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The is a tilting
''Super Tokachi'' services were originally formed of five-car KiHa 261-1000 series sets, but these were later reduced to four cars.
The 4-car ''Super Tokachi'' sets are formed as follows.
File:JRH kiro261-1102 interior 20090408.jpg, Interior of Green car KiRo 261-1102 in April 2009
File:KiHa 260-1102 interior 20090408.jpg, Interior of ordinary-class car KiHa 260-1102 in April 2009
A four-car pre-production set was delivered from 
A further 28 KiHa 261 series vehicles were delivered from 2015 onward, and these are not equipped with tilting capability.
From December 2015 until the end of 2017, the KiHa 261-1000 series fleet were gradually repainted into a new livery with white front ends, yellow front-end gangway doors, and a purple bodyside stripe.
File:Kiha261-ST5201 Limited-express Hokuto 20220504.jpg, The KiHa 261-5000 series "Hamanasu" set in May 2022
File:Kiha261 ST-5102 Furano-lavender-express.jpg, The KiHa 261-5000 series "Lavender" set in June 2022
File:Kiha261-5000 Hamanasu-Inside Lounge.jpg, Lounge interior
File:Kiha261-5000 Hamanasu-Inside.jpg, Ordinary-class interior
JR Hokkaido KiHa 261 ''Super Soya'' train information
{{JR Hokkaido trainsets 261 series Hokkaido Railway Company Tilting trains Train-related introductions in 2000 261 261
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 2000.
Design
The running gear was based on theKiHa 201 series
The is a tilting diesel multiple unit (DMU) train type operated by Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido) on Sapporo area suburban services in Hokkaido, Japan since 1997. The KiHa 201 trains are designed to work in multiple with 731 series e ...
trains introduced in 1997, and the body design was a joint venture with the Danish State Railways (DSB).
Fleet
, 35 KiHa 261 series vehicles were in operation. 14 were built byFuji 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 21 were built by JR Hokkaido
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 ...
. A further 28 vehicles are on order to be delivered from fiscal 2015.
Operations
KiHa 261 series trainsets are used on the following services.KiHa 261-0 series
* '' Sōya'' services between and , since 11 March 2000 * '' Sarobetsu'' services between and , since 4 March 2017KiHa 261-1000 series
* '' Tokachi'' services between and , since 1 October 2007 * '' Hokuto'' services between and , since 26 March 2016 * '' Ōzora'' services between andKushiro
is a city in Kushiro Subprefecture on the island of Hokkaido, Japan. It serves as the subprefecture's capital and it is the most populated city in the eastern part of the island.
Geography
Mountains
* Mount Oakan
* Mount Meakan
* Mount Akan ...
, since 14 March 2020
Formations
''Sōya''
''Sōya'' services are normally formed of four-car KiHa 261-100 series sets, and are sometimes lengthened to six cars during busy periods.4-car formations
Four-car sets are formed as follows.6-car formations
Six-car sets are formed by adding two cars as shown below. Car 1 (and car 21) includes Green (first) class and standard class accommodation.''Super Tokachi''
''Super Tokachi'' services were originally formed of five-car KiHa 261-1000 series sets, but these were later reduced to four cars.
The 4-car ''Super Tokachi'' sets are formed as follows.
Interior
History
A four-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 November 1998 for evaluation and testing. The first production trains were introduced on ''Super Sōya
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 butt ...
'' services between and from the start of the revised timetable on 11 March 2000.
New KiHa 261-1000 series 5-car sets were introduced on ''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 October 2007.
A further 28 KiHa 261 series vehicles were delivered from 2015 onward, and these are not equipped with tilting capability.
From December 2015 until the end of 2017, the KiHa 261-1000 series fleet