Echigo Tokimeki Railway
{{Short description|Railway operating company in Japan}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2014}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Echigo TOKImeki Railway Company
| native_name = えちごトキめき鉄道株式会社
| native_name_lang = ja
| romanized_name = Echigo TOKImeki Tetsudō kabushiki gaisha
| logo = File:Echigo-TOKImeki logomark.svg
| traded_as =
| genre = Rail transport
| fate =
| predecessor =
| successor =
| foundation = 22 November 2010
| founder =
| defunct =
| location_city = Joetsu, Niigata
| location_country = Japan
| location =
| locations =
| area_served = Niigata Prefecture
| key_people = Tadahiro Shimazu (President)
| industry =
| products =
| production =
| services = Passenger railway
| revenue =
| operating_income =
| net_income =
| aum =
| assets =
| equity =
| owner =
| num_employees =
| parent =
| divisions =
| subsid =
| homepage = {{URL|www.echigo-tokimeki.co.jp}}
| footnotes =
| intl =
}}
The {{nihongo|Echigo TOKImeki Railway Company|えちごトキめき鉄道株式会社|Echigo TOKImeki Tetsudō kabushiki-gaisha}}, officially abbreviated as ETR, is a Japanese third-sector railway operator. It was established in 2010 to operate passenger railway services on the sections of the JR East Shinetsu Main Line and JR West Hokuriku Main Line within Niigata Prefecture when they were separated from the respective JR Group operators in March 2015, coinciding with the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen extension from {{STN|Nagano|x}} to {{STN|Kanazawa|x}}. The main shareholders of the company are Niigata Prefecture, the City of Joetsu, the City of Itoigawa, and the City of Myoko.
Lines
{{Plainlist|
- {{Colorbull|MediumSpringGreen}} Myōkō Haneuma Line (37.7 km, {{STN|Myōkō-Kōgen|x}} - {{STN|Naoetsu|x}})
- {{Colorbull|DodgerBlue}} Nihonkai Hisui Line (59.3 km, Naoetsu - {{STN|Ichiburi|x}})
}}
Since 14 March 2015, Echigo Tokimeki Railway operates local passenger operations on two lines: 10 stations on the 37.7 km {{Nihongo|Myōkō Haneuma Line|妙高はねうまライン}} (formerly part of the JR East Shinetsu Main Line) between {{STN|Myōkō-Kōgen|x}} and {{STN|Naoetsu|x}}, and 13 stations on the 59.3 km {{Nihongo|Nihonkai Hisui Line|日本海ひすいライン}} (formerly part of the JR West Hokuriku Main Line) between Naoetsu and {{STN|Ichiburi|x}}.{{cite magazine |last= Osano|first=Kagetoshi |script-title=ja: 北陸新幹線並行在来線各社の姿 |trans-title= Guide to companies operating conventional lines alongside the Hokuriku Shinkansen |magazine=Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō Magazine |volume = 44|issue = 371 |pages=28–33 |publisher = Kōtsū Shimbun |location = Japan |language= ja |date = March 2015}}
Myōkō Haneuma Line
{{Infobox rail line
| name = Myōkō Haneuma Line
| other_name =
| native_name = 妙高はねうまライン
| native_name_lang = ja
| color = 35c98e
| logo =
| logo_width =
| logo_alt =
| image = Myoko-Haneuma-Line ET127.jpg
| image_width = 300px
| image_alt =
| caption = An ET127 series EMU on the Myōkō Haneuma Line in February 2022
| type = Regional rail
| system =
| status = Operational
| locale = Niigata Prefecture
| start = {{STN|Myōkō-Kōgen|x}}
| end = {{STN|Naoetsu|x}}
| stations = 10
| routes =
| daily_ridership =
| open = 15 August 1886
| close =
| owner = 25px Echigo Tokimeki Railway
| operator =
| character =
| depot =
| stock = ET127 series EMUs
E653-1100 series EMUs
| linelength_km = 37.7
| tracklength =
| tracks = Single track
| gauge = {{Track gauge|1067mm}}
| minradius =
