The is a Japanese third-sector railway operating company established in 2012 to operate passenger railway services on the section of the JR West Hokuriku Main Line within Toyama Prefecture when it was separated from the JR West network in March 2015, coinciding with the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen extension from to . The company was founded on 24 July 2012, and has its headquarters in Toyama in Toyama Prefecture.

Shareholders , Toyama Prefecture is the main shareholder, owning 63% of the company's shares, 27% is owned by municipalities within Toyama Prefecture, and 10% is owned by private-sector businesses.

Ainokaze Toyama Railway Line

From 14 March 2015, the Ainokaze Toyama Railway took over control of local passenger operations on the 100.1 km section JR West Hokuriku Main Line between in neighbouring Niigata Prefecture and in neighbouring Ishikawa Prefecture, with a total of 23 stations.

Service outline While the Ainokaze Toyama Railway Line officially stretches from Kurikara in the west to Ichiburi in the east, most services terminate at to the east, with a same-platform transfer provided to Echigo Tokimeki Railway Nihonkai Hisui Line services. Some through services continue over the Echigo Tokimeki Railway Nihonkai Hisui Line to and from . To the west, most services continue to and from over the IR Ishikawa Railway Line. In addition to all-stations services, limited-stop "Rapid" services named operate between Tomari and Toyama or Kanazawa during the weekday morning and evening peaks. A supplementary liner fare of 300 yen is required to board these services, and all seats are reserved.

ICOCA and other compatible IC farecards can be used on the line since 26 March 2015.

Stations Legend| - All Ainokaze liner trains passO - All Ainokaze liner trains stop Station Japanese Liner Transfers Location↑ Through service to/from Kanazawa on the IR Ishikawa Railway Line ↑ 倶利伽羅 | IR Ishikawa Railway Line Tsubata Ishikawa Prefecture 石動 O   Oyabe Toyama Prefecture 福岡 | Takaoka 西高岡 | 高岡やぶなみ | 高岡 O Jōhana LineHimi LineManyōsen Takaoka Kidō Line () 越中大門 |   Imizu 小杉 O 呉羽 | Toyama 富山 O Toyama Chihō Railway Toyamakō Line ()Toyama Chiho Railway Main Line (), Toyama City Tram Line ()Hokuriku ShinkansenTakayama Main LineShin-Toyamaguchi新富山口 | 東富山 | 水橋 | 滑川 O Toyama Chiho Railway Main Line Namerikawa 東滑川 | Uozu 魚津 O Toyama Chiho Railway Main Line () Uozu 黒部 O   Kurobe 生地 | 西入善 | Nyūzen 入善 O 泊 O Echigo Tokimeki Railway Nihonkai Hisui Line Asahi 越中宮崎     市振 Echigo Tokimeki Railway Nihonkai Hisui Line Itoigawa Niigata Prefecture ↓ Through service to/from Itoigawa and Naoetsu on the Echigo Tokimeki Railway Nihonkai Hisui Line ↓

Rolling stock Services on the line use a fleet of 16 two-car 521 series (2nd-batch type) electric multiple unit (EMU) trains and five three-car 413 series EMUs (former sets B01 to B03, B07, and B10) acquired from JR West. The 521 series trains will receive a new livery with a blue wave design on the seaward (north) side and a green wave design on the landward (south) side. While both the Ainokaze Toyama Railway and neighbouring IR Ishikawa Railway operate similar 521 series trains, the respective operators' trains do not run coupled together.

, the 521 series and 413 series fleets are as follows.

521 series

Set No. Former JR West set No. Manufacturer Delivery date AK01 G06 Kinki Sharyo 27 October 2009 AK02 G07 Kinki Sharyo 27 October 2009 AK03 G08 Kinki Sharyo 22 December 2009 AK04 G09 Kinki Sharyo 22 December 2009 AK05 G11 Kinki Sharyo 15 February 2010 AK06 G12 Kinki Sharyo 15 February 2010 AK07 G13 Kinki Sharyo 2 March 2010 AK08 G15 Kinki Sharyo 2 March 2010 AK09 G16 Kawasaki Heavy Industries 18 December 2010 AK10 G17 Kawasaki Heavy Industries 18 December 2010 AK11 G18 Kawasaki Heavy Industries 18 December 2010 AK12 G21 Kawasaki Heavy Industries 12 January 2011 AK13 G23 Kawasaki Heavy Industries 26 January 2011 AK14 G24 Kawasaki Heavy Industries 26 January 2011 AK15 G31 Kawasaki Heavy Industries 24 February 2011 AK16 G32 Kawasaki Heavy Industries 24 February 2011

413 series

Set No. Former JR West set No. Livery AM01 B01 Hokuriku white/blue AM02 B02 Hokuriku white/blue AM03 B03 Black (Toyama Emaki special event train) AM04 B07 All-over blue No. 1 AM05 B10 All-over blue No. 1

Set AM03 was modified for use as a special-event train, named with new seat covers and a new external livery, returning to service on 28 August 2016. This train is also used to provide additional capacity on regular services during the peak periods.

Future developments From the first half of fiscal 2018, a 413 series set will be rebuilt as a tourist train, returning to service on the line in the second half of fiscal 2018.

Five new 521-1000 series two-car sets are scheduled to be introduced over a period of six years, with the first set delivered in December 2017. These sets will replace the ageing 413 series EMUs.

History The company was founded on 24 July 2012. The company name "Ainokaze Toyama Railway" was announced on 30 May 2013. Ainokaze refers to a north-easterly breeze that blows in the region in spring and summer, and is mentioned in the collection of Japanese poetry.

The company was formally granted a railway operating license by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism on 28 February 2014.

Future developments New stations are planned to be built between Takaoka and Nishi-Takaoka, and between Toyama and Higashi-Toyama.

See also List of railway companies in Japan List of railway lines in Japan

References

External links