The was a tilting

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 ...

(DMU) train type 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) on ''

Super Hokuto The is a limited express train services between and in Hokkaido operated by Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido). The journey time of the ''Hokuto'' is approximately 3 hours 40 minutes. ''Super Hokuto'' services started on 1 March 1994, 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 ...

services 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, from 1994 until 2022. They were the first tilting trains to be operated by JR Hokkaido.

Formations

The fleet of 27 cars was normally formed into seven-car sets for use on '' Hokuto'' (named ''Super Hokuto'' until March 2020)

services operating between and , and formations were sometimes lengthened to eight cars during busy periods.

7-car formations

7-car sets were normally formed as follows, with car 1 at the Sapporo end. Car 3 was a Green (first class) car.

8-car formations

Sets lengthened to 8 cars were normally formed as follows, with car 1 at the Sapporo end. Car 3 was a Green car.

Individual vehicle types

KiHa 281-900

* Nos. KiHa 281-901–902 (2 vehicles) Pre-production driving (control) cars built by

Fuji Heavy Industries is a Japanese multinational corporation and conglomerate primarily involved in both terrestrial and aerospace transportation manufacturing. It is best known for its line of Subaru automobiles. Founded in 1953, the company was formerly named ( ...

and delivered in January 1992. Seating capacity is 48, with toilets.

KiHa 280-900

* No. KiHa 280-901 (1 vehicle) Pre-production intermediate car built by

and delivered in October 1992. Seating capacity is 60. The width of the side doors was increased from 800 mm on the KiHa 281-901–902 cars to 1,030 mm.

KiHa 281-0

* Nos. KiHa 281-1–6 (6 vehicles) Production driving (control) cars built by Fuji Heavy Industries and delivered from 1993. Seating capacity is 48, with toilets.

KiHa 280-0

* Nos. KiHa 280-1–4 (4 vehicles) Production intermediate cars built by Fuji Heavy Industries and delivered from 1993. Seating capacity is 51, with wheelchair space,

universal access Apple Universal Access is a component of the macOS operating system that provides computing abilities to people with visual impairment, hearing impairment, or physical disability. Components Universal Access is a preference pane of the Sys ...

toilets, and a telephone.

KiHa 280-100

* Nos. KiHa 280-101–110 (10 vehicles) Production intermediate cars built by Fuji Heavy Industries and delivered from 1993. Seating capacity is 60, with conductor's compartment, but no toilets.

KiRo 280-0

* Nos. KiRo 280-1–4 (4 vehicles) Production Green (first class) cars built by Fuji Heavy Industries and delivered from 1993. Seating capacity is 26, with conductor's compartment, toilets, and a smoking area.

Interior

Passenger seating used the same rotating/reclining seats as used on the

785 series __NOTOC__ Year 785 ( DCCLXXXV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. The article denomination 785 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent met ...

EMUs. Seating is arranged 2+2 abreast in standard class and 2+1 abreast in Green class. File:JRH Kiha281-901 Inside.jpg, Original interior File:JRH Kiha280-3 Inside.jpg, Standard interior File:JRH Kiro280-2 Inside.jpg, Green car interior File:JRH Kiha281-901 Inside LED.jpg, Passenger information display File:JRH Kiha280-3 Inside Aisle.jpg, Passenger passage File:JRH Kiha280-3 Inside Toilet.jpg, Universal design toilet File:JRH Kiro280-2 Inside Crew-cabin.jpg, Conductor's room Green car accommodation is scheduled to undergo a programme of refurbishment.

History

Pre-production sets

Two pre-production cars, KiHa 281-901 and KiHa 281-902, were delivered from

in January 1992 for evaluation and testing. A pre-production intermediate car, KiHa 280-901, also built by Fuji Heavy Industries, was delivered in October 1992 to form a 3-car set. The first two cars delivered used the same roller-tilting mechanism on the bogies as used on the earlier

JR Shikoku 2000 series The is a tilting diesel multiple unit (DMU) train type operated by Shikoku Railway Company (JR Shikoku) on limited express services in Shikoku, Japan. An identical lone 4-car set is also operated by the Tosa Kuroshio Railway. Variants *TSE 200 ...

DMUs, whereas the third car delivered used a bearing-guide system. The pre-production 3-car train underwent test-running to evaluate the two different systems in the harsh winter conditions of Hokkaido. The later bearing-guide tilt mechanism proved superior, and this system was used on subsequent production trains delivered from 1993.

Entry into service

JR hokkaido kiha281 super hokuto sapporo

The KiHa 281 series entered revenue service from the start of the revised timetable on 1 March 1994. The new tilting trains operated at a maximum speed of , reducing the journey time for the 318 km distance between Hakodate and Sapporo to 3 hours, shaving 30 minutes off the journey time for ''Hokuto'' services operated by

KiHa 183 series The is a diesel multiple unit that has been operated on express services since 1980 under Japan National Railways and later under JR Hokkaido and JR Kyushu. Some variants were eventually built, including resort trains (the KiHa 183-5000 ''Nisek ...

DMUs. The original "HEAT281" logo on cab sides of the pre-production trains was changed from "Hokkaido Experimental Advanced Train" to "Hokkaido Express Advanced Train" with the arrival of the production cars. This logo was later changed to "Furico 281" to match the style used on the newer

KiHa 283 series The is a tilting diesel multiple unit (DMU) train type operated by Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido) on limited express services in Hokkaido, Japan, since 1997. They were based on the KiHa 281 series trains introduced in 1994. Operation ...

trains.

Laurel Prize

The KiHa 281 series was awarded the

Laurel Prize The is an award presented annually in Japan since 1961 by the Japan Railfan Club. It is awarded for railway vehicles that entered service in the previous year and voted by the selection committee as having the most outstanding functional and des ...

in 1995 for its outstanding functional and design features.

Withdrawal

On 13 July 2022, JR Hokkaido announced its plans to withdraw the KiHa 281 series from operation and replace the type with the

KiHa 261 series The is a tilting train, tilting diesel multiple unit (DMU) train type operated by Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido) on limited express services in Hokkaido, Japan, since 2000. Design The running gear was based on the KiHa 201 series trai ...

. The KiHa 281 series made its final run in regular service on 30 September 2022. Pre-production car KiHa 281-901 was repainted to feature the original livery and "HEAT281" logo in preparation for a chartered final-run train that will run between 22 and 23 October.

References

External links

JR Hokkaido KiHa 281/283 ''Super Hokuto'' train information
{{JR Hokkaido trainsets 281 series Hokkaido Railway Company Tilting trains Train-related introductions in 1994 281