Hokuhoku Line

Hokuhoku Line

A 681 series Hakutaka limited express train at Mushigawa-Ōsugi Station, September 2014
Overview
Locale Niigata Prefecture
Termini Muikamachi
Saigata
Stations 12
Operation
Owner Hokuetsu Express
Technical
Line length 59.5 km (37.0 mi)
Track gauge 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification 1,500 V DC overhead catenary
Operating speed 130 km/h (80 mph)
Route map

The Hokuhoku Line (ほくほく線, Hokuhoku-sen) is a Japanese railway line in Niigata Prefecture, between Muikamachi in Minamiuonuma and Saigata in Jōetsu. This is the only railway line Hokuetsu Express (北越急行, Hokuetsu Kyūkō) operates. Construction began in 1968 by the Japanese National Railways (JNR), and it was finally completed as a third sector line in 1997, including the 10,472 m (6.5 mi) Akakura Tunnel, the longest on a non-JR line.

Unlike most other third sector company lines, the line made steady profits. Until the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen in 2015, the shortest rail link between Kantō and Hokuriku was to take the Jōetsu Shinkansen to Echigo-Yuzawa and then transfer to the Hakutaka express service on the Hokuhoku Line. The previous maximum line speed of 160 km/h (100 mph) made the Hakutaka the fastest narrow gauge service in the country, matched only by the standard gauge Keisei Skyliner services to Narita Airport as the fastest non-Shinkansen service (also at 160 km/h), however this was reduced to 130 km/h (80 mph) on 14 March 2015 following the withdrawal of Hakutaka services on the line.[1]

Services

Upon the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen on 14 March 2015, the thirteen express services in each direction[2] of the Hokuhoku Line, which had run from 1997 with an average daily ridership of 6,900 passengers, were cancelled[3] and replaced by a daily special rapid service in each direction. Since then the services are:[4]

Passing loops

There are three passing loops on the Hokuhoku Line. Each has one bi-directional through track to allow full line speed.

Akakura

Between Uonumakyūryō and Misashima in Tōkamachi, Niigata. It is in the 10472m Akakura tunnel.

Yakushitōge

Between Tōkamachi and Matsudai in Tōkamachi, Niigata. It is in the 6199m Yakushitōge tunnel.

Gimyō

Between Matsudai and Hokuhoku-Ōshima in Tōkamachi, Niigata. It is in the 9130m Nabetachiyama tunnel.

Stations

The Hokuhoku line is entirely in Niigata Prefecture.

● Stop
｜Pass
∥: Double-track section
◇: Passing track in single-track section
｜: Single-track section
∨: Double-track section ends
∧: Double-track section begins
Line name Station Japanese Distance from
Muikamachi Station
(km)		 Rapid Super Rapid
"Snow Rabbit"		 Transfers   Location
Jōetsu Line
Echigo-Yuzawa 越後湯沢 17.6 ● ●
∥ Yuzawa, Minamiuonuma District
(Ishiuchi)[Note 1] (石打) 11.2 | |   ∥ Minamiuonuma
(Ōsawa)[Note 1] (大沢) 7.2 | |   ∥
Jōetsu-Kokusai-Ski-jō-mae[Note 2] 上越国際スキー場前 6.2 | |   ∥
Shiozawa[Note 3] 塩沢 3.9 | |   ∥
Muikamachi 六日町 0.0 ● ＊[Note 3] ■Jōetsu Line (for Miyauchi) ∨
Hokuhoku Line
Uonuma-Kyūryō 魚沼丘陵 3.6 | |   ｜ Tōkamachi
Misashima 美佐島 12.2 | |   ｜
Shinza しんざ 14.4 | |   ｜
Tōkamachi 十日町 15.9 ● ● ■Iiyama Line ◇
Matsudai まつだい 29.2 ● ＊[Note 3]   ◇
Hokuhoku-Ōshima ほくほく大島 38.6 ● |   ｜ Jōetsu
Mushigawa-Ōsugi 虫川大杉 44.8 ● ＊[Note 3]   ◇
Uragawara うらがわら 46.8 ● |   ｜
Ōike-Ikoi-no-mori[Note 3] 大池いこいの森 51.7 | |   ｜
Kubiki くびき 53.6 ● |   ◇
Saigata 犀潟 59.5 ● | ■Shinetsu Main Line (for Niigata) ∧
Shinetsu Main Line
(Kuroi)[Note 1] (黒井) 63.9 | |   ∥
Naoetsu 直江津 66.6 ● ●
∥
  1. 1 2 3 Not served by Hokuhoku Line services.
  2. ↑ Open during the winter skiing season only.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Some services do not stop.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Itō, Kumi. Transformation underwent at Hokuetsu Express, Railway Fan, Issue 670, Kōyūsha, February 2017, p. 68-73.
  2. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20130516162403/http://hokuhoku-line.jp/2_time/2013_kudari_en.pdf
  3. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20140827091047/http://www.hokuhoku.co.jp/1osirase/press-release/2014_0827_press.pdf
  4. ↑ http://hokuhoku-line.jp/pdf/2015jikoku.pdf

This article also incorporates material from the corresponding article in the Japanese Wikipedia

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