 | This articlerelies largely or entirely on asingle source. Relevant discussion may be found on thetalk page. Please helpimprove this article byintroducing citations to additional sources. Find sources: "Jōetsu Line" – news ·newspapers ·books ·scholar ·JSTOR(February 2024) |
| Joetsu Line | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 211 series local train (Kamimoku - Minakami) | |||
| Overview | |||
| Native name | 上越線 | ||
| Locale | Gunma,Niigata prefectures | ||
| Termini | |||
| Stations | 34 | ||
| Service | |||
| Type | Heavy rail | ||
| Operator(s) | .svg){kind=logo} JR East | ||
| History | |||
| Opened | 1920; 105 years ago (1920) | ||
| Technical | |||
| Line length | 162.6 km (101.03 mi) | ||
| Track gauge | 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) | ||
| Electrification | 1,500VDCoverhead catenary | ||
| |||
TheJoetsu Line (上越線,Jōetsu-sen) is a major railway line in Japan, owned by theEast Japan Railway Company (JR East). It connectsTakasaki Station inGunma Prefecture withMiyauchi Station inNiigata Prefecture, linking the northwesternKanto region and theSea of Japan coast of theChūbu region. The name refers to the oldprovinces ofKōzuke (上野) andEchigo (越後), which the line connects.
| This sectiondoes notcite anysources. Please helpimprove this section byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged andremoved.(June 2023) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Before the opening of theJōetsu Shinkansen in 1982, the Joetsu Line had frequent service by express trains connectingTokyo andNiigata. With the opening of theJōetsu Shinkansen, however, the line became dominated by local andfreight trains.
The branch of the Jōetsu Shinkansen betweenEchigo-Yuzawa Station andGala-Yuzawa Station (theGala-Yuzawa Line) technically belongs to the Joetsu Line.
Takasaki to Minakami
Minakami to Nagaoka
Takasaki to Shin-Maebashi (Takasaki Line, Ryomo Line through services)
Takasaki to Shibukawa (Takasaki Line, Agatsuma Line through services)
SL Gunma Minakami andSL YOGISHA Minakami
Yuzawa to Joetsu-Myoko
Takasaki to Minakami
Minakami to Nagaoka
Takasaki to Shibukawa (Takasaki Line, Agatsuma Line through services)
Four-car211-3000 series EMUs entered service on the section between Takasaki and Minakami from 23 August 2016.[1]
| This sectionneeds additional citations forverification. Please helpimprove this article byadding citations to reliable sources in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.(August 2014) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
TheNippon Railway opened theTakasaki to Maebashi (nowShin-Maebashi) section in 1884. The company was nationalised in 1906.
The first railway between Niigata and the east coast of Honshu was theBan'etsu West Line, completed in 1914. In 1920, it was decided to build the Jōetsu Line as a more direct route between Tokyo and Niigata. The Miyauchi to Echigo-Yuzawa section opened in stages between 1920 and 1925, and the Shinmaebashi to Minakami section of the line opened in stages between 1921 and 1928.
In 1931, with the completion of the 9,702 m (31,830 ft 9 in)Shimizu tunnel, the Echigo-Yuzawa - Minakami section of the line opened, including electrification at 1,500 V DC between Echigo-Yuzawa and Ishiuchi. When completed, the line shortened the Ueno to Niigata route by 98 km (61 mi), and included two spiral sections in the tunnels.
In 1947, the Takasaki to Minakami and Ishiuchi to Miyauchi sections were electrified, making this one of the first non-urbanJNR lines to be completely electrified.
The Takasaki to Shinmaebashi section was double-tracked in 1957, and the rest of the line was double-tracked between 1961 and 1967, the final section involving the construction of the 13,500 m (44,291 ft 4 in)Shin-Shimizu tunnel. Passengers catching Miyauchi-bound (northbound) trains atYubiso andDoai stations do so from platforms situated underground within the Shin-Shimizu tunnel.
The2004 Chūetsu earthquake seriously damaged the Jōetsu Line, closing the Minakami to Miyauchi section for about two months. Single-line operation at speeds limited to 35–40 km/h (22–25 mph) then resumed, being raised to 45–65 km/h (28–40 mph) four months after the earthquake, and the second track reopened, also with speed restrictions, 5 months after the quake. Full service was restored 9 months after the line had first closed.
In late July 2011, torrential rainfall damage resulted in the closure of the Echigo-Yuzawa - Muikamachi section for two weeks.
Transit inNiigata | |
|---|---|
| Shinkansen | |
| JR East | |
.svg){kind=logo} JR West | |
| Other railways |
|
 Bus |
|
 Public ferries |
|
| Miscellaneous | |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
