Hokuto (train)

The Hokuto (北斗) is a limited express train services between Sapporo and Hakodate in Hokkaido operated by Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido). The journey time of the Hokuto is approximately 3 hours 40 minutes.

Hokuto
KiHa 281 series DMU on Super Hokuto service
Overview
Service typeLimited express
StatusOperational
First service1949 (Express)
1965 (Limited express)
1994 (Super Hokuto)
Last service2020 (Super Hokuto)
Current operator(s)JR Hokkaido
Route
StartSapporo
Stops15
EndHakodate
Distance travelled198.0 mi (318.7 km)
Average journey time3 hours 40 minutes approx
Service frequencyOver 10 return workings daily
Line(s) usedHakodate Main Line
On-board services
Class(es)Standard + Green
Catering facilitiesNone
Technical
Rolling stockKiHa 261 series and KiHa 281 series
ElectrificationDiesel
Operating speed75 mph (120km/h)

Super Hokuto services started on 1 March 1994,[1] and cut journey time by about 30 minutes due to the higher speeds through the many curves of the line between Sapporo and Hakodate. All trains have been renamed to Hokuto since 2020, after the KiHa 183 series used on the original Hokuto service was replaced with KiHa 261 series.

Rolling stock

The Hokuto is operated by 7-car KiHa 281 series and KiHa 261 series DMUs, [2] with car 1 at the Hakodate (southern) end. All cars are no-smoking.

For departures using KiHa 281 series, cars 1, 2 and 4 to 7 are ordinary-class cars with 2+2 seating, and car 3 is a “Green" car with 2+1 seating.

Car No. 1234567
Accommodation ReservedReservedGreenReservedReservedNon-reservedNon-reserved
Facilities Toilets Toilets Wheelchair space,
accessible toilet		 Toilets

For departures using KiHa 261 series, car 1 is a “Green" car with 2+1 seating, and cars 2 to 7 are ordinary-class cars with 2+2 seating.

Car No. 1234567
Accommodation GreenReservedReservedReservedReservedNon-reservedNon-reserved
Facilities  Wheelchair space,
accessible toilet		ToiletsToiletsToiletsToilets 
  • A KiHa 80 series DMU on a Hokuto service circa 1986
  • A KiHa 183 series DMU on a Hokuto service in 1992
  • A KiHa 183 series DMU on a Hokuto service in February 2010
  • A KiHa 281 series DMU on a Super Hokuto service in 1994
  • A KiHa 283 series DMU on a Super Hokuto service in June 2001
  • A KiHa 261-1000 series DMU on a Super Hokuto service in May 2016

References
  1. Haraguchi, Takayuki (2009). Encyclopedia of JR's Railway Cars: JR全車輌. Japan: Sekai Bunka. p. 115. ISBN 978-4-418-09905-4.
  2. "JR北海道、2022年度までに特急北斗をすべてキハ261系に＿H100形気動車も追加投入" [JR Hokkaido all special express Hokuto Kiha 261 series by 2022 - H100 series additional railcar also introduced]. tetsudo-ch.com (in Japanese). EXPRESS Co., Ltd. 22 April 2019. Archived from the original on 14 July 2019. Retrieved 14 July 2019.

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