Hakushin Line

The Hakushin Line (白新線) is a Japanese railway line which runs between Niigata and Shibata stations in the cities of Niigata and Shibata in Niigata Prefecture. It is part of the East Japan Railway Company (JR East) network.

Basic data

 * Operators, distances:
 * East Japan Railway Company (JR East) (Services and tracks)
 * Niigata – Shibata: 27.3 km
 * Japan Freight Railway Company (JR Freight) (Services only)
 * Kami-Nuttari Junction – Shibata: 25.4 km
 * Double-tracking: Niigata – Niizaki
 * Railway signalling: ATS-Ps

Services
, the following services are operated.
 * Limited express, Rapid


 * Local
 * Niigata - Toyosaka: every 20 minutes
 * Toyosaka - Shibata: every 60 minutes (every 20 minutes during peaks)

Station list

 * All stations are located in Niigata Prefecture.

Symbols:
 * ◇ - Single-track; station where trains can pass
 * ^ - Double-track section starts from this point
 * ∥ - Double-track
 * ∨ - Single-track section starts from this point

Present

 * E129 series 2/4-car EMUs (since December 2014)
 * E653 series 7-car EMUs (Inaho limited express, since September 2013)

Former

 * 115 series 2/3/4-car EMUs (until March 2018)
 * E127 series 2-car EMUs (until March 2015)
 * 485 series 6-car EMUs (Inaho, until July 2014)
 * 165 series
 * 70 series

History
The first section opened on 23 December 1952 was the 12.3 km line between Shibata Station and Kuzutsuka Station (now Toyosaka Station). On 15 April 1956, the line was extended 14.9 km from Kuzutsuka to Niigata.

The line was electrified at 1,500 V DC in 1972, and double-tracked in sections between 1978 and 1981.