Hokuhoku Line


The Hokuhoku Line is a Japanese railway line in Niigata Prefecture, between Muikamachi in Minamiuonuma City and Saigata in Jōetsu City. This is the only railway line Hokuetsu Express operates. Construction was begun in 1968 by the Japanese National Railways, and it was finally completed as a third sector line in 1997, including the 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 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, however this was reduced to on 14 March 2015 following the withdrawal of Hakutaka services on the line.

Services

Upon the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen on 14 March 2015, the limited express services Hakutaka of the Hokuhoku Line, which had run from 1997 with an average daily ridership of 6,900 passengers, were withdrown. Since then, a daily special rapid service Snow Rabbit was served, instead of Hakutaka. As of March 2020, the services are:
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.

Gallery

Rolling Stock

The Hokuhoku line is entirely in Niigata Prefecture.