Hokuriku Shinkansen
Encyclopedia
The is a high-speed Shinkansen
rail line under construction in Japan. The first section, between and , currently called the Nagano Shinkansen
, opened on 1 October 1997.
Future plans for the Hokuriku Shinkansen eventually include extension as far as Osaka
via Toyama
, Kanazawa
and Fukui
. Parts of the 162.1 km section to Toyama began as early as 1993, and as of 2009 construction is currently underway as far as Kanazawa. Breakthrough for the 22.2 km Iiyama tunnel, the longest on the line, was achieved on December 3, 2007.
Completion as far as Toyama is expected by 2012, with service to Kanazawa tentatively scheduled for 2014. Final permissions to start construction to Fukui are tentatively scheduled to be granted by the end of 2009, with modification works to Fukui Station already in progress. Beyond Jōetsu Station, the line will be operated by JR West
instead of JR East.
The final leg from Tsuruga
to Osaka is not yet finalized. There are three options under consideration:
article.
Shinkansen
The , also known as THE BULLET TRAIN, is a network of high-speed railway lines in Japan operated by four Japan Railways Group companies. Starting with the Tōkaidō Shinkansen in 1964, the network has expanded to currently consist of of lines with maximum speeds of , of Mini-shinkansen with a...
rail line under construction in Japan. The first section, between and , currently called the Nagano Shinkansen
Nagano Shinkansen
The is a Shinkansen high-speed rail line operated by East Japan Railway Company between Takasaki and Nagano in Japan. It opened on 1 October 1997, connecting Tokyo and Nagano in time for the 1998 Winter Olympics held in Nagano...
, opened on 1 October 1997.
Future
Osaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
via Toyama
Toyama, Toyama
is the capital city of Toyama Prefecture, Japan, located on the coast of the Sea of Japan in the Chūbu region on central Honshū, about 200 km north of the city of Nagoya and 300 km northwest of Tokyo....
, Kanazawa
Kanazawa, Ishikawa
is the capital city of Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan.-Geography, climate, and population:Kanazawa sits on the Sea of Japan, bordered by the Japan Alps, Hakusan National Park and Noto Peninsula National Park. The city sits between the Sai and Asano rivers. Its total area is 467.77 km².Kanazawa's...
and Fukui
Fukui, Fukui
is the capital of Fukui Prefecture, Japan. The city is located in the north-central part of the prefecture on the coast of the Sea of Japan.-Demographics:...
. Parts of the 162.1 km section to Toyama began as early as 1993, and as of 2009 construction is currently underway as far as Kanazawa. Breakthrough for the 22.2 km Iiyama tunnel, the longest on the line, was achieved on December 3, 2007.
Completion as far as Toyama is expected by 2012, with service to Kanazawa tentatively scheduled for 2014. Final permissions to start construction to Fukui are tentatively scheduled to be granted by the end of 2009, with modification works to Fukui Station already in progress. Beyond Jōetsu Station, the line will be operated by JR West
West Japan Railway Company
, also referred to as , is one of the Japan Railways Group companies and operates in western Honshū. It has its headquarters in Kita-ku, Osaka.-History:...
instead of JR East.
The final leg from Tsuruga
Tsuruga, Fukui
is a city located in southern Fukui Prefecture, Japan.-Outline:One of city of Wakasa Area, present southern Fukui Prececture. Municipalized on April 1, 1937....
to Osaka is not yet finalized. There are three options under consideration:
- Wakasa Route (若狭ルート): Build new track via ObamaObama Stationis a railway station located in Obama, Fukui, Japan, operated by West Japan Railway Company .-Lines:Obama Station is served by the Obama Line linking in Tsuruga, Fukui with in Maizuru, Kyoto.-History:* 10 November 1918: Station opens....
and MaizuruHigashi-Maizuru Stationis a train station in Maizuru, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan.-Layout:The station has one elevated island platform with two tracks.Two trains can stay in the same track....
. Shortest route to Osaka, but also the most expensive (est. 1 trillion yen), and would likely bypass Kyoto. - Maibara Route (米原ルート): Build new track to Maibara StationMaibara Stationis a train station in Maibara, Shiga Prefecture, Japan. It is the southern terminus of the West Japan Railway Company Hokuriku Main Line, and the boundary of control between JR West and JR Central over the Tōkaidō Main Line....
