Okhotsk (train)
KiHa 183 series DMU forming an Okhotsk service, January 2009 | |||||
Overview | |||||
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Service type | Limited express | ||||
Locale | Hokkaido, Japan | ||||
First service | 22 September 1959 | ||||
Current operator(s) | JR Hokkaido | ||||
Former operator(s) | JNR | ||||
Route | |||||
Start | Sapporo | ||||
End | Abashiri | ||||
Service frequency | 4 return workings daily | ||||
Line used | Hakodate Main Line, Soya Main Line, Sekihoku Main Line | ||||
On-board services | |||||
Class(es) | Green + Standard | ||||
Technical | |||||
Rolling stock | KiHa 183 series DMU | ||||
Track gauge | 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) | ||||
Operating speed | 110 km/h (70 mph) | ||||
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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] As of March 2012, there are four services per day running in both directions, with the journey time taking approximately 5 hours 30 minutes.[2] Trains operate at a maximum speed of 110 km/h.[1] It is named after the Sea of Okhotsk.[3]
Rolling stock
Okhotsk services are normally 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]
Formations
All cars are no-smoking.[2]
Car No. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Accommodation | Non-reserved | Non-reserved | Reserved | Reserved | Green | Reserved |
Past
- KiHa 22 DMUs (September 1959 – October 1961)
- KiHa 56 DMUs (October 1961 – October 1972)
- KiHa 80 DMUs (October 1972 – November 1986)
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Preserved KiHa 22 DMU car, May 2005
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KiHa 80 series DMU on an Okhotsk service, 1986
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KiHa 183 series DMU in JNR livery, August 1985
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KiHa 183 series 6-car DMU in revised livery, 1990
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KiHa 183 series 6-car DMU in revised livery, 1990
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KiHa 183 series 6-car DMU in revised livery, 1990
History
The 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.[3][5] From July 1960, services were extended to Sapporo, and ran coupled with Sōya semi express services over the Hakodate Main Line.[3]
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.[3]
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.[3]
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.[3]
Sleeper service
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.[6] From March 2006, this became a seasonal-only train (Okhotsk 81 & 82), and the overnight service was discontinued entirely from 16 March 2008.[7]
SL Okhotsk
JR 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.[8]
References
- 1 2 3 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.
- 1 2 JR Timetable March 2012 issue, p.100/1003
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 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.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 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
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Okhotsk (train). |
- JR Hokkaido Okhotsk train information (Japanese)
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