The Shin-etsu Line connects Takasaki Station in Takasaki City, Gunma Prefecture with Niigata Station in Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture.
In the past, a single line connected Takasaki Station to Niigata Station, but with the opening of the Shinkansen line to Nagano (now Hokuriku Shinkansen) in October 1997, the line between Yokokawa Station and Karuizawa Station, which runs parallel to the Shinkansen line, was discontinued. At that time, the remaining line between Karuizawa Station and Shinonoi Station was also transferred to Shinano Railway. In March 2015, the Hokuriku Shinkansen line extension between Nagano and Kanazawa stations opened for service, and management of the line between Nagano and Naoetsu stations was also transferred to Shinano Railway and Echigo TOKImeki Railway.
Currently, the Shin-etsu Line operating as JR EAST has three sections: between Takasaki Station and Yokokawa Station, between Shinonoi Station and Nagano Station, and between Naoetsu Station and Niigata Station. This DLC includes the section between Naoetsu Station and Niigata Station.
Omigawa(青海川) Station, located on the way to the station, is known as a station adjacent to the sea, along with Umi-Shibaura Station on the Tsurumi Line and Rikuzen-Otsuka Station on the Senseki Line, where you can watch the sun set over the Sea of Japan from the platform.The train runs along the seaside section of the Sea of Japan between Naoetsu Station and Kashiwazaki Station, and between Kashiwazaki Station and Niigata Station, it runs through the rural landscape that symbolizes Niigata as a rice-producing region.
Highlights
- The section running along the beach where you can see the sandy beach/Kakizaki Station - Yoneyama Station
- Tunnel of the old railway line seen immediately after exiting Yoneyama Station/Yoneyama Station - Kasashima Station
- Stations adjacent to the Sea of Japan / Omigawa Station
- Kujiranami Beach seen just before arriving at Kujiranami Station / Omigawa Station - Kujiranami Station
- Running through mountainous areas and tunnel sections/Kitajo Station - Tsukayama Station
- Crossing the Shinano River, the longest river in Japan / Raikoji Station - Maekawa Station
- Scenery of the railroad town of Niitsu / Furutsu Station - Satsukino Station
Before arriving at Niitsu Station, the pull-in line from the Niitsu Works of the General Rolling Stock Works seen on the left side of the train, and the Yamanote Line E235 Series stopping at Niitsu Station.
The turntable and snow dumping maintenance cars seen after departure from Niitsu Station. - Series 115 and E257 detained at the Niigata Rolling Stock Center / Echigo-Ishiyama Station - Niigata Station.
Route Information
- Section: Shin-etsu Line Outbound Naoetsu ⇒ Niigata
- Total length: 136.3 km
- Number of Stations: 42
- Security equipment: ATS-Ps/ATS-P
Train schedules that can be operated
- Train Number：1327M
- Type/Destination: Local train to Nagaoka
- Section where you can drive: Naoetsu to Nagaoka
- Type of train: Series E129, 4 cars
- Responsible for real voice train announcements: Niigata train crew depot
- Train Number：1323M
- Type/Destination: Local train to Niigata
- Section where you can drive: Kashiwazaki to Niigata
- Type of train: Series E129, 4 cars
- Responsible for real voice train announcements: Niigata train crew depot
- Train Number：431M
- Type/Destination: Local train to Niigata
- Section where you can drive: Nagaoka to Niigata
- Type of train: Series E129, 4 cars
- Responsible for real voice train announcements: Niigata train crew depot
- Train Number：3481M
- Type/Destination: Rapid train to Niigata
- Section where you can drive: Nagaoka to Niigata
- Type of train: Series E129, 4 cars
- Responsible for real voice train announcements: Niigata train crew depot
- Train Number：2523M
- Type/Destination: Local train to Niigata
- Section where you can drive: Niitsu to Niigata
- Type of train: Series E129, 4 cars
- Responsible for real voice train announcements: Niigata train crew depot
- Section: Shin-etsu Line Outbound Naoetsu ⇒ Niigata
