Joetsu Line

The name of the East Japan Railway Company's track that runs through central Niigata Prefecture and into southern Gunma Prefecture. The line is 162.6 km long between Takasaki and Miyauchi, double tracked throughout, and DC-electrified. The branch line between Echigo-Yuzawa and Gala-Yuzawa, 1.8 km long (AC-electrified), is directly connected to the Joetsu Shinkansen, and is in effect part of the Shinkansen. It crosses the Mikuni Mountains on the border between Gunma and Niigata Prefectures, shortcutting the Kanto region and the Japan Coast. It connects with the Tohoku Main Line, Takasaki Line, and Shinetsu Main Line, forming the shortest route between Tokyo and Niigata on conventional lines. On the Gunma side, it runs along the valley of the Tone River, and on the Niigata side, it runs along the valleys of the Uono River and Shinano River, passing through the watershed through the Shimizu Tunnel (for up-bound lines, 9,702 m long) and the Shin-Shimizu Tunnel (for down-bound lines, 13,500 m long). Along the line are cities such as Maebashi, Shibukawa, Numata, and Ojiya, as well as many tourist destinations in the Joshinetsu Kogen National Park, especially many hot springs and ski resorts. Construction began as the Joetsu South Line from Shin-Maebashi, and the Joetsu North Line from Miyauchi, and the lines were opened and completed between 1920 and 1931 (Taisho 9 to Showa 6). The Minakami-Ishiuchi section, including the Shimizu Tunnel, was electrified at the same time as the line opened in 1931, and the other sections were electrified in 1947 (Showa 22) just after World War II. In 1982, the Joetsu Shinkansen opened in parallel, and the main line's function as an intercity passenger transport line between the Kanto region and Niigata Prefecture declined. In 1987, following the privatization of Japan National Railways, the line became part of East Japan Railway Company. Originally, the Joetsu Line referred to the section between Shin-Maebashi and Miyauchi, but in 1957, the Takasaki-Shinmaebashi section of the Ryomo Line was incorporated into the Joetsu Line.

[Eiichi Aoki and Ryo Aoki]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

新潟県中央部を走り、群馬県南部に至る東日本旅客鉄道の線路名称。高崎―宮内(みやうち)間162.6キロメートル、全線複線、直流電化。支線である越後湯沢―ガーラ湯沢間1.8キロメートル（交流電化）は上越新幹線と直通しており、実態としては新幹線の一部となっている。群馬・新潟県境の三国(みくに)山脈を越えて、関東地方と日本海岸を短絡する。東北本線、高崎線、信越本線と結んで、在来線では東京―新潟間の最短路を形成。群馬県側では利根(とね)川の谷沿いに、新潟県側では魚野(うおの)川、信濃(しなの)川の谷沿いに走り、分水界を清水(しみず)トンネル（上り線用、長さ9702メートル）、新清水トンネル（下り線用、長さ1万3500メートル）で抜ける。沿線には、前橋、渋川、沼田、小千谷(おぢや)などの都市、上信越高原国立公園に属する多くの観光地、とくに多くの温泉とスキー場がある。新前橋より上越南線、宮内より上越北線として建設が進められ、1920～1931年（大正9～昭和6）に開業、全通した。清水トンネルを含む水上(みなかみ)―石打(いしうち)間は1931年の開業と同時に、他の区間は第二次世界大戦直後の1947年（昭和22）にそれぞれ電化された。1982年に上越新幹線が並行して開業し、本線の関東地方―新潟県間の都市間旅客輸送の機能は低下した。1987年、日本国有鉄道の分割民営化に伴い、東日本旅客鉄道に所属。なお、当初の上越線は新前橋―宮内間をさしていたが、1957年、両毛(りょうもう)線の高崎―新前橋間を上越線に編入した。

［青木栄一・青木　亮］

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