Hokuetsu Express

Hokuhoku Line
A 681 series Hakutaka limited express train at Mushigawa-Ōsugi Station, September 2014
Overview
Locale	Niigata Prefecture
Termini	Muikamachi Saigata
Stations	12
Operation
Owner	Hokuetsu Express
Technical
Line length	59.5 km (37.0 mi)
Track gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification	1,500 V DC overhead catenary
Operating speed	160 km/h (100 mph)
Route map

The Hokuhoku Line (ほくほく線, Hokuhoku-sen^?) is a Japanese railway line in Niigata Prefecture, between Muikamachi in Minamiuonuma and Saigata in Jōetsu. This is the only railway line Hokuetsu Express (北越急行, Hokuetsu Kyūkō^?) operates. Construction began in 1968 by the Japanese National Railways (JNR), and it was finally completed as a third sector line in 1997, including the 10,472 m (6.5 mi) 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 maximum line speed of 160 km/h (100 mph) is the fastest non-Shinkansen service in the country, matched only by the Keisei Skyliner services to Narita Airport (also at 160 km/h).