| routenumber =
| linenumber =
| electrification = 1,500 V DC Overhead line
| speed =
| elevation =
| maxincline =
| website =
| map = 280px
}}
{{routemap
| collapse = yes
| title = Myōkō Haneuma Line
| title-bg = #35c98e
| width = 300px
| map =
\STR~~Shinano Railway Kita-Shinano Line
\BHF~~0.0~~Myōkō-Kōgen
\BHF~~6.4~~Sekiyama~~ ~~Since 1985
\\eABZgl\exKBHFeq~~ ~~Sekiyama~~ ~~Until 1985
\\ABZgl\KBHFeq~~14.7~~Nihongi
\BHF~~21.0~~Arai
LSTR\BHF~~23.9~~Kita-Arai
exSTR+l\eKRZo\eABZgr\~~JR East Hokuriku Shinkansen
exBHF\STR\STR\~~27.3~~Wakinoda~~ ~~Until 2014
exSTR\BHF\BHF\~~27.3~~Jōetsumyōkō~~ ~~Since 2014
exSTR\STRl\KRZu\STRq~~JR West Hokuriku Shinkansen
exSTRl\exSTRq\eABZg+r\
\BHF~~29.0~~Minami-Takada
\BHF~~31.0~~Takada
\BHF~~34.9~~Kasugayama
exSTRc2\eABZg3
exSTR+1\ABZg+l!~exSTRc4~~Nihonkai Hisui Line
exSTR\BHF~~37.7~~Naoetsu~~ ~~Since 1899
exKBHFe\STR~~37.9~~Naoetsu~~ ~~Until 1899
\STR~~JR East Shinetsu Main Line
}}
=Service outline=
In addition to all-stations {{Nihongo|"Local"|普通|futsū}} services operated by ETR, the line is used by JR East Shirayuki limited express services operating over the section between {{STN|Jōetsumyōkō|x}} and {{STN|Naoetsu|x}}, providing connections with the Hokuriku Shinkansen at Naoetsu, and also by one return "Rapid" service daily operated by the Hokuetsu Express, to and from {{STN|Echigo-Yuzawa|x}} and using the section of the line between Naoetsu and {{STN|Arai|x|Niigata}}.{{cite web|url= http://rail.hobidas.com/news/info/article/post_109.html|script-title= ja: 北越急行 えちごトキめき鉄道に乗入れ|trans-title= Hokuetsu Express to inter-run over Echigo Tokimeki Railway|date= 19 February 2015|website= Tetsudo Hobidas|publisher= Neko Publishing Co., Ltd.|location= Japan|language= ja|access-date= 20 February 2015|archive-date= 20 February 2015|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150220044519/http://rail.hobidas.com/news/info/article/post_109.html|url-status= dead}} The Rapid service on only holidays which uses 455 series and 413 series has been commenced operated since 4 July 2021.{{Cite web |url=https://www.series455413express.jp/cont7/main.html |title=About Rapid and Express service |access-date=9 July 2021 |archive-date=9 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709190918/https://www.series455413express.jp/cont7/main.html |url-status=live }}
=Stations=
All stations are in Niigata Prefecture.
| class="wikitable" |
| Station
! Japanese ! Transfers ! Location |
|---|
| {{STN|Myōkō-Kōgen|x}}
| 妙高高原 | 20px Shinano Railway Kita-Shinano Line | rowspan="2" |Myōkō |
| {{STN|Sekiyama|x}}
| 関山 | |
| {{STN|Nihongi|x}}
| 二本木 | | Jōetsu |
| {{STN|Arai|x|Niigata}}
| 新井 | | rowspan="2" |Myōkō |
| {{STN|Kita-Arai|x}}
| 北新井 | |
| {{STN|Jōetsumyōkō|x}}
| 上越妙高 | rowspan="5" |Jōetsu |
| {{STN|Minami-Takada|x}}
| 南高田 | |
| {{STN|Takada|x|Niigata}}
| 高田 | |
| {{STN|Kasugayama|x}}
| 春日山 | |
| {{STN|Naoetsu|x}}
| 直江津 | {{Plainlist|
}} |
=Rolling stock=
Local services on the Myōkō Haneuma Line use a fleet of ten ET127 series 2-car electric multiple unit (EMU) trains transferred from JR East. These have reinforced front-end skirts, and feature a new livery. They operate as two- or four-car formation during the off-peak periods, and as six-car formations during peak periods. Shirayuki limited express services operated by JR East use four-car E653-1100 series EMUs.
Since 4 July 2021, Rapid service which uses 413 series and 455 series has been commenced operating on Myoko Haneuma Line on only holidays.
