Uetsu Main Line

Uetsu Main Line
An Inaho limited express service
Overview
Native name	羽越本線
Type	Heavy rail
System	JR East
Status	Operating
Locale	Niigata, Yamagata, Akita Prefectures
Termini	Niitsu Station Akita Station
Stations	61
Operation
Opened	September 2, 1912
Owner	JR East
Operator(s)	JR East, JR Freight
Technical
Track length	274.4 km
Track gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in)
Electrification	1,500 V DC, 20 kV AC 50Hz
Operating speed	120 km/h (75 mph)
Route map

The Uetsu Main Line (羽越本線, Uetsu-hon-sen^?) is a railway line in the Tohoku and Chubu regions of Japan. Part of the East Japan Railway Company (JR East) system, it connects Niitsu Station in the city of Niigata and Akita Station in Akita. The name "Uetsu" refers to the ancient provinces of Dewa (出羽) and Echigo (越後), which the line connects.

Between Shibata and Murakami, most of the local trains travel through to/from Niigata via Hakushin Line.

Symbols:

115 series

E129 series

701 series

KiHa 40/47/48 series

KiHa 40/47/48 series

The line was opened in sections between 1912 and 1924, and electrified in 1972, the same year CTC signalling was commissioned.

Work to double-track the line in sections commenced in 1957, and continued for 25 years until being suspended due to capital expenditure restrictions in 1983, at which time 51% of the route was double-tracked.

On December 25, 2005, all six cars of a limited express train Inaho No.14 on the Uetsu Line derailed in Yamagata prefecture, about 350 kilometres (220 mi) north of Tokyo. The train was headed south towards Kita-Amarume Station. Three of the cars turned over, causing the deaths of five people and injuring 33 others. Three other persons were originally reported missing, but authorities later discovered that they had disembarked from the train before the accident.