. One third of the length of the Wakasa Route, good access towards Kyoto and Nagoya. Longer travel time to Osaka, and trains would have to use the existing, already near-capacity Tōkaidō Shinkansen tracks between Maibara and Osaka. - Kosei Line Option (湖西線利用): No new track; instead, upgrade the Kosei LineKosei LineThe is one of commuter rail lines and services in Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto Metropolitan Area, operated by West Japan Railway Company. The line was completed in 1974 by the former Japanese National Railways to provide faster access from the Kansai region to the Hokuriku region...
to support Mini-ShinkansenMini-shinkansenis the name given to the concept of converting narrow gauge railway lines to standard gauge for use by Shinkansen train services in Japan. Two mini-shinkansen routes have been constructed: the Yamagata Shinkansen and Akita Shinkansen.-Concept:...
or Gauge Change TrainGauge Change TrainThe Gauge Change Train or is the name given to a Japanese project started in 1994 to develop a high-speed train with variable gauge axles to allow inter-running between the standard gauge Shinkansen network, and the narrow gauge provincial network....
(GCT) operations. By far the cheapest option, but train speeds will be limited to 160 km/h and hence travel times will be long.
Stations
For details of route currently operational, see Nagano ShinkansenNagano Shinkansen
The is a Shinkansen high-speed rail line operated by East Japan Railway Company between Takasaki and Nagano in Japan. It opened on 1 October 1997, connecting Tokyo and Nagano in time for the 1998 Winter Olympics held in Nagano...
article.
| Station | Japanese | Total distance (km) | Transfers | Location | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under construction; scheduled to open before April 2015 | |||||
| 長野駅 | 0 | Nagano Nagano, Nagano , the capital city of Nagano Prefecture, is located in the northern part of the prefecture near the confluence of the Chikuma and the Sai rivers, on the main Japanese island of Honshū.As of April 1, 2011 the city has a population of 387,146... |
Nagano Nagano Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of the island of Honshū. The capital is the city of Nagano.- History :Nagano was formerly known as the province of Shinano... |
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| 飯山駅 | 29.9 | JR East: Iiyama Line Iiyama Line The is a railway line in Japan linking Toyono Station in Nagano, Nagano Prefecture and Echigo-Kawaguchi Station in Nagaoka, Niigata Prefecture. It is operated by East Japan Railway Company .- Stations :-External links:*... |
Iiyama Iiyama, Nagano is a city located in Nagano, Japan. It markets itself as "Japan's Hometown".The city was founded on August 1, 1954. As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 23,969 and the density of 118 persons per km². The total area is 202.32 km²... |
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| 1 | 上越駅 | 59.5 | JR East: Shin'etsu Main Line (Wakinoda Wakinoda Station is a train station located in Jōetsu, Niigata, Japan.The station opened on August 15, 1921.- Lines :*East Japan Railway Company**Hokuriku Shinkansen **Shin'etsu Main Line- Platforms :The station has one island platform.... 2) |
Jōetsu Joetsu, Niigata is a city located in Niigata Prefecture, Japan.As of June 1, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 205,521, with 72,982 households and a population density of 211.15 persons per km². The total area is 973.32 km².... |
Niigata Niigata Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Honshū on the coast of the Sea of Japan. The capital is the city of Niigata. The name "Niigata" literally means "new lagoon".- History :... |
| 糸魚川駅 | 96.5 | JR West West Japan Railway Company , also referred to as , is one of the Japan Railways Group companies and operates in western Honshū. It has its headquarters in Kita-ku, Osaka.-History:... : Hokuriku Main Line Hokuriku Main Line The is a 358.3 kilometer line of the West Japan Railway Company from Maibara Station in Maibara, Shiga to Naoetsu Station in Jōetsu, Niigata. It serves the Hokuriku region on the northern central coast of Honshū, the largest island of Japan, as well as offering connections to the regions of... , Ōito Line Oito Line The is a railway line which runs from Matsumoto Station in Nagano Prefecture to Itoigawa Station in Niigata Prefecture, Japan.There are two operators on the line: East Japan Railway Company operates the section south of Minami-Otari Station in Otari, Nagano Prefecture, and West Japan Railway... |
