The Shinetsu Main Line (Japanese: 信越本線, Japanese pronunciation: [Shin'etsu-honsen]) is a railway line, consisting of three geographically separated sections, operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East) in Japan. It was originally one continuous line connecting Takasaki and Niigata via Nagano. Since the opening and later extension of the Hokuriku Shinkansen, sections running in parallel have either been abandoned or transferred to third-sector railway companies. The abandoned section through the Usui Pass was famous for its steep 66.7‰ (6.67%) gradient.