Niigata Area 115 EMUs
JR East has gradually been replacing its aging 115 series EMUs with only JR East’s Niigata Branch now operating them. As a celebration of the long service provided, the branch has repainted some of its remaining units into the various colors used in the Niigata and surrounding areas.
All Photos: Stephen Turner taken 5th October 2018.
This 115 series unit (N38) seen at Yoshida Station before departing for Kashiwazaki on the Echigo Line. The livery is the so called “Shonan Colours” and connection with Niigata is that it was used by Takasaki branch trains on the Jōetsu Main Line.
This 115 series (unit N37) is leaving platform 4 on the elevated part of Niigata Station (next to an Inaho Express bound for Sakata) for the only Echigo Line through service to Kashiwazaki. The livery is the “original Niigata colours”
This 115 series (unit N33) is waiting on platform 9 of Niigata Station, one of only two platforms that remain at ground level (until construction of the elevated station is completed). This train’s livery is the “Niigata no 2 colours” and it was waiting to operate a Shinetsu main line kaisoku (rapid) service to Arai.