Shin'etsu Main Line

Shinetsu Main Line
Map Legend Red: Shinetsu Main Line Blue: Shinano Railway Line, Kita-Shinano Line and Myōkō Haneuma Line
Overview
Native name	信越本線
Status	Operarional
Locale	Gunma, Nagano, Niigata prefectures
Operation
Opened	Stages between 1885-1904
Closed	Yokokawa - Karuizawa: 1 October 1997 Karuizawa - Shinonoi: 1 October 1997 (Converted to the Shinano Railway Line) Nagano - Naoetsu: 14 March 2015 (Converted to the Shinano Railway Kita-Shinano Line and the Echigo Tokimeki Railway Myōkō Haneuma Line)
Operator(s)	JR East
Technical
Line length	181.5 km (112.8 mi)
Track gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification	1,500 V DC overhead catenary
Route map Legend 1. Takasaki - Yokokawa Jōetsu Shinkansen, Takasaki Line Jōshin Dentetsu Jōshin Line 0.0 Takasaki Jōetsu Line Former Tobu Takasaki Line 2.4 Kita-Takasaki Jōetsu Shinkansen Hokuriku Shinkansen 6.4 Gumma-Yawata 10.6 Annaka 17.6 Isobe 22.7 Matsuida Since 1962 Matsuida Until 1962 23.9 Nishi-Matsuida 29.7 Yokokawa Usui Horsecar 31.5 Maruyama (Signal Box) Until 1966 35.8 Kumanotaira (Signal Box) Until 1997 40.1 Yagasaki (Signal Box) Until 1966 Former Kusakaru Dentetsu 40.9 Karuizawa Hokuriku Shinkansen, Shinano Railway Line 2. Sinonoi-Nagano Hokuriku Shinkansen, Shinano Railway Line Shinonoi Line 0.0 Shinonoi 2.1 Imai 4.3 Kawanakajima 5.9 Saigawa (Signal Box) Until 1935 Saigawa 6.4 Amori Zenkōji Hakuba Dentetsu Former South Nagano Line 9.3 Nagano Nagano Electric Railway Hokuriku Shinkansen, Shinano Railway Kita-Shinano Line 3. Naoetsu-Niigata ETR-Myōkō Haneuma Line ETR-Nihonkai Hisui Line 0.0 Naoetsu Since 1899 0.2 Naoetsu Until 1899 1.4 Naoetsu Port Until 1959 Sekigawa 0.8 Kasuga Shinden Until 1906 2.7 Kuroi Kubiki Railway Line 7.1 Saigata Hokuetsu Express Hokuhoku Line 9.4 Dosokohama 11.2 Katamachi 14.0 Jogehama 17.6 Kakizaki 21.2 Takehana (Signal Box) Until 1973 23.5 Yoneyama 27.4 Kasashima 29.6 Oumigawa 32.6 Kujiranami 36.3 Kashiwazaki Echigo Line 39.3 Ibarame 42.2 Yasuda 44.8 Kitajo 48.1 Echigo-Hirota 50.8 Nagatori Tsukayama Tunnel 53.9 Nishi-Tsukayama (Signal Box) Until 1967 55.8 Tsukayama Nishi-Shibuumikawa Until 1900 Higashi-Shibuumikawa Until 1900 60.5 Echigo-Iwatsuka Former Echigo Kotsu Nagaoka Line 63.3 Raikōji Shinano River 67.4 Maekawa Jōetsu Line 70.0 Miyauchi 71.4 Minami-Nagaoka Freight Terminal Jōetsu Shinkansen 73.0 Nagaoka 75.5 Kita-Nagaoka 79.9 Oshikiri 82.0 Kariyada (Signal Box) Until 1945 84.4 Mitsuke 88.5 Obiori 91.1 Tōkōji 94.6 Sanjō Yahiko Line 96.2 Higashi-Sanjō Former Yahiko Line 100.0 Honai 103.8 Kamo Kanbara Railway Line 107.9 Hanyūda 111.1 Tagami 114.8 Yashiroda 117.9 Furutsu Banetsu West Line 121.1 Niitsu Uetsu Main Line 122.6 Satsukino 124.9 Ogikawa 129.8 Kameda 132.2 0.0## Echigo-Ishiyama Hakushin Line Higashi-Niigata 2.4## Niigata Freight Terminal 134.4 0.0# Kami-Nuttari (Signal Box) 2.1# Yakejima 3.8# East Niigata Port 5.5# Ōgata Until 1941 136.2 0.0** Nuttari Until 2010 1.4** Niigata Port Until 1986 136.3 1.9# Niigata Since 1958 138.1 Niigata Until 1958 4.3# Bandai Until 1965 Jōetsu Shinkansen Echigo Line

