Ban'etsu West Line
| Ban'etsu West Line | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Overview | |||
| Native name | 磐越西線 | ||
| Status | In operation | ||
| Owner | JR East | ||
| Locale | Fukushima, Niigata Prefectures | ||
| Termini | |||
| Stations | 43 | ||
| Service | |||
| Type | Regional rail | ||
| Operator(s) | JR East | ||
| Rolling stock | 719 series EMU, E721 series EMU, KiHa 100 series DMU, GV-E400 series DMU, AT-700 series DMU | ||
| History | |||
| Opened | 1898 | ||
| Technical | |||
| Line length | 175.6 km (109.1 mi) | ||
| Number of tracks | Entire line single tracked | ||
| Character | Rural | ||
| Track gauge | 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) | ||
| Electrification | 20 kV AC, 50 Hz overhead catenary (Kōriyama – Aizu-Wakamatsu ) None (Aizu-Wakamatsu - Niitsu) | ||
| Operating speed | 100 km/h (62 mph) | ||
| |||
The Ban'etsu West Line (磐越西線, Ban'etsu-sai-sen) is a railway line in Japan operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East). It connects Kōriyama Station in Kōriyama, Fukushima Prefecture and Niitsu Station in Niigata, Niigata Prefecture. The name "Ban'etsu" is taken from the first characters of the names of the ancient provinces of Iwaki (磐城) and Echigo (越後), which the Ban'etsu East and Ban'etsu West lines connect. "Sai" (西) means "west" in Japanese.
The line's nickname is the Mori to Mizu to Roman no Tetsudō (森と水とロマンの鉄道, lit. "railway of forests, water, and romance"), also rendered in English as "Railway of Forests, Water, and Adventure".