of Japan, prefecture in the Chūbu region of Honshu of Japan. Niigata Prefecture has a population of 2,131,009 (1 July 2023) and is the List of Japanese prefectures by area, fifth-largest prefecture of Japan by geographic area ...
.
* Trains can pass each other at stations marked "∥", "◇", "∨", and "∧"; they cannot pass at stations marked "｜".
Rolling stock
* E129 series 2/4-car EMUs (since December 2014)Previous
*115 series 115 may refer to:
*115 (number), the number
*AD 115, a year in the 2nd century AD
*115 BC, a year in the 2nd century BC
*115 (Hampshire Fortress) Corps Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers, a unit in the UK Territorial Army
*115 (Leicestershire) Field ...
3-car EMUs (until March 2022)
* 165 series
* E127 series 2-car EMUs (Yoshida - Niigata) (until March 2022)
Notes
References
External links
Stations of the Echigo Line
(JR East) {{East Japan Railway Company Lines Lines of East Japan Railway Company Rail transport in Niigata Prefecture Railway lines opened in 1912 1067 mm gauge railways in Japan 1912 establishments in Japan