Hokuto (train)
{{short description|Japanese passenger train service}}
{{italic title}}
{{more citations needed|date=July 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox rail service
| name = Hokuto
| image = Series Kiha261-1000 Hokuto-4.jpg
| image_width = 300px
| caption = KiHa 261 series DMU on Hokuto service
| type = Limited express
| first = 1949 (Express)
1965 (Limited express)
1994 (Super Hokuto)
| last = 2020 (Super Hokuto)
| status = Operational
| start = Hakodate
| stops = 15
| end = Sapporo
| operator = {{ric|JR Hokkaido|name=y}}
| journeytime = 3 hours 40 minutes approx
| distance = {{convert|318.7|km|mi|abbr=on}}
| frequency = 12 return workings daily
| line_used = Hakodate Main Line (Hakodate-Oshamambe)
Muroran Main Line (Oshamambe-Tomakomai)
Chitose Line (Tomakomai-Sapporo)
| class = Standard + Green
| access = Yes
| catering = None
| entertainment = None
| observation = None
| sleeping = None
| otherfacilities = Toilets
| stock = KiHa 261 series
| speed = {{cvt|130|km/h|mph}}
| el =
| owners = JR Hokkaido
}}
The {{Nihongo|Hokuto|北斗}} is a limited express train service that runs between {{STN|Sapporo|x}} and {{STN|Hakodate|x}} in Hokkaido, operated by Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido). The journey time of the Hokuto is approximately 3 hours 40 minutes.
Super Hokuto services started on 1 March 1994,{{cite book | last = Haraguchi| first = Takayuki | title = Encyclopedia of JR's Railway Cars: JR全車輌 | publisher = Sekai Bunka |year = 2009 | location = Japan | page = 115 | isbn = 978-4-418-09905-4}} 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.
Stops
Trains stop at the following stations:
| class="wikitable"
|+ ! colspan="2" |Station !Connections !Location | |
| {{rbox|H75 | royalblue}}
|{{STN|Hakodate|x}} |{{rcb|JR Hokkaido|Hakodate|yes}} | |
| {{rbox|H74 | royalblue}}
|{{STN|Goryōkaku|x}} |{{rcb|JR Hokkaido|Hakodate|yes}} | |
| {{rbox|H70 | royalblue}}
|{{STN|Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto|x}} |{{ric|JR Hokkaido|shinkansen|name=y}} | |
| {{rbox|H67 | royalblue}}
|{{STN|Ōnuma-Kōen|x}} | | |
| {{rbox|H62 | royalblue}}
|{{STN|Mori|x|Hokkaido}} | | |
| {{rbox|H54 | royalblue}}
|{{STN|Yakumo|x}} | | |
| {{rbox|H47 | royalblue}}
|{{STN|Oshamambe|x}} | | |
| {{rbox|H41 | royalblue}}
|{{STN|Tōya|x|Tōyako}} | | |
| {{rbox|H38 | royalblue}}
|{{STN|Date-Mombetsu|x}} | | |
| {{rbox|H32 | royalblue}}
|{{STN|Higashi-Muroran|x}} | | |
| {{rbox|H28 | royalblue}}
|{{STN|Noboribetsu|x}} | | |
| {{rbox|H23 | royalblue}}
|{{STN|Shiraoi|x}} | | |
| {{rbox|H18 | royalblue}}
|{{STN|Tomakomai|x}} | | |
| {{rbox|H14 | royalblue}}
|{{STN|Minami-Chitose|x}} | | |
| {{rbox|H05 | royalblue}}
|{{STN|Shin-Sapporo|x}} | | |
| {{rbox|01 | black}}
|{{STN|Sapporo|x}} | | |
Stops may differ depending on the train.
