You can helpexpand this article with text translated fromthe corresponding article in Japanese. (February 2023)Click [show] for important translation instructions. View a machine-translated version of the Japanese article. Machine translation, likeDeepL orGoogle Translate, is a useful starting point for translations, but translators must revise errors as necessary and confirm that the translation is accurate, rather than simply copy-pasting machine-translated text into the English Wikipedia. Do not translate text that appears unreliable or low-quality. If possible, verify the text with references provided in the foreign-language article. Youmust providecopyright attribution in theedit summary accompanying your translation by providing aninterlanguage link to the source of your translation. A model attribution edit summary isContent in this edit is translated from the existing Japanese Wikipedia article at [[:ja:上越新幹線]]; see its history for attribution. You may also add the template{{Translated|ja|上越新幹線}} to thetalk page. For more guidance, seeWikipedia:Translation.

Jōetsu Shinkansen
An E7 series train on a Joetsu Shinkansen service
Overview
Native name	上越新幹線
Owner	JR East
Locale	Tokyo;Saitama,Gunma, andNiigata prefectures
Termini	Niigata Omiya (through service toTokyo)
Stations	10
Service
Type	High-speed rail (Shinkansen)
System	Shinkansen
Services	Toki Tanigawa
Operator(s)	JR East
Depot(s)	Niigata
Rolling stock	E7
History
Opened	15 November 1982 (43 years ago) (1982-11-15)
Technical
Line length	269.5 km (167.5 mi)
Number of tracks	2
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)standard gauge
Electrification	Overhead line, 25 kV 50 Hz AC
Operating speed	275 km/h (171 mph)[a]
Signalling	Cab signalling
Train protection system	DS-ATC
Route map

TheJōetsu Shinkansen (Japanese:上越新幹線) is a Japanesehigh-speed rail line and part of the nationwideShinkansen network. Operated by theEast Japan Railway Company (JR East), it linksNiigata in the north toŌmiya in the south, with through service toTokyo via theTōhoku Shinkansen.

Despite its name, the line does not pass through thecity of Jōetsu or the historicalJōetsu region, which instead are served by theHokuriku Shinkansen, which branches off the Jōetsu Shinkansen atTakasaki. The line's name originates from the parallelJōetsu Line, which in turn is named after the two provinces that it connects: Jōshū (an alternate name forKōzuke Province, which comprises today'sGunma Prefecture), andEchigo Province (modern dayNiigata Prefecture).

Two services currently operate on the route: the limited-stopToki, which runs the length of the corridor, and the all-stopsTanigawa, which runs between Tokyo andEchigo-Yuzawa Station. During the winter,Tanigawa trains continue via theGala-Yuzawa Line, a 1.8-kilometre (1.1 mi) branch line to serveGala-Yuzawa Station and its adjoining ski resort, which is also owned by JR East. The branch line was originally built to store trains terminating at and departing from Echigo-Yuzawa.

As of 2023^[update], the maximum line speed is 275 kilometres per hour (171 mph). The fastest services cover the 269.5 kilometres (167.5 mi) between Tokyo and Niigata in 90 minutes.

The Jōetsu Shinkansen operates with two different services:

• Toki: Tokyo – Niigata limited-stop service
• Tanigawa: Tokyo – Echigo-Yuzawa all-stops service. During winter, trains continue toGala-Yuzawa via theGala-Yuzawa Line.

One service has been discontinued:

• Asahi, Tokyo – Niigata limited-stop service. (discontinued 30 November 2002)

Legend:

As of 18 March 2023^[update] the following train types operate on Jōetsu Shinkansen services.

• E7 series:Toki /Tanigawa (since 3 March 2019)

Between fiscal 2018 and 2020, eleven 12-car E7 series train sets were introduced on Jōetsu Shinkansen services, replacing the E4 series trains,^[2] raising the speed from 240 km/h (150 mph) to 275 km/h (171 mph).^[3] Additional sets were gradually introduced through 2023 for the replacement of E2 series trains.

• 
  E7 series trainset in October 2022

• East i (E926)

• 200 series:Asahi /Toki /Tanigawa (15 November 1982 – 14 April 2013)
• E1 series:Max Asahi /Max Toki /Max Tanigawa (15 July 1994 – 28 September 2012)
• E2 series:Toki /Tanigawa (January 2013 – March 2023)^[4]
• E3 series Genbi Shinkansen excursion set (29 April 2016 – 19 December 2020)^[5]
• E4 series:Max Asahi /Max Toki /Max Tanigawa (7 May 2001 – 1 October 2021)

• 
  200 series trainset in January 2011
• 
  E1 series trainset in June 2002
• 
  E2 series trainset in February 2011
• 
  E3 seriesGenbi Shinkansen excursion trainset in September 2016
• 
  E4 series trainset in February 2021

The program to build the new line was initiated in 1971 by Niigata-born prime ministerTanaka Kakuei; one popular anecdote is that Tanaka determined the line's routing by drawing it on a map with a red pencil.^[6] Built at a cost of $6.3 billion,^[7] it was built "to establish closer ties with Tokyo and promote regional development".^[8]

Trial runs over the line began in November 1980, and regular service began on 15 November 1982.^[9] The line was initially planned to terminate atShinjuku Station, but economic considerations pushedJapanese National Railways (JNR) to merge the line with the existingTōhoku Shinkansen line atŌmiya.

In September 1991, a400 Series Shinkansen train set a Japanese rail speed record of 345 km/h (214 mph) on the Jōetsu Shinkansen line, and in December 1993, theSTAR21 experimental train recorded 425 km/h (264 mph). The maximum speed for regular services on the line at the time was 245 km/h (150 mph) except for the section between Jomo-Kogen and Urasa which is 275 km/h (171 mph) forE2 series trains travelling towards Niigata. The urban section between Tokyo and Ueno is 110 km/h (70 mph), between Ōmiya and Ueno is 130 km/h (80 mph).^[10][11]

The Basic Plan specifies that the Jōetsu Shinkansen should actually start from Shinjuku, which would necessitate building 30 km (19 mi) of additional Shinkansen track from Ōmiya. While some land acquisitions along the existingSaikyō Line were made, no construction ever started.^{[citation needed]}

The entire line was upgraded to 275 km/h (171 mph), with construction starting in May 2019, and finished in 2023.^[12] Upgrades included improvements to the soundproofing system.^[13] This marks the first time that an E7 series train has operated commercially at more than 260 km/h (160 mph), which is the maximum speed of the only other line served by this train, the Hokuriku Shinkansen. As a result of the upgrades, all trainsets on the Jōetsu Shinkansen operate exclusively with E7 series trainsets and the travel time on the line is projected to be reduced by 7 minutes compared to the former E2 and E4 series trainsets.^[13] The end of E2 series trainsets on Jōetsu Shinkansen services took take place on 17 March 2023 with the streamlining of all services to use the E7 series taking place the following day.^[14]

The Niigata prefectural government has proposed building a new multi-modal terminal to directly connect the Shinkansen to the port of Niigata, potentially allowing direct transfers to ferries and cruise ships, and to potentially allow direct access between the Shinkansen andNiigata Airport. However this plan is foreseen to be completed only by the mid-2040s.^[15]

• 2004 derailment of Joetsu Shinkansen

Wikimedia Commons has media related toJōetsu Shinkansen.

• JR East website(in Japanese)

• Jōetsu Shinkansen
• Lines of East Japan Railway Company
• High-speed railway lines in Japan
• Railway lines opened in 1982
• Standard-gauge railways in Japan
• 1982 establishments in Japan
• 25 kV AC railway electrification

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