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Hokuriku Main Line

Hokuriku Main Line
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JR Hokuriku Mainline linemap.svg
Overview
Native name 北陸本線
Type Heavy rail, Passenger/freight rail
Regional rail, Intercity rail
System JR West
Status Operational
Locale Shiga Prefecture
Fukui Prefecture
Ishikawa Prefecture
Termini Maibara Station
Kanazawa Station
Stations 43
Operation
Opened Stages between 1882-1902
Closed 14. 3. 2015: Kanazawa - Naoetsu (Converted to the three sectors of the private railway)
Owner JR West
Operator(s) JR West, JR Freight
Technical
Line length 176.6 km (109.7 mi)
Track gauge 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification 1,500 V DC, 20 kV/60 Hz AC overhead line
Operating speed 130 km/h (80 mph)
Route map

The Hokuriku Main Line (北陸本線 Hokuriku-Honsen?) is a 176.6 kilometer railway line owned by West Japan Railway Company (JR West) connecting Maibara Station in Maibara, Shiga, with Kanazawa Station in Kanazawa, Ishikawa. It serves the Hokuriku region on the northern central coast of Honshu, the largest island of Japan, as well as offering connections to the regions of Kansai, Tōkai, Kantō, and Tōhoku.

The line is an important transportation artery along the Sea of Japan coast, because the Shinkansen high-speed network has not yet been extended through the Hokuriku region. The Hokuriku Shinkansen was opened on March 14, 2015 between Nagano and Kanazawa, therefore the interval between the Kanazawa Station and the Naoetsu Station was converted to the three segments of private railway companies; the remaining segment onward to Kansai is still in the planning stages. As a result, narrow gauge limited expresses such as the Thunderbird and Shirasagi are common sights along the line.

The Hokuriku Main Line has double track and is completely electrified: the section from Maibara to Tsuruga use 1,500 V DC power, while the section from Tsuruga to Kanazawa uses 20 kV AC, 60 Hz power.


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Wikipedia

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