Echigo Tokimeki Railway
The Echigo TOKImeki Railway Company, officially abbreviated as ETR, is a Japanese third-sector railway operator. It was established in 2010 to operate passenger railway services on the sections of the JR East Shinetsu Main Line and JR West Hokuriku Main Line within Niigata Prefecture when they were separated from the respective JR Group operators in March 2015, coinciding with the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen extension from to. The main shareholders of the company are Niigata Prefecture, the City of Joetsu, the City of Itoigawa, and the City of Myoko.
Lines
Since 14 March 2015, Echigo Tokimeki Railway operates local passenger operations on two lines: 10 stations on the 37.7 km Myōkō Haneuma Line between and, and 13 stations on the 59.3 km Nihonkai Hisui Line between Naoetsu and.Myōkō Haneuma Line
Service outline
In addition to all-stations "Local" services operated by ETR, the line is used by JR East Shirayuki limited express services operating over the section between and, providing connections with the Hokuriku Shinkansen at Naoetsu, and also by one return "Rapid" service daily operated by the Hokuetsu Express, to and from and using the section of the line between Naoetsu and. The Rapid service on only holidays which uses 455 series and 413 series has been commenced operated since 4 July 2021.Stations
All stations are in Niigata Prefecture.| Station | Japanese | Transfers | Location |
| 妙高高原 | Shinano Railway Kita-Shinano Line | Myōkō | |
| 関山 | Myōkō | ||
| 二本木 | Jōetsu | ||
| 新井 | Myōkō | ||
| 北新井 | Myōkō | ||
| 上越妙高 | Hokuriku Shinkansen | Jōetsu | |
| 南高田 | Jōetsu | ||
| 高田 | Jōetsu | ||
| 春日山 | Jōetsu | ||
| 直江津 | Jōetsu |
Rolling stock
Local services on the Myōkō Haneuma Line use a fleet of ten ET127 series 2-car electric multiple unit trains transferred from JR East. These have reinforced front-end skirts, and feature a new livery. They operate as two- or four-car formation during the off-peak periods, and as six-car formations during peak periods. Shirayuki limited express services operated by JR East use four-car E653-1100 series EMUs.Since 4 July 2021, Rapid service which uses 413 series and 455 series has been commenced operating on Myoko Haneuma Line on only holidays.
Nihonkai Hisui Line
Service outline
Local services
At the western boundary of the Nihonkai Hisui Line at, all local services continue two stations onto the Ainokaze Toyama Railway Line to terminate at. At Tomari, both ETR trains and Ainokaze Toyama Railway trains use platform 2, allowing a same-platform transfer. Trains operate approximately every 60-90 minutes during off-peak hours, with additional services during peak hours.The only exception is one daily round trip between and which is operated by a 521 series EMU train owned by Ainokaze Toyama Railway.
Sightseeing Express services
From 4 July 2021, Sightseeing Express services commenced operation using former JNR 455 series and 413 series trains. Operating only on weekends and holidays, there are two round trips per day between Naoetsu and Ichiburi. Purchase of an additional 500 yen Express fare is required.Stations
All stations are in Niigata Prefecture.Rolling stock
The eastern section of the line is electrified at 1,500 V DC and the western section of the line is electrified at 20 kV AC overhead, with a dead section separating the two different power supplies between Itoigawa and Kajiyashiki stations, but in order to eliminate the need to procure new dual-voltage rolling stock, local services on the Nihonkai Hisui Line use a fleet of eight new ET122 single-car diesel multiple unit trains based on the JR West KiHa 122 series design. This fleet includes two special-event cars. Services normally operate as single-car trains during the off-peak periods, increased to two cars during the peaks.One daily round trip between and is operated by a 521 series EMU train owned by Ainokaze Toyama Railway.
Until March 2017, a seasonal, limited-stop Rapid service, operating between and Itoigawa, ran once a day in each direction using a 6-car JR East 485 series EMU.
Since 4 July 2021, an Express service has been run, operating only on holidays. It uses 413 series and 455 series cars.