File:ETR E127-V7 20210619 Takada-Station.jpg|An ET127 series EMU, June 2021
File:Series-E653 1100.jpg|A Shirayuki E653-1100 series EMU
File:Series455-701 Tateyama.jpg|455 series and 413 series EMU which had been used by JR West on Nanao Line since 2020
Nihonkai Hisui Line
{{Infobox rail line
| box_width =
| name = Nihonkai Hisui Line
| other_name =
| native_name = 日本海ひすいライン
| native_name_lang = ja
| color = 3782bd
| logo =
| logo_width = 120px
| logo_alt =
| image = Series-ET122-1.jpg
| image_width = 300px
| image_alt =
| caption = An ET122 diesel car on the Nihonkai Hisui Line in October 2021
| type = Regional rail
| system =
| status = Operational
| locale = Niigata Prefecture
| start = {{STN|Naoetsu|x}}
| end = {{STN|Ichiburi|x}}
| stations = 13
| routes =
| daily_ridership =
| open = 1911
| close =
| owner = 25px Echigo Tokimeki Railway
| operator =
| character =
| depot =
| stock = ET122 DMUs
485 series (JR), 521 series
| linelength_km = 59.3
| tracklength =
| tracks = Double track
| gauge = {{Track gauge|1067mm}}
| minradius =
| routenumber =
| linenumber =
| electrification = 1,500 V DC / 20 kV AC (60 Hz) Overhead line
| speed =
| elevation =
| maxincline =
| website =
| map = 300px
}}
{{routemap
| collapse = yes
| title = Nihonkai Hisui Line
| title-bg = #3782bd
| width = 300px
| map =
STR~~Ainokaze Toyama Railway Line
BHF~~0.0~~Ichiburi
\eKRWgl\exKRW+r~~Former Line
\TUNNEL1\exTUNNEL1~~Oyashirazu Tunnel
\TUNNEL1\exTUNNEL1
\TUNNEL1!~POINTERg@fq\exTUNNEL1~~Namiki Tunnel
\TUNNEL1\exTUNNEL1
\tSTRa\exTUNNEL1
\tSTRe\exDST~~5.9~~Kazanami (Signal Box)
\eKRWg+l\exKRWr
BHF~~8.6~~Oyashirazu
BS2+l\BS2+r
tSTRa\TUNNEL1~~Koshirazu Tunnel
tSTRg\TUNNEL1
tSTR!~POINTERg@fq\tSTRa~~Shinkoshirazu Tunnel
tSTRe\tSTRe~~Katsuyama Tunnel
BS2l\BS2r
eDST~~12.8~~Kuroiwa (Signal Box)
exSTR+r\STR\~~for Electrochemical Industry
exDST\BHF\~~13.9~~Ōmi
exSTRr\STR\
eDST~~17.1~~Himekawa (Signal Box)
STRl\KRZu\STR+r~~Hokuriku Shinkansen
\hKRZWae\hKRZWae~~Himekawa River
STR+l\KRZu\STRr
eKRZo\eABZg+r\~~for Myojo Cement
KRZo\ABZg+r\~~Ōito Line
BHF!~HUBaq\BHF!~HUBeq\~~20.5~~Itoigawa
STR3\STR\
\STR\ELCe~~20 kV AC↑
\STR+GRZq\ELCa~~1,500 V DC↓
hKRZWae~~Umikawa
BHF~~22.1~~Echigo Oshiage Hisui Kaigan
BHF~~24.8~~Kajiyashiki
hKRZWae~~Hayakawa
BHF~~{{BSsplit|28.3|0.0*|line=1|align=right}}~~Uramoto
\eKRWgl\exKRW+r~~ ~~Former Line~~ ~~until 1969
\tSTRa\exSTR~~Uramoto Tunnel
\tSTRe\exDST~~Konoura (Signal Box)
\tSTRa\exSTR~~Konoura Tunnel
\tSTRe\exBHF~~{{BSsplit||5.6*|line=1|align=right}}~~Nō
\BHF\exSTR~~33.4~~Nō
\tSTRa\exTUNNEL1~~Hakusan Tunnel
\tSTR\exTUNNEL1~~Kodomari Tunnel
\tSTR\exTUNNEL1~~Momogawa Tunnel
\tSTR\exDST~~Momogawa (Signal Box)
\tSTR!~POINTERg@fq\exSTR~~Gubiki Tunnel
\tSTR\exBHF~~{{BSsplit||12.0*|line=1|align=right}}~~Tsutsuishi
\tBHF\exSTR~~40.9~~Tsutsuishi
\tSTR\exDST~~Nishinadachi (Signal Box)
\tSTRe\exTUNNEL1~~Nadachi Tunnel
\BHF\exSTR~~45.1~~Nadachi
\tSTRa\exBHF~~{{BSsplit||18.6*|line=1|align=right}}~~Nadachi
\tSTR\exTUNNEL1~~Nadachi Tunnel
\tSTRe\exTUNNEL1~~Aokisaka Tunnel
\eKRWg+l\exKRWr
BHF~~{{BSsplit|49.3|23.2*|line=1|align=right}}~~Arimagawa
