JR Freight on Hokuriku's third-sector railways
The segment west of Naoetsu in Niigata prefecture of the ex-JR Hokuriku Main Line, a distance of about 60 km, was transferred to the third-sector Echigo TOKImeki Railway company (ETR) in March 2015, coinciding with the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen extension from Nagano to Kanazawa. However, the segment still keeps the position of part of the vital artery for the freight traffic along the Sea of Japan coast, connecting the northern major cities, such as Niigata, Akita and further Sapporo in Hokkaido with the western major cities, such as Osaka, Okayama and further Fukuoka in Kyushu. JR Freight Company runs about 10 long distance freight trains daily in each direction through the ETR territory. The motive power is solely AC-DC dual voltage locomotives of type EF510 based at JR Freight's Toyama engine base.
All photos: Hiroshi Naito.
South-bound container train originated from Sapporo Freight Terminal destined for Suita Freight Terminal Osaka, north of Arimagawa station. 16th June 2024.
North-bound container train originated from Fukuoka Freight Terminal destined for Niigata Freight Terminal, south of Tanihama station. 15th June 2024.
North-bound container train originated from Okayama Freight Terminal destined for Niigata Freight Terminal passing through Arimagawa station. 20th June 2024.
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