Itoigawa Itoigawa, Niigata is a city located in rustic southern Niigata Prefecture, Japan.As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 48,653 and the density of 65.2 persons per km². The total area is 746.24 km².The city was founded on June 1, 1954... |
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| 1 | 新黒部駅 | 135.7 | Toyama Chihō Railway Toyama Chiho Railway thumb|Type 9000 tramcar "Centram"The is a transportation company in Toyama, Toyama, Japan. The company is commonly known as . The private company operates railway, tram, and bus lines in the eastern part of the prefecture. It also operates as the agency of All Nippon Airways in Toyama area. The... : Main Line Toyama Chiho Railway Main Line The is a Japanese railway line that connects Dentetsu-Toyama Station in Toyama, Toyama Prefecture with Unazukionsen Station in Kurobe, Toyama Prefecture. It is owned and run by Toyama Chihō Railway.-Station list:... 3 |
Kurobe Kurobe, Toyama is a city located in Toyama, Japan.As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 42,612 and the density of 99.9 persons per km². The total area is 426.34 km². The city was founded on April 1, 1954... |
Toyama Toyama Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan located in the Hokuriku region on Honshū island. The capital is the city of Toyama.Toyama is the leading industrial prefecture on the Japan Sea coast, and has the industrial advantage of cheap electricity due to abundant water resources.... |
| 富山駅 | 169.5 | JR West: Hokuriku Main Line, Takayama Main Line Takayama Main Line is a Japanese railway line between Gifu Station in Gifu and Toyama Station in Toyama, operated by Central Japan Railway Company and West Japan Railway Company . The line directly links Chūkyō Metropolitan Area and Hokuriku region in a shorter distance, but slower than to use Tōkaidō Shinkansen... Toyama Light Rail: Toyamakō Line Toyama Chihō Railway: Fujikoshi Line Toyama Chiho Railway Fujikoshi Line The is a Japanese railway line which connects Inarimachi Station with Minami-Toyama Station all within Toyama, Toyama Prefecture. It is owned and run by Toyama Chihō Railway.-Station list:... , Main Line, Tateyama Line Toyama Chiho Railway Tateyama Line The is a Japanese railway line which connects Terada Station with Tateyama Station all within Tateyama, Nakaniikawa District Toyama Prefecture. It is owned and run by Toyama Chihō Railway.-Station list:... (3 lines at ), Toyama City Tram Line |
Toyama Toyama, Toyama is the capital city of Toyama Prefecture, Japan, located on the coast of the Sea of Japan in the Chūbu region on central Honshū, about 200 km north of the city of Nagoya and 300 km northwest of Tokyo.... |
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| 1 | 新高岡駅 | 188.4 | JR West: Jōhana Line Johana Line is a railway line of West Japan Railway Company between Takaoka and Nanto all within Toyama Prefecture, Japan.-Stations:All stations are in Toyama Prefecture... 3 |
Takaoka Takaoka, Toyama is a city situated in the northwest of Toyama Prefecture, Japan, and is the central city of its Western District. Takaoka covers the 8th largest surface area in Toyama prefecture and has the second largest population after Toyama City... |
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| 金沢駅 | 228 | Hokuriku Railroad Hokuriku Railroad The is a transportation company in Kanazawa, Japan. The company or its lines are commonly known as . The company was founded in 1943, when all the private railway and bus operators in Ishikawa Prefecture were merged into one. Some of its lines, however, have their roots from horse car lines in the... : Asanogawa Line JR West: Hokuriku Main Line, Nanao Line |
Kanazawa Kanazawa, Ishikawa is the capital city of Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan.-Geography, climate, and population:Kanazawa sits on the Sea of Japan, bordered by the Japan Alps, Hakusan National Park and Noto Peninsula National Park. The city sits between the Sai and Asano rivers. Its total area is 467.77 km².Kanazawa's... |
Ishikawa Ishikawa Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region on Honshū island. The capital is Kanazawa.- History :Ishikawa was formed from the merger of Kaga Province and the smaller Noto Province.- Geography :Ishikawa is on the Sea of Japan coast... |
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| Hakusan Depot | 白山総合車両基地 | Hakusan Hakusan, Ishikawa is a city located in Ishikawa, Japan.The city was founded on February 1, 2005 from the merger of the city of Mattō with seven towns and villages from Ishikawa District. As of April 1, 2008 population data, the city has an estimated population of 110,654 and a density of 147 persons per km²... |
