The (named between 2007 and 2017) is a

limited express A limited express is a type of express train service. It refers to an express service that stops at a limited number of stops in comparison to other express services on the same or similar routes. Japan The term "limited express" is a common ...

train service 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) since 2007 on the

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 ...

, connecting and 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 ...

, Japan.

Service pattern

Services run every 30 minutes, with a journey time of 1 hour and 20 minutes for the between Sapporo and Asahikawa, giving an average start-to-stop speed of . Services departing from Asahikawa on the hour continue onward from Sapporo to as the ''Airport'' rapid service. Services stop at the following stations. * * * * * * *

Rolling stock

JR hokkaido 789-1000 airport super kamui minamichitose

Services are formed of five-car 789-1000 series EMUs. All seats are non-reserved, except for car 4, which has upgraded "u-Seat" accommodation, including AC outlets for personal use. File:JRhokkaido785 interior design02.JPG, 785 series non-reserved seating, May 2008 File:JRHokkaidoSeries785-uSeat.JPG, 785 series reserved "u-Seat" car, August 2007 File:JRHokkiado789 interior design.JPG, 789-1000 series non-reserved seating, May 2008 File:New789 02.jpg, 789-1000 series reserved "u-Seat" car, September 2007

Formations

The ''Kamui'' is operated by 5-car

789 series __NOTOC__ Year 789 ( DCCLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. The denomination 789 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar ...

EMUs Emus may refer to: * Emu The emu () (''Dromaius novaehollandiae'') is the second-tallest living bird after its ratite relative the ostrich. It is endemic to Australia where it is the largest native bird and the only extant member of the g ...

, formed as shown below, with car 1 at the Asahikawa end.JR Timetable, August 2011 issue, p. 1002 There are no "Green cars" in all departures, and all cars are no-smoking.

History

''Kamui'' (1959–1988)

The original ''Kamui'' service started on 22 September 1959, as a "semi express" service operating between Otaru and Asahikawa. From 1961, KiHa 56 express

diesel multiple unit A diesel multiple unit or DMU is a multiple-unit train powered by on-board diesel engines. A DMU requires no separate locomotive, as the engines are incorporated into one or more of the carriages. Diesel-powered single-unit railcars are also ...

trains were introduced, and ''Kamui'' services were formally upgraded to "express" status from the start of the revised timetable on 5 March 1966. Following electrification of the route,

711 series 711 may refer to: * 711 (number), a natural number * AD 711, a year of the 8th century AD * 711 BC, a year of the 8th century BC * 7-1-1, the telephone number of the Telecommunications Relay Service in the United States and Canada * 7-Eleven, a cha ...

three-car EMUs were introduced on the ''Kamui'' 3 and 4 services from October 1968. From 1 October 1969, these were increased to six-car formations. Typical 711 series EMU ''Kamui'' express formations were formed as shown below as of 1 October 1969, with car 1 at the Asahikawa end. From 15 March 1972, the number of ''Kamui'' services was increased from seven return workings to ten return workings daily. ''Kamui'' services were discontinued from 13 March 1988, when they were integrated with ''Sorachi'' express services.

''Super Kamui'' (2007–2017)

The ''Super Kamui'' service commenced on 1 October 2007. Prior to this, two limited express trains, the ''

Lilac ''Syringa'' is a genus of 12 currently recognized species of flowering plant, flowering woody plants in the olive family or Oleaceae called lilacs. These lilacs are native to woodland and scrub from southeastern Europe to eastern Asia, and wid ...

'' and the '' Super White Arrow'', ran on the same route between Sapporo and Asahikawa. These were integrated and remodeled into one service at the same time as the ageing

781 series The was an AC electric multiple unit (EMU) train type formerly operated by Japanese National Railways (JNR) and later Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido) on limited express services in Hokkaido, Japan, between 1980 and 2007. Operations * ...

EMUs previously used on ''Lilac'' services were withdrawn.

''Kamui'' (2017–present)

From the start of the revised timetable on 4 March 2017, ''Super Kamui'' services were renamed simply ''Kamui'', and are complemented by newly-introduced ''

'' limited express services on the same route, which use six-car 789-0 series EMUs.

Accidents

On 29 January 2010, the ''Super Kamui'' 24 service from Asahikawa to Sapporo was derailed after hitting a truck at a level crossing on the Hakodate Main Line between and . 23 passengers, the train driver, and the truck driver sustained minor injuries. The five-car 789-1000 series set involved, HL-1005, was taken out of service due to damage, and was officially withdrawn on 24 March 2011.

References

External links

JR Hokkaido 789 series ''Kamui''
{{Hokkaidō transit Hokkaido Railway Company Named passenger trains of Japan Railway services introduced in 1959 Railway services introduced in 2007