Gala-Yuzawa Line

The Gala - Yuzawa Line (Japaneseガーラ湯沢 線, Gara - Yuzawa- sen) is the unofficial name of a short 1.8 km branch line from the Japanese Joetsu Shinkansen high speed rail line.

History

The distance from Echigo- Yuzawa Station branch was originally built for operational considerations during construction of the Joetsu Shinkansen. With the establishment of the ski Gala Yuzawa by the East Japan Railway Company the route for the passenger traffic was rebuilt and a railway station was opened on 20 December 1990. The station is located in the middle of the ski area, so some ski lifts are directly adjacent to the station.

Operation

The Gala - Yuzawa Line is operated exclusively during the winter months in the ski season and exclusively from Tokyo. All trains on the line are Tanigawa - Limited Express links, which are subject to a surcharge.

Outside of the ski season, the secondary line is used according to their original purpose as turning and Aufstellanlage Joetsu - Skinkansen ending in Echigo Yuzawa -.

Traffic law, the Gala - Yuzawa Line is part of the narrow gauge Joetsu line, but is not connected with their track body.