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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, Tanigawa services from Tokyo are extended to run to Gala-Yuzawa. All trains on the line are classified as "limited express", so a limited express surcharge is required.
The branch line was originally built for maintenance purposes, but was upgraded for passenger service from 20 December 1990 when JR East developed the ski resort. Outside the winter season, the line is used for switching trains terminating at and departing from Echigo-Yuzawa Station.
See also
Hakata-Minami Line, a similar section of the Shinkansen network classed as a conventional line
References
^ "新幹線なのに在来線" [Conventional lines that are also shinkansen]. Japan Railfan Magazine. No. 467. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. March 2000. pp. 66–67.
"「安く乗れる新幹線」増えるか 新潟空港のアクセス鉄道、実現への道のり" [Will the number of "Bullet trains you can ride cheaper" increase?]. trafficnews.jp (in Japanese). Mediavague Co., ltd. 13 March 2018. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
200 Series Shinkansen approaching Gala-Yuzawa Station (January 2006)
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