The is a railway line in
Hokkaido
is Japan's second largest island and comprises the largest and northernmost prefecture, making up its own region. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaidō from Honshu; the two islands are connected by the undersea railway Seikan Tunnel.
The la ...
operated by
Hokkaido Railway Company
The is one of the constituent companies of the Japan Railways Group (JR Group), and is often referred to using its official abbreviation of . It operates intercity and local rail services in Hokkaido, Japan. The company introduced Kitaca, a sm ...
(JR Hokkaido), connecting
Numanohata,
Tomakomai
is a city and port in Iburi Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. It is the largest city in the Iburi Subprefecture, and the fourth largest city in Hokkaido. As of 29 February 2012, it had an estimated population of 174,216, with 83,836 households, ...
and
Shiroishi Station in
Shiroishi-ku, Sapporo
is one of the ten wards in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan.
As of August 31, 2021, the ward has a population of 213,704.
History
*1871: Shiroishi village was founded.
*1873: Kamishiroishi village split off from Shiroishi village.
*1902: Shiroishi vill ...
, linking the
Muroran Main Line
The is a railway line in Hokkaido operated by Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido), between Oshamambe Station in Oshamambe and Iwamizawa Station in Iwamizawa, approximately paralleling the coast of Iburi Subprefecture. There also is a branch ...
and
Hakodate Main Line
The is a railway line connecting the cities of Hakodate and Asahikawa via Sapporo in Hokkaido, Japan. It is one of the trunk lines operated by the Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido). The Sawara Line, a 35 km loop line from Ōnuma to Mo ...
. There also is a branch line to
New Chitose Airport
is an international airport located south-southeast of Chitose and Tomakomai, Hokkaidō, Japan, serving the Sapporo metropolitan area. By both traffic and land area, it is the largest airport in Hokkaidō.
It is adjacent to Chitose Air Base ...
.
Service outline
The line forms part of the trunk route between Sapporo and Southern Hokkaido. As such, ''
Hokuto'' limited express trains run between
Sapporo
( ain, サッ・ポロ・ペッ, Satporopet, lit=Dry, Great River) is a city in Japan. It is the largest city north of Tokyo and the largest city on Hokkaido, the northernmost main island of the country. It ranks as the fifth most populous city ...
and
Hakodate
is a city and port located in Oshima Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. It is the capital city of Oshima Subprefecture. As of July 31, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 279,851 with 143,221 households, and a population density of 412.8 ...
once every 1 to 2 hours, as well as the ''
Suzuran
is a limited express train service operated by Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido) between and in Hokkaido, Japan. The current limited express service was introduced in July 1992, but the name was first used from 1956 for an express servi ...
'' limited express between Sapporo and
Muroran
is a city and port located in Iburi Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. It is the capital city of Iburi Subprefecture. As of February 29, 2012, the city has an estimated population of 93,716, with 47,868 households and a population density of . The ...
.
The section between Sapporo and
Minami-Chitose is also a part of the trunk route between Sapporo and eastern Hokkaido. The limited express trains ''
Ōzora'' and ''
Super Tokachi
The is a limited express train service between and via the Hakodate and Nemuro Main Lines in Hokkaido, Japan, operated by Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido). As of November 2013, there are five trains per day running in both directions, wi ...
'' run through.
The rapid trains ''Special Rapid Airport'' and ''Rapid Airport'' run approximately once every 12 minutes, functioning as the
airport rail link
An airport rail link is a service providing passenger rail transport from an airport to a nearby city by mainline or commuter trains, rapid transit, people mover, or light rail. Direct links operate straight to the airport terminal, while o ...
between
New Chitose Airport Station and Sapporo or
Otaru
is a city and port in Shiribeshi Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan, northwest of Sapporo. The city faces Ishikari Bay and the Sea of Japan, and has long served as the main port of the bay. With its many historical buildings, Otaru is a popular tou ...
. Since the Chitose Line goes through the most urbanized area in Hokkaido, there are roughly 3 to 4 local train services per hour.
