Gala-Yuzawa Line

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The Gala-Yuzawa Line (ガーラ湯沢線, Gāra-yuzawa-sen^?) is a railway line in Yuzawa, Niigata Prefecture, Japan. This line name is unofficial and not widely accepted. The line is operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East).

Officially a part of the narrow gauge (non-Shinkansen) Jōetsu Line, the standard gauge (for Shinkansen trains) line is a short (1.8 km) branch line that extends from Echigo-Yuzawa Station on the Joetsu Shinkansen to Gala-Yuzawa Station. The line has no intermediate stations.

Gala-Yuzawa Station serves the nearby ski resort Gala Yuzawa (ski lifts operate directly from the station), so the station is only used during the winter period. During the skiing season, Max Tanigawa services from Tokyo are extended to run to Gala-Yuzawa. All trains on the line are classified as "limited express" so that limited express surcharge is required and the local-train-only Seishun 18 Ticket is not accepted. During off season, the line is used for switching trains which terminate at and originate from Echigo-Yuzawa Station.

The branchline originally built for maintenance purpose was turned into passenger service in 1990 when JR East developed the ski resort.

[edit] See also

The Hakata Minami Line is also a Shinkansen-style non-Shinkansen line.