The Shinetsu Main Line (信越本線 Shin'etsu-honsen) is a railway line, consisting of three geographically separated sections, operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East) in Japan. Originally one continuous line, the first section (29.7 km) connects Takasaki Station to Yokokawa Station in Gunma Prefecture, the second section (9.3 km) connects Shinonoi Station to Nagano Station in Nagano Prefecture and the third section (136.3 km) connects Naoetsu Station to Niigata Station in Niigata Prefecture. Additionally, there are three freight branches; from Echigo-Ishiyama Station to Niigata Freight Terminal, from Kami-Nuttari Junction to Nuttari Station, and from Kami-Nuttari Junction to Higashi-Niigata-kō Station. The name of the line refers to the old names for Nagano and Niigata Prefectures, Shinano (信濃) and Echigo (越後).

The original line was separated into two sections as a result of the abandonment of the section between Yokokawa and Karuizawa and the reassignment of operations over the section between Karuizawa and Shinonoi to the third-sector Shinano Railway, both occurring on October 1, 1997 in conjunction with the opening of the Nagano Shinkansen between Takasaki and Nagano stations. The abandoned section through the Usui Pass was famous for its steep 66.7‰ gradient.^[1]

When the Hokuriku Shinkansen extension to Kanazawa opened on 14 March 2015, the portion of the Shinetsu Main Line between Nagano and Naoetsu was also spun off to two third-sector railway operators, the Shinano Railway in Nagano Prefecture, and the Echigo Tokimeki Railway in Niigata Prefecture. This resulted in the present status of the line with three separate sections.^[2]

Stations

Takasaki–Yokokawa

Station	Distance (km)	Connections	Location
Takasaki	0.0	Joetsu Shinkansen, Hokuriku Shinkansen, Takasaki Line, Hachikō Line, Jōetsu Line, Ryōmō Line Joshin Dentetsu Joshin Line	Takasaki	Gunma Prefecture
Kita-Takasaki	2.4
Gumma-Yawata	6.4
Annaka	10.6		Annaka
Isobe	17.6
Matsuida	22.7
Nishi-Matsuida	23.9
Yokokawa	29.7

Yokokawa–Shinonoi

The section between Yokokawa and Karuizawa was closed and the section between Karuizawa and Shinonoi was transferred to the ownership of the third-sector railway operator Shinano Railway from 1 October 1997 with the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen (Nagano Shinkansen) between Takasaki and Nagano.

Shinonoi–Nagano

Station	Distance (km)	Connections	Location
Shinonoi	0.0	Shinonoi Line (through service), Shinano Railway Line	Nagano	Nagano Prefecture
Imai	2.1
Kawanakajima	4.3
Amori	6.4
Nagano	9.3	Hokuriku Shinkansen Shinano Railway Kita-Shinano Line Nagano Electric Railway

Nagano–Naoetsu

The section between Nagano and Naoetsu was transferred to the ownership of the third-sector railway operators Shinano Railway and Echigo Tokimeki Railway from 14 March 2015 with the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen extension north of Nagano.

