Yahiko Line

Yahiko Line
An E127 series EMU at Yahiko Station
Overview
Native name	弥彦線
Owner	JR East
Locale	Niigata Prefecture
Termini	Higashi-Sanjō Yahiko
Stations	8
Service
Type	Regional rail
Rolling stock	E129 series
History
Opened	1916 (1916)
Technical
Line length	17.4 km (10.8 mi)
Track gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification	1,500 V DC overhead catenary
Operating speed	85 km/h (55 mph)
Route map 0.0 Yahiko (弥彦) 2.3 Yahagi (矢作) Echigo Line 4.9 Yoshida (吉田) Echigo Line Otori River 8.0 Nishi-Tsubame (西燕) 10.3 Tsubame (燕) Nakanokuchi River Hokuriku Expressway (E8) 12.9 Tsubame-Sanjō (燕三条) Jōetsu Shinkansen Shinano River 15.4 Kita-Sanjō (北三条) Shin'etsu Main Line 17.4 Higashi-Sanjō (東三条) Shin'etsu Main Line Echigo-Ōsaki (越後大崎) Ōura (大浦) Echigo-Nagasawa (越後長沢)

The Yahiko Line (弥彦線, Yahiko-sen) is a Japanese railway line operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) which connects Yahiko Station in the village of Yahiko and Higashi-Sanjō Station in the city of Sanjo, both in Niigata Prefecture. The line shares its name with both Yahiko Village and nearby Mt. Yahiko.

Line map

Services

All trains on the line operate as local services stopping at all stations. Most services run between Yahiko and Yoshida, and Yoshida and Higashi-Sanjō. A few services run the full length of the line from Yahiko to Higashi-Sanjō, and one service in the mornings in both directions runs through to the Echigo Line toward Teradomari. There is an hourly service in the mornings and evenings, and service every 2–3 hours during the mid-day.

Stations

Stations of Yahiko Line

Name	Japanese	Distance (km)	Transfers		Location
Yahiko	弥彦	0.0		｜	Yahiko	Niigata Prefecture
Yahagi	矢作	2.3		｜
Yoshida	吉田	4.9	■Echigo Line	◇	Tsubame
Nishi-Tsubame	西燕	8.0		｜
Tsubame	燕	10.3		◇
Tsubame-Sanjō	燕三条	12.9	Joetsu Shinkansen	｜	Sanjō
Kita-Sanjō	北三条	15.4		｜
Higashi-Sanjō	東三条	17.4	■Shinetsu Main Line	◇
Echigo-Ōsaki	越後大崎	-	Closed 1985	｜
Ōura	大浦	-	Closed 1985	｜
Echigo-Nagasawa	越後長沢	-	Closed 1985	｜

Symbols:

• | - Single-track
• ◇ - Single-track; station where trains can pass

Rolling stock

E127 series EMUs and 115-1000 series EMUs at Yoshida Station

• E129 series 2/4-car EMUs (since March 2015)

New E129 series EMUs were introduced on local services on the line from fiscal 2014.

Former

• 115-500 series 2 car EMUs (until March 2015)
• 115-1000 series 3-car EMUs (until 11 March 2022)
• E127 series 2-car EMUs (from March 2015 to 11 March 2022)

• 
  E129 series
• 
  115-500 series

History

The Echigo Railway opened the Yahiko to Yoshida section in 1916 and extended the line to Higashi-Sanjo in 1926. The company was nationalised in 1927.

Freight services ceased in 1960, and the line was electrified in 1984.

Former connecting lines

• Tsubame Station: The Niigata Kotsu opened a 34 km line electrified at 1,500 V DC to Sekiya on the Echigo Line in 1933. Freight services ceased in 1982, and the line closed between 1993 and 1999.
• Higashi-Sanjo station: An 8 km line to Echigo Nagasawa operated between 1927 and 1985.

External links

• Yahiko Line stations (JR East) (in Japanese)
• Yahiko Line timetable (JR East) (in Japanese)
• Yahiko Line (in Japanese)