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| 小松駅 | 255.2 | JR West: Hokuriku Main Line | Komatsu Komatsu, Ishikawa is a city located in Ishikawa Prefecture in the Hokuriku region of Japan.As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 109,285 with a density of 294 persons per km². The total area is 371.13 km².... |
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| 加賀温泉駅 | 269.8 | JR West: Hokuriku Main Line | Kaga Kaga, Ishikawa is a city located in the southwest of Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan.Created as an old temple town, the city was greatly developed by the Maeda clan in the early Edo period... |
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| 芦原温泉駅 | 286.0 | JR West: Hokuriku Main Line | Awara Awara, Fukui is a city located in Fukui, Japan.As of October 1, 2005, the city has an estimated population of 31,080 and the density of 265.66 persons per km². The total area is 116.99 km².... |
Fukui Fukui Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region on Honshū island. The capital is the city of Fukui.- Prehistory :The Kitadani Dinosaur Quarry, on the Sugiyama River within the city limits of Katsuyama, has yielded the Fukuiraptor kitadaniensis and Fukuisaurus tetoriensis as well as an unnamed... |
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| 福井駅 | 304.0 | Echizen Railway Echizen Railway is a railway company located in Fukui, Fukui Prefecture, Japan. It owns and operates the Katsuyama Eiheiji Line between Fukui and Katsuyama and the Mikuni Awara Line between Fukui and Sakai.-History:... : Katsuyama Eiheiji Line Katsuyama Eiheiji Line The is a railway line operated by Echizen Railway in Fukui Prefecture. The line stretches 27.8 km from the city of Fukui to Katsuyama with a total of 23 stations. It was operated by Keifuku Electric Railway until 2001; Echizen Railway took over the line in 2003.... , Mikuni Awara Line Mikuni Awara Line The is a railway line operated by Echizen Railway in Fukui Prefecture. The line stretches 27.8 km from the city of Fukui to Sakai with a total of 22 stations. It was operated by Keifuku Electric Railway until 2001; Echizen Railway took over the line in 2003.... Fukui Railway Fukui Railway is a bus and railway company located in Echizen, Fukui Prefecture, Japan. It owns and operates the Fukubu Line between Tawaramachi Station in Fukui and Echizen-Takefu Station in Echizen.-Overview:... : Fukubu Line JR West: Etsumi-Hoku Line Etsumi-Hoku Line The is a railway line operated by West Japan Railway Company in Fukui Prefecture, Japan. The line stretches 52.5 km from Echizen-Hanandō Station in Fukui to Kuzuryūko Station in Ōno with a total of 22 stations... (Kuzuryū Line), Hokuriku Main Line |
Fukui Fukui, Fukui is the capital of Fukui Prefecture, Japan. The city is located in the north-central part of the prefecture on the coast of the Sea of Japan.-Demographics:... |
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| 1 | 南越駅 | 323.0 | Echizen Echizen, Fukui is a city in Fukui, Japan.Echizen took its present form on October 1, 2005, when the city of Takefu and the town of Imadate merged to form the new city, although the Echizen Basin has been an important regional center for over 1,500 years. It has many former castle sites and prehistoric... |
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| 敦賀駅 | 348.7 | JR West: Hokuriku Main Line, Obama Line Obama Line The is a railway line on the Sea of Japan coast of central Japan. It is operated by West Japan Railway Company .The long single track railway connects Tsuruga Station on the Hokuriku Main Line in Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture and Higashi-Maizuru Station on the Maizuru Line in Maizuru, Kyoto Prefecture... |
Tsuruga Tsuruga, Fukui is a city located in southern Fukui Prefecture, Japan.-Outline:One of city of Wakasa Area, present southern Fukui Prececture. Municipalized on April 1, 1937.... |
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| (The route between Tsuruga and Shin-Ōsaka Shin-Osaka Station is a train station in Yodogawa-ku, Osaka, Japan. It is the western terminus of the Tōkaidō Shinkansen, and the eastern terminus of the Sanyō Shinkansen. The lines are physically joined, and many trains offer through service.... is not yet determined.) |
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- Stations in italics are not currently operational.
- 1: Tentative name.
- 2: The current name will be changed when the Shinkansen line opens.
- 3: A new station will be constructed.