Echigo Line
The Echigo Line (Japanese越 后 线, Echigo- sen) in Niigata Prefecture is a railway line of JR Higashi- Nihon (JR East) between the city of Kashiwazaki and the Niigata train station in Chuo-ku Niigata. It runs a few kilometers distance substantially parallel to the coast of the Sea of Japan The railway line now serves the same regional traffic and commuters to Niigata.
Since the stations between Yoshida and Niigata are part of the suburban area of Niigata, here are the season ticket " Suica " is valid.
History
The Echigo- line was built in 1912 and 1913 from the private Echigo tetsudō ( " Echigo Railway " ) in several sections between the original and terminal stations Kashiwazaki Hakusan. A planned extension over the Shinano to Niigata station of the State Railway ( kokutetsu ) was not completed due to lack of capital. The name is derived from the Echigo province, which largely corresponds in its territory of modern Niigata Prefecture.
1927 the Echigo- line was nationalized. Finally, in 1943, the connection to Niigata was completed, initially as a side line for freight. 1951 then the continuous passenger was admitted to Niigata.
. Electrification of the entire route was 1984 Three years later, in 1987, she fell in the division of the state railway for privatization to the JR Higashi- Nihon; at the same time the freight traffic was stopped. In the period since privatization, among other automatic platform screen doors were introduced at stations near Niigata and the breakpoints Aoyama (1988) and Uchino - Nishigaoka (2005) opened.
Line traffic
The trains of the Echigo- railway line are mainly used in 20 -minute intervals in the suburbs of Niigata to Uchino, most of the rest go to Yoshida. From Kashiwazaki there are only nine daily trains heading east, including only a continuous to Niigata. There is no quick or express trains.
The rolling stock used is on the eastern section between Yoshida and Niigata, especially from multiple units of the Series E127 JR Higashi- Nihon. On the entire route even the older trains the state railway - 115 series can be used.