The Okhotsk (オホーツク, Ohōtsuku) is a limited express train service in Japan operated by the Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido), which runs between Sapporo and Abashiri.[1] There are two services per day running in both directions, with the journey time taking approximately 5 hours and 30 minutes. Trains operate at a maximum speed of 110 km/h (68 mph).[1] It is named after the Sea of Okhotsk.[2]
 KiHa 283 series DMU forming an Okhotsk service, March 2023 | |||||
| Overview | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service type | Limited express | ||||
| Status | Operational | ||||
| Locale | Hokkaido, Japan | ||||
| First service | 22 September 1959 | ||||
| Current operator(s) | JR Hokkaido | ||||
| Former operator(s) | JNR | ||||
| Route | |||||
| Termini | Sapporo Abashiri | ||||
| Stops | 17 | ||||
| Distance travelled | 374.5 km (232.7 mi) | ||||
| Average journey time | 5 hours 30 minutes approx | ||||
| Service frequency | 2 return workings daily | ||||
| Line(s) used | Hakodate Main Line, Sōya Main Line, Sekihoku Main Line | ||||
| On-board services | |||||
| Class(es) | Standard | ||||
| Disabled access | Yes | ||||
| Sleeping arrangements | None | ||||
| Catering facilities | None | ||||
| Observation facilities | None | ||||
| Entertainment facilities | None | ||||
| Other facilities | Toilets | ||||
| Technical | |||||
| Rolling stock | KiHa 283 series DMU | ||||
| Track gauge | 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) | ||||
| Electrification | None | ||||
| Operating speed | 110 km/h (68 mph) | ||||
| Track owner(s) | JR Hokkaido | ||||
| |||||
Stops
editTrains stop at the following stations:
Sapporo - Iwamizawa - (Bibai) - (Sunagawa) - Takikawa - Fukagawa - Asahikawa - Kamikawa - Shirataki - Maruseppu - Engaru - Ikutahara - Rubeshibe - Kitami - Bihoro - Memanbetsu - Abashiri
Stations in brackets () are stations where not all trains stop at.
- Okhotsk no. 2 does not stop at Sunagawa and Bibai.
Rolling stock
editOkhotsk services are normally formed of 3-car KiHa 283 series diesel multiple unit (DMU) trains, with monoclass passenger accommodation.[3]
Formations
editKiHa 183 series
editOkhotsk services were previously formed of 4-car KiHa 183 series diesel multiple unit (DMU) trains as shown below, with car 1 at the Sapporo and Abashiri end (train reverses at Engaru Station).[1][4] These trains were replaced by KiHa 283 series DMUs from 18 March 2023.[5][3]
All cars were non-smoking.[6]
| Car No. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | Non-reserved | Non-reserved | Reserved | Reserved | Green | Reserved |
Past
edit- KiHa 22 DMUs (September 1959 – October 1961)
- KiHa 56 DMUs (October 1961 – October 1972)
- KiHa 80 DMUs (October 1972 – November 1986)
- KiHa 183 series DMUs (until March 2023)
-
Preserved KiHa 22 DMU car, May 2005 -
KiHa 80 series DMU on an Okhotsk service, 1986 -
KiHa 183 series DMU in JNR livery, August 1985 -
KiHa 183 series 6-car DMU in revised livery, 1990 -
KiHa 183 series 6-car DMU in revised livery, 1990 -
KiHa 183 series 6-car DMU in revised livery, 1990 -
KiHa 183 series 4-car DMU in blue-and-white livery, September 2021
History
editThe Okhotsk service was first introduced by Japanese National Railways from the start of the revised timetable on 22 September 1959, as a semi-express service operating between Asahikawa and Abashiri, using KiHa 22 2-car DMUs, with five return workings daily.[2][7] From July 1960, services were extended to Sapporo, and ran coupled with Sōya semi express services over the Hakodate Main Line.[2]
From the start of the revised timetable in October 1961, services were upgraded to "Express" status, and were operated using KiHa 56 4-car DMU formations, including a KiRo 26 Green (first class) car.[2]
From the start of the revised timetable on 2 October 1972, services were upgraded to "Limited express" status, and were operated using KiHa 80 series DMU formations.[2]
From the start of the revised timetable in November 1986, the KiHa 80 series rolling stock was replaced with KiHa 183 series 6-car DMUs.[2]
Sleeper service
edit
From 1992, the former Taisetsu (大雪) express overnight sleeper service was integrated with the Okhotsk (becoming Okhotsk 9 & 10), featuring a SuHaNeFu 14-500 series sleeping car sandwiched in the DMU formation.[8] From March 2006, this became a seasonal-only train (Okhotsk 81 & 82), and the overnight service was discontinued entirely from 16 March 2008.[9]
SL Okhotsk
editJR Hokkaido operates seasonal SL Okhotsk services formed of 14 series passenger coaches hauled by a JNR Class C11 steam locomotive and assisted by a JNR Class DE15 diesel locomotive.[10]
References
edit- ^ a b c JR新幹線＆特急列車ファイル [JR Shinkansen & Limited Express Train File]. Japan: Kōtsū Shimbun. 2008. p. 116. ISBN 978-4-330-00608-6.
- ^ a b c d e f Teramoto, Mitsuteru (July 2001). 国鉄・ＪＲ列車名大辞典 [JNR & JR Train Name Encyclopedia]. Tokyo, Japan: Chuoshoin Publishing Co., Ltd. pp. 152–154. ISBN 4-88732-093-0.
- ^ a b 特急“オホーツク”・“大雪”，キハ283系による運転に [Limited express "Okhotsk" and "Taisetsu" operated by KiHa 283 series]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 18 March 2023. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
- ^ 特急オホーツク（183系） 列車ガイド [Okhotsk (183 series) Train guide] (in Japanese). Japan: Hokkaido Railway Company. 1 April 2012. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
- ^ "キハ283系が石北本線で試運転" [KiHa 283 series on test on Sekihoku Main Line]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 25 July 2022. Archived from the original on 27 July 2022. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
- ^ JR Timetable March 2012 issue, p.100/1003
- ^ 列車名鑑1995 [Train Name Directory 1995]. Japan: Railway Journal. August 1995. p. 124.
- ^ こだわりの新幹線＆特急列車ガイド [In-depth Shinkansen & Limited Express Guide]. Japan: Ikaros Publishing. August 2000. p. 45. ISBN 4-87149-284-2.
- ^ Discontinuation of sleeping car service, 18 April 2008 (Japanese)
- ^ "JRグループ2012年SL・夏の臨時列車運転計画発表" [JR Group 2012 Steam Special Train Schedule Announcements]. Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō Magazine. Vol. 41, no. 339. Japan: Kōtsū Shimbun. July 2012. p. 58.
External links
edit
- JR Hokkaido Okhotsk train information (in Japanese)