The is 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

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, since 1997. They were based on the

KiHa 281 series The was a tilting train, tilting diesel multiple unit (DMU) train type operated by Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido) on ''Hokuto (train), Super Hokuto'' limited express services in Hokkaido, Japan, from 1994 until 2022. They were the first ...

trains introduced in 1994.

Operations

KiHa 283 series trainsets are used on the following services. * '' Ōzora'' services between and , since 22 March 1997 * '' Hokuto'' services between and , since April 1998, until 31 October 2013 * '' Tokachi'' services between and , since 11 March 2000, until 31 October 2013

History

A three-car pre-production set was delivered from

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 ( ...

in 1995 for evaluation and testing. 20 production vehicles were delivered from 1996, with the first trains introduced on ''

Super Ōzora Super may refer to: Computing * SUPER (computer program), or Simplified Universal Player Encoder & Renderer, a video converter / player * Super (computer science), a keyword in object-oriented programming languages * Super key (keyboard butto ...

'' services between and from the start of the revised timetable on 22 March 1997. A further batch of 12 vehicles was delivered to coincide with the introduction of KiHa 283s 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 ...

'' services between and , operating alongside the

sets. KiHa 283 series sets were also introduced on some ''

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 ...

'' services between and from 11 March 2000. From the start of the revised timetable on 12 March 2022, all ''Ozora'' limited express services are scheduled to be operated by

KiHa 261 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 2000. Design The running gear was based on the KiHa 201 series trains introduced ...

DMUs, with the remaining KiHa 283 series DMUs scheduled to be withdrawn from regular service on 11 March 2022. The KiHa 283 series is expected to be reallocated for use on ''

Okhotsk Okhotsk ( rus, Охотск, p=ɐˈxotsk) is an types of inhabited localities in Russia, urban locality (a urban-type settlement, work settlement) and the administrative center of Okhotsky District of Khabarovsk Krai, Russia, located at the mou ...

'' and ''

Taisetsu The is a limited express service operated by Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido) between and in Hokkaido via the Sekihoku Main Line since 4 March 2017. The ''Taisetsu'' train service name was also formerly used for express services operate ...

'' limited express services on the

Sekihoku Main Line is a railway line in Hokkaido, Japan, operated by Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido) between in Asahikawa and Abashiri Station in Abashiri. The name comes from the first Kanji characters of and , names of ancient provinces along the lin ...

from 18 March 2023, replacing the older

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 used on these services.

2011 Sekishō Line derailment and fire

On 27 May 2011, a 6-car KiHa 283 series train was destroyed by fire after it derailed and made an emergency stop inside the 685-metre-long No. 1 Niniu Tunnel on the

Sekishō Line The is a railway line in Japan operated by Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido). The main Sekishō Line connects in Chitose and Shintoku Station in the town of Shintoku. The name of the line comes from the subprefectures along the route, na ...

Shimukappu is a village located in Kamikawa Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. As of September 2016, the village has an estimated population of 1,251 and a density of 2.2 persons per km². The total area is 571.31 km². Tomamu Tomamu in the eastern p ...

, at around 21:55, while forming the ''Super Ōzora'' 14 service from Kushiro to Sapporo. The train was formed as follows, with car 1 at the Kushiro end. All cars were gutted by fire, and were officially withdrawn on 30 June 2011.

References

External links

JR Hokkaido KiHa 283 ''Super Ōzora'' train information

{{JR Hokkaido trainsets

283 series The is a DC electric multiple unit (EMU) train type operated by West Japan Railway Company (JR-West) on limited express services on the Kinokuni Line (Kisei Main Line) in Japan. Design Built jointly by Hitachi, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, and ...

Hokkaido Railway Company Tilting trains Train-related introductions in 1997

283 Year 283 ( CCLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Carus and Carinus (or, less frequently, year 1036 ''Ab urbe cond ...