Echigo Line

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Echigo Line
An E129 series EMU between Aoyama and Sekiya stations
Overview
Native name	越後線
Status	In operation
Owner	JR East
Locale	Niigata Prefecture
Termini	Kashiwazaki Niigata
Stations	33
Service
Type	Heavy rail
Operator	JR East
History
Opened	1912; 114 years ago (1912)
Technical
Line length	83.8 km (52.1 mi)
Track gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification	1,500 V DC overhead catenary
Operating speed	85 km/h (53 mph)
Route map

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.

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.

Services

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 "｜".

Rolling stock

• E129 series 2/4-car EMUs (since December 2014)

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

Notes

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Echigo Line.

• Stations of the Echigo Line (JR East) (in Japanese)