Super Tokachi

Super Tokachi

KiHa 261-1000 series DMU on a Super Tokachi service at Obihiro Station, October 2007
Overview
Service type Limited express
Locale Hokkaido
First service 1 February 1962 (Express)
1 September 1990 (Limited express)
27 July 1991 (Super Tokachi)
Current operator(s) JR Hokkaido
Former operator(s) JNR
Route
Start Sapporo
End Obihiro
Technical
Rolling stock KiHa 261 series, KiHa 283 series DMUs
Track gauge 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Operating speed 130 km/h (80 mph)[1]

The Super Tokachi (スーパーとかち) is a limited express train service between Sapporo and Obihiro via the Hakodate and Nemuro Main Lines in Hokkaido, Japan, operated by Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido). As of October 2009, there are five trains per day running in both directions, with the fastest journey taking 2 hours 25 minutes (Super Tokachi 4).[2]

Rolling stock

Super Tokachi services are formed of 4-car (originally 5-car) KiHa 261 series and 5-car KiHa 283 series diesel multiple unit (DMU) trains.[3]

Formations

All cars are no-smoking.

KiHa 261 series

Car No. 1 2 3 4
Accommodation Green Reserved Reserved Non-reserved

KiHa 283 series

Car No. 1 2 3 4 5
Accommodation Green Reserved Reserved Non-reserved Non-reserved

Past

History

The service commenced as the express Tokachi (十勝) on 1 February 1962, operating between Sapporo and Obihiro. The service continued until 30 September 1968.[4]

The name was revived from 1 September 1990 as the Limited express Tokachi (とかち) using KiHa 183 series DMUs. From 27 July 1991, four Tokachi services were upgraded to become Super Tokachi using KiHa 183 series DMU sets including bilevel Green cars.[4]

From 1 October 2007, new 5-car KiHa 261-1000 series tilting DMUs were introduced on Super Tokachi services, with KiHa 283 series tilting DMUs also used on some services.[1]

From 1 October 2009, the remaining two Tokachi return services daily were upgraded to Super Tokachi using KiHa 261-1000 series DMUs.[5]

Future plans

From 1 November 2014, the refreshment trolley service and Green car complimentary drink service are discontinued, with refreshments sold instead in car 1.[6] Refreshment service is scheduled to be discontinued entirely from 1 January 2015.[6]

References

  1. 1 2 JR新幹線＆特急列車ファイル [JR Shinkansen & Limited Express Train File]. Japan: Kōtsū Shimbun. 2008. p. 114. ISBN 978-4-330-00608-6.
  2. ↑ JR Timetable, October 2009 issue
  3. ↑ 特急スーパーとかち（261系・283系） 列車ガイド [Super Tokachi (261/283 series) Train guide] (in Japanese). Japan: Hokkaido Railway Company. 21 July 2011. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
  4. 1 2 列車名鑑1995 [Train Name Directory 1995]. Japan: Railway Journal. August 1995. p. 127.
  5. ↑ Rail Magazine: キハ183系特急〈とかち〉消滅 (KiHa 183 series Tokachi disappear) (1 October 2009). Retrieved on 1 October 2009. (Japanese)
  6. 1 2 "JR北海道、特急「スーパーとかち」車内販売&グリーン車サービス年内で終了" [JR Hokkaido to end on-board sales and Green car service on Super Tokachi limited express]. Mynavi News (in Japanese). Japan: Mynavi Corporation. 28 October 2014. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tokachi (train).
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/2/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.