Rolling stock
The Hokuto is operated by 7-car KiHa 261 series DMUs,{{cite web |url=https://tetsudo-ch.com/6755469.html |title=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 |trans-title=JR Hokkaido all special express Hokuto Kiha 261 series by 2022 - H100 series additional railcar also introduced |language=Japanese |date=22 April 2019 |website=tetsudo-ch.com |publisher=EXPRESS Co., Ltd. |access-date=14 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190714062029/https://tetsudo-ch.com/6755469.html |archive-date=14 July 2019 |url-status=live}} with car 1 at the Hakodate (southern) end. All cars are no-smoking. Until 30 September 2022, the Hokuto was also operated by KiHa 281 series DMUs.{{Cite web |date=2022-10-01 |title=定期列車での営業運転を終えたキハ281系が返却回送される |trans-title=Final KiHa 281 series trainset in regular service transported to depot |url=https://railf.jp/news/2022/10/01/213000.html |access-date=2022-10-14 |website=Japan Railfan Magazine Online |publisher=Koyusha Co., Ltd. |location=Japan |language=ja}}
For departures using KiHa 281 series, cars 1, 2 and 4 to 7 were ordinary-class cars with 2+2 seating, and car 3 was a "Green" car with 2+1 seating.
| class="wikitable" | ||||||
| Car No.
! style="background: #FFF2E6"| 1 | style="background: #FFF2E6"| 2 | style="background:#E6FFE6"| 3 | style="background: #FFF2E6" | 4 | style="background: #FFF2E6"| 5 | style="background: #FFF2E6"| 6 | style="background: #FFF2E6"| 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation
| style="background: #FFFAF5"| Reserved || style="background: #FFFAF5"| Reserved || style="background: #F5FFF5" | Green || style="background: #FFFAF5"| Reserved || style="background: #FFFAF5"|Reserved || style="background: #FFFAF5"|Reserved || style="background: #FFFAF5"|Reserved | ||||||
| Facilities
| style="background: #FFFAF5"| Toilets || style="background: #FFFAF5"| || style="background: #F5FFF5"| Toilets || style="background: #FFFAF5"| || style="background: #FFFAF5"|Wheelchair space, |
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.
| class="wikitable" | ||||||
| Car No.
! style="background: #E6FFE6"| 1 | style="background: #FFF2E6"| 2 | style="background:#FFF2E6"| 3 | style="background: #FFF2E6" | 4 | style="background: #FFF2E6"| 5 | style="background: #FFF2E6"| 6 | style="background: #FFF2E6"| 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation
| style="background: #F5FFF5"| Green || style="background: #FFFAF5"| Reserved || style="background: #FFFAF5" | Reserved || style="background: #FFFAF5"| Reserved || style="background: #FFFAF5"|Reserved || style="background: #FFFAF5"| Reserved || style="background: #FFFAF5"| Reserved | ||||||
| Facilities
| style="background: #F5FFF5"| || style="background: #FFFAF5"| Wheelchair space, |
File:JNR Hokkaido kiha80 hokuto.jpg|A KiHa 80 series DMU on a Hokuto service circa 1986
File:JR Hokkaido kiha183series N183 hokuto.jpg|A KiHa 183 series DMU on a Hokuto service in 1992
File:JNR 183 series DMU 519.JPG|A KiHa 183 series DMU on a Hokuto service in February 2010
File:JR hokkaido kiha281 super hokuto sapporo.jpg|A KiHa 281 series DMU on a Super Hokuto service in 1994
File:DC283 hokuto 001.jpg|A KiHa 283 series DMU on a Super Hokuto service in June 2001
File:KiHa 261-1000 ST1203 Super Hokuto 9 20160508.jpg|A KiHa 261-1000 series DMU on a Super Hokuto service in May 2016
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- [http://www.jrhokkaido.co.jp/train/tr003_01.html JR Hokkaido KiHa 281/283 Super Hokuto train information] {{in lang|ja}}
{{Hokkaidō transit}}
Category:Hokkaido Railway Company
Category:Named passenger trains of Japan