Naoetsu–Niigata

Station	Distance (km)	Connections	Location
Naoetsu	84.3	Echigo Tokimeki Railway Myōkō Haneuma Line Echigo Tokimeki Railway Nihonkai Hisui Line	Jōetsu	Niigata Prefecture
Kuroi	87.0
Saigata	91.4	Hokuhoku Line
Dosokohama	93.7
Katamachi	95.5
Jōgehama	98.3
Kakizaki	101.9
Yoneyama	107.8		Kashiwazaki
Kasashima	111.7
Ōmigawa	113.9
Kujiranami	116.9
Kashiwazaki	120.6	Echigo Line
Ibarame	123.6
Yasuda	126.5
Kitajō	129.1
Echigo-Hirota	132.4
Nagatori	135.1
Tsukayama	140.1		Nagaoka
Echigo-Iwatsuka	144.8
Raikōji	147.6
Maekawa	151.7
Miyauchi	154.3	Jōetsu Line
Minami-Nagaoka Freight Terminal	155.7
Nagaoka	157.3	Jōetsu Shinkansen
Kita-Nagaoka	159.8
Oshikiri	164.2
Mitsuke	168.7		Mitsuke
Obiori	172.8		Sanjō
Tōkōji	175.4
Sanjō	178.9
Higashi-Sanjō	180.5	Yahiko Line
Honai	184.3
Kamo	188.1		Kamo
Hanyūda	192.2		Tagami
Tagami	195.4
Yashiroda	199.1		Akiha-ku, Niigata
Furutsu	202.2
Niitsu	205.4	Uetsu Main Line, Banetsu West Line
Satsukino	206.9
Ogikawa	209.2
Kameda	214.1		Kōnan-ku, Niigata
Echigo-Ishiyama	216.5		Higashi-ku, Niigata
Kaminuttari Junction	(218.7)		Chūō-ku, Niigata
Niigata	220.6	Jōetsu Shinkansen, Hakushin Line, Echigo Line

History

Abt rack railway loco used on the Usui Pass line, note the 'shoe' ahead of the nearest wheel to collect power via a third rail

The Japanese Government Railways opened the Takasaki to Yokokawa section in 1885, the Naoetsu to Sekiyama section the following year, and the Sekiyama - Nagano - Karuizawa section in 1888. In order to surmount the 552 metre altitude difference between Yokokawa and Karuizawa (which are 10 km apart), it then constructed an Abt rack section through the Usui Pass, which opened in 1893, and was double-tracked for 1 km from Karuizawa to the top of the rack section. A horse-drawn tramway operated between Yokokawa and Karuizawa until the rack section opened.

The Hokuetsu Railway opened the Naoetsu to Nagaoka section in 1897, extending the line to Niigata in 1904. Both companies were nationalised in 1907. In 1912, the rack section was electrified using third rail at 600 V DC, this being the first use of this method in Japan.

Double-tracking

The Karuizawa to Nagano section was double-tracked between 1917 and 1920, with the Nagaoka to Miyauchi section double-tracked in 1931, and the Niitsu - Kamo section in 1944. Double-tracking of the remainder of the Niigata to Naoetsu line was undertaken in sections between 1958 and 1973.

Double-tracking of the remainder of the Takasaki to Kaminagano line was undertaken in sections between 1963 and 1973, commencing with the replacement of the rack mechanism with an adhesion only electrified (1,500 V DC catenary) operation on the 1 in 15 (6.7%) grade. The rack equipment was initially kept as a contingency, and removed two months after the adhesion-only operation commenced and had proved its reliability.

The Kurohime to Myoko-Kogen section was double-tracked in conjunction with a realignment in 1980. The Mure to Kurohime section was also realigned and prepared for double-tracking (including new double-track size tunnels), but the second track was not laid.