\eKRWgl\exKRW+r
\TUNNEL1\exTUNNEL1~~Nagahama Tunnel/former Nagahama Tunnel
\eKRWg+l\exKRWr
BHF~~{{BSsplit|52.7|26.5*|line=1|align=right}}~~Tanihama
\eKRWgl\exKRW+r
\tSTRa\exBHF~~{{BSsplit||28.9*|line=1|align=right}}~~Gōzu
\tSTRe\exTUNNEL1~~Yudono Tunnel/Gōzu Tunnel
\eKRWg+l\exKRWr
eABZq+r\ABZg+r\~~Myōkō Haneuma Line
exKRWgl\eKRWg+r\
exKBHFe\BHF\~~{{BSsplit|59.3|33.4*|line=1|align=right}}~~Naoetsu
STR~~Shinetsu Main Line
}}
=Service outline=
While the western boundary of the Nihonkai Hisui Line is at Ichiburi Station, most services on the line in practice operate between Naoetsu and {{STN|Tomari|x|Toyama}} on tracks owned by Ainokaze Toyama Railway. At Tomari Station, both ETR trains and Ainokaze Toyama Railway trains use platform 2, allowing a same-platform transfer. The Express service, which uses 455 series and 413 series, runs only on holidays and commenced operations on 4 July 2021, with an additional 500 yen fare required to board.
=Stations=
All stations are in Niigata Prefecture.
| class="wikitable"
! Station ! Japanese ! Transfers ! Location |
| {{STN|Ichiburi|x}}
| 市振 | 25px Ainokaze Toyama Railway Line | rowspan="9" | Itoigawa |
| {{STN|Oyashirazu|x}}
| 親不知 | |
| {{STN|Ōmi|x|Niigata}}
| 青海 | |
| {{STN|Itoigawa|x}}
| 糸魚川 | {{plainlist|
}} |
| {{STN|Echigo Oshiage Hisui Kaigan|x}}
| えちご押上ひすい海岸 | |
| {{STN|Kajiyashiki|x}}
| 梶屋敷 | |
| {{STN|Uramoto|x}}
| 浦本 | |
| {{STN|Nō|x}}
| 能生 | |
| {{STN|Tsutsuishi|x}}
| 筒石 | |
| {{STN|Nadachi|x}}
| 名立 | | rowspan="4" | Jōetsu |
| {{STN|Arimagawa|x}}
| 有間川 | |
| {{STN|Tanihama|x}}
| 谷浜 | |
| {{STN|Naoetsu|x}}
| 直江津 | {{Plainlist|
}} |
=Rolling stock=
The eastern section of the line is electrified at 1,500 V DC and the western section of the line is electrified at 20 kV AC (60 Hz) overhead, with a dead section separating the two different power supplies between Itoigawa and Kajiyashiki stations, but in order to eliminate the need to procure new dual-voltage rolling stock, local services on the Nihonkai Hisui Line use a fleet of eight new ET122 single-car diesel multiple unit (DMU) trains based on the JR West KiHa 122 series design. This fleet includes two special-event cars. Services normally operate as single-car trains during the off-peak periods, increased to two cars during the peaks.
Until March 2017, a seasonal, limited-stop Rapid service, operating between {{STN|Niigata|x}} and Itoigawa, ran once a day in each direction using a 6-car JR East 485 series EMU.{{cite web|url= http://www.echigo-tokimeki.co.jp/userfiles/elfinder/information/161216_daiyakaisei.pdf|script-title= ja:2017年3月ダイヤ改正について|trans-title= Timetable revision in March 2017|year= 2016|publisher= Echigo Tokimeki Railway Company|location= Japan|language= ja|access-date= 18 December 2017|archive-date= 17 December 2016|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161217010225/https://www.echigo-tokimeki.co.jp/userfiles/elfinder/information/161216_daiyakaisei.pdf|url-status= live}}
Since 4 July 2021, an Express service has been run, operating only on holidays. It uses 413 series and 455 series cars.
