section of the line is electrified at 1,500 V DC and the western section of the line is electrified at 20 kV AC (60 Hz) overhead, with a dead section separating the two different power supplies between Itoigawa and Kajiyashiki stations, but in order to eliminate the need to procure new dual-voltage rolling stock, local services on the Nihonkai Hisui Line use a fleet of eight new ET122 single-car diesel multiple unit (DMU) trains based on the JR West KiHa 122 series design. This fleet includes two special-event cars. Services normally operate as single-car trains during the off-peak periods, increased to two cars during the peaks. Until March 2017, a seasonal limited-stop "Rapid" service operating between and Itoigawa ran once a day in each direction using a 6-car JR East 485 series EMU. Since 4 July 2021, Express service which uses 413 series and 455 series has been commenced operating on Hisui Line on only holidays. History The company was founded on 22 November 2010. The new names for the two lines to be operated by the company were announced in June 2012, and the company name was changed to Echigo Tokimeki Railway Company from 1 July 2012. The company was formally granted a railway operating license by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism on 28 February 2014. Resort train A two-car ET122-1000 series diesel multiple unit resort train entered service from 23 April 2016, operating over both of the ETR lines. The two-car diesel train is branded . See also List of railway companies in Japan List of railway lines in Japan Shinano Railway, a third-sector railway company in neighbouring Nagano Prefecture References External links Railway companies of Japan Companies based in Niigata Prefecture Railway companies established in 2010 1067 mm gauge railways in Japan Japanese third-sector railway lines Japanese companies established in 2010