Electrification

The Miyauchi to Nagaoka section was electrified in 1947 at 1,500 V DC in conjunction with the electrification of the Joetsu Line, with the Nagaoka to Niigata section electrified in 1962, the same year the Takasaki to Yokokawa section was commissioned to facilitate the extension to Nagano the following year via the new adhesion line through the Usui Pass mentioned above. The Nagano to Naoetsu section was electrified in 1966, and extended to Miyauchi in 1969.

Separation into sections

In 1997, following the opening of the Nagano Shinkansen, the Yokokawa to Karuizawa section was closed, and the Karuizawa to Shinonoi section transferred to the third-sector Shinano Railway.

The Shinetsu Main Line ran roughly parallel to the route of the Hokuriku Shinkansen extension from Nagano to Kanazawa which opened on 14 March 2015. With the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen, control of local passenger services on the sections of the Shinetsu Main Line running through Nagano and Niigata prefectures was transferred to the following two third-sector operating companies owned primarily by the respective prefectures and municipalities.^[2]

• Shinano Railway Kita-Shinano Line (37.3 km, Nagano to Myōkō-Kōgen)
• Echigo Tokimeki Railway Myōkō Haneuma Line (37.7 km, Myōkō-Kōgen to Naoetsu)

Former connecting lines

The Kubiki Railway prior to 1940

A train on the Uomuna line in 1937, prior to its conversion to 1,067 mm gauge

(Note - for the connections at stations between Karuizawa and Shinonoi, see Shinano Railway Line)

• Nagano Station: The Zenkoji Hakuba Railway Co. opened a 7 km line to Susohana Guchi in 1936. A proposal for the line to be extended to Hakuba on the Oito Line did not eventuate, and the line closed in 1944.
• Kuroi Station: The Kubiki Railway Co. opened a 15 km 762 mm (2 ft 6 in) gauge line to Uragawara between 1914 and 1916, with the line closing in 1971.
• Raikoji Station: The Nagaoka Railway Co. opened a 39 km line to Teradomari (on the Echigo Line) between 1915 and 1921. This company introduced Japan's first diesel railcar in 1928, and in 1951 electrified 31 km of the line at 750 V DC in 70 days, completing the balance the following year. Significant typhoon damage occurred in 1966, and in 1972, passenger services ceased between Raikoji and Nishinagaoka, with the entire line becoming freight-only three years later. The line closed in 1995.

The 13 km 762 mm (2 ft 6 in) gauge Uonuma Railway to Nishiojiya was opened in 1911, and nationalised in 1922. It was converted to 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) gauge in 1954, freight services ceased in 1960, and the line closed in 1984.

• Nagaoka Station: The Tochio Railway opened a 27 km 762 mm (2 ft 6 in) gauge line to Tochio and Yūkyūzan between 1915 and 1924.^[3] The line was electrified at 600 V DC in 1948, with this being raised to 750 V DC in 1956. CTC signalling was commissioned in 1961, freight services ceased in 1967, and the line closed between 1973 and 1975.
• Higashi Sanjo Station: The Echigo Railway Co. opened the 8 km line to Echigo Nagasawa in 1927, and was nationalised two months later. Freight services ceased in 1960, and the line closed in 1985.
• Kamo Station: The Kanbara Railway Co. operated a line to Gosen on the Ban'etsu West Line from 1923 until 2002.

References

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

1. Harada, Katsumasa (1981). "Technological independence and progress of standardization in the Japanese railways". JETRO. Retrieved January 2, 2009. it was eventually decided to build the track at a steep grade of 66.7/1,000
2. Osano, Kagetoshi (March 2015). 　北陸新幹線並行在来線各社の姿 [Guide to companies operating conventional lines alongside the Hokuriku Shinkansen]. Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 44 no. 371 (Japan: Kōtsū Shimbun). pp. 28–33.
3. Wakuda, Yasuo (1993). 私鉄史ハンドブック [Private Railways History Handbook] (in Japanese). Tokyo: Denkisha Kenkyūkai. p. 43. ISBN 4-88548-065-5.