File:Echigo tokimeki railway ET122kei.JPG|An ET122 DMU car, June 2015
File:Echigo Tokimeki Railway ET122-8 20150510 01.jpg|An ET122 DMU special-event car, May 2015
File:485系3000番台.jpg|A JR East 485 series EMU
File:ETR 413 test run 20210619 Takada-Station.jpg|413 series and 455 series EMU which had been used by JR West on Nanao Line since 2020
History
The company was founded on 22 November 2010.{{cite web|url= http://www.echigo-tokimeki.co.jp/company.html|script-title= ja:会社概要|trans-title= Company overview|year= 2011|publisher= Echigo Tokimeki Railway Company|location= Japan|language= ja|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140319191751/http://www.echigo-tokimeki.co.jp/company.html|archive-date= 19 March 2014|access-date= 19 March 2014|url-status= dead|df= dmy-all}} The new names for the two lines to be operated by the company were announced in June 2012,{{cite web|url= http://www.echigo-tokimeki.co.jp/PDF/name/name.pdf|script-title= ja:並行在来線会社名・路線名の候補が決定しました|trans-title= Names decided for operating company and lines|date= 22 June 2012|location= Japan|language= ja|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140319192514/http://www.echigo-tokimeki.co.jp/PDF/name/name.pdf|archive-date= 19 March 2014|access-date= 19 March 2014|url-status= dead|df= dmy-all}} and the company name was changed to Echigo Tokimeki Railway Company from 1 July 2012. The company was formally granted a railway operating license by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism on 28 February 2014.{{cite web|url= http://www.mlit.go.jp/report/press/tetsudo03_hh_000054.html|script-title= ja:しなの鉄道（株）、えちごトキめき鉄道（株）、あいの風とやま鉄道（株）及びＩＲいしかわ鉄道（株）申請の第一種鉄道事業許可について|trans-title= Details of railway business approval for Shinano Railway, Echigo Tokimeki Railway Company, Ainokaze Toyama Railway, and IR Ishikawa Railway|date= 26 February 2014|website= News release|publisher= Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism|location= Japan|language= ja|access-date= 19 March 2014|archive-date= 19 March 2014|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140319144537/http://www.mlit.go.jp/report/press/tetsudo03_hh_000054.html|url-status= live}}
Resort train
File:DMU ET122-1000 Setsugekka.jpg
A two-car ET122-1000 series diesel multiple unit resort train entered service from 23 April 2016, operating over both of the ETR lines.{{cite web| url=https://www.echigo-tokimeki.co.jp/contest/|script-title=ja:リゾート列車（観光列車）愛称名募集| trans-title=Invitation to name new resort train| website=Echigo Tokimeki Railway| date=January 2015| language=ja| access-date=12 March 2015| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150212174056/https://www.echigo-tokimeki.co.jp/contest/| archive-date=12 February 2015}} The two-car diesel train is branded {{Nihongo||雪月花|Setsugekka|lit. "Snow, Moon, Flowers"}}.{{cite web|url= http://railf.jp/news/2016/03/25/150000.html|script-title= ja: ET122形1000番台「雪月花」が甲種輸送される|trans-title= ET122-1000 series "Setsugekka" delivered|date= 25 March 2016|website= Japan Railfan Magazine Online|publisher= Koyusha Co., Ltd.|location= Japan|language= ja|access-date= 25 March 2016|archive-date= 25 March 2016|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160325074009/http://railf.jp/news/2016/03/25/150000.html|url-status= live}}
See also
- List of railway companies in Japan
- List of railway lines in Japan
- Shinano Railway, a third-sector railway company in neighbouring Nagano Prefecture
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{Official website|http://www.echigo-tokimeki.co.jp}} {{in lang|ja}}
{{Parallel_Conventional_Lines_(Japan)}}
{{Hokuriku_Main_Line_(undivided)|station=0|e=true}}
{{Shin'etsu Main Line (undivided)|station=0|e=true}}
{{Niigata transit}}
Category:Railway companies of Japan
Category:Companies based in Niigata Prefecture
Category:Railway companies established in 2010
Category:1067 mm gauge railways in Japan