Former services
There were
sleeper trains between
Honshu
, historically called , is the largest and most populous island of Japan. It is located south of Hokkaidō across the Tsugaru Strait, north of Shikoku across the Inland Sea, and northeast of Kyūshū across the Kanmon Straits. The island separ ...
and
Hokkaido
is Japan's second largest island and comprises the largest and northernmost prefecture, making up its own region. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaidō from Honshu; the two islands are connected by the undersea railway Seikan Tunnel.
The la ...
, such as the ''
Hokutosei
The was a limited express sleeping car train service in Japan which operated between Ueno Station in Tokyo and Sapporo Station in the northern island of Hokkaido, taking approximately 16½ hours. It was operated jointly by East Japan R ...
'', ''
Cassiopeia'', ''
Twilight Express
The was a limited express sleeping car train service operated by West Japan Railway Company (JR West) in Japan from 1989 until March 2015. It ran between the city of Sapporo on the northern island of Hokkaido and Osaka in south-western Honshu, ...
'', and ''
Hamanasu''.
Station list
:SRA: Special Rapid Airport
:RA: Rapid Airport
:L: Local
:All rapid trains stop at stations signed "+", some at "◌", and all skip stations marked "-".
Local trains stop at most stations but some skip stations signed "◌".
Airport Branch Line
Closed station
* H15 : Closed since 4 March 2017, now a signal base.
Rolling stock
*
721 series EMUs
*
731 series
The is an AC electric multiple unit (EMU) train type operated by Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido) on Sapporo area suburban services in Hokkaido, Japan since 1996.
Formation
, 21 three-car sets are in service, numbered G-101 to G121, and ...
EMUs
*
733 series
The is an electric multiple unit (EMU) train type operated by Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido) on suburban services in the Sapporo area of Hokkaido, Japan, since 1 June 2012.
Variants
* 733-0 series: 3-car sets operated since June 2012
* ...
EMUs
*
735 series EMUs
File:JR Hokkaido 721 series EMU 003.JPG, A 721 series EMU on the Chitose Line, June 2008
File:JR Hokkaido 731.jpg, A 731 series EMU on the Chitose Line, July 2006
File:733 B104 Chitose Line 20140209.jpg, A 733 series EMU on the Chitose Line, February 2014
File:JR HOKKAIDO EC735 A-101 TRAIN.jpg, 735 series EMUs, May 2012
History
The entire line opened on 21 August 1926.
Duplication
The Chitose-Eniwa section was double-tracked in September 1965, and extended to Kitahiroshima in September 1966.
The Chitose-Uenae section was double-tracked in 1968, and extended to Numanohata in 1969.
The Shiraishi-Kitahiroshima section was double-tracked in 1973, completing the work to double-track the line.
Electrification
Chitose Station and its approaches were elevated in 1980, and the line was electrified in association with the opening of the nearby Chitose airport.
The Minami-chitose—Chitose Airport branch opened as an electrified line in 1992.
See also
*
Hakodate Main Line
The is a railway line connecting the cities of Hakodate and Asahikawa via Sapporo in Hokkaido, Japan. It is one of the trunk lines operated by the Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido). The Sawara Line, a 35 km loop line from Ōnuma to Mo ...
*
Muroran Main Line
The is a railway line in Hokkaido operated by Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido), between Oshamambe Station in Oshamambe and Iwamizawa Station in Iwamizawa, approximately paralleling the coast of Iburi Subprefecture. There also is a branch ...
*
Airport rail link
An airport rail link is a service providing passenger rail transport from an airport to a nearby city by mainline or commuter trains, rapid transit, people mover, or light rail. Direct links operate straight to the airport terminal, while o ...
*
List of railway lines in Japan
List of railway lines in Japan lists existing railway lines in Japan alphabetically.
The vast majority of Japanese railways are classified under two Japanese laws, one for and another for . The difference between the two is a legal, and not alwa ...
References
External links
*
{{authority control
Rail transport in Hokkaido
Lines of Hokkaido Railway Company
Airport rail links in Japan
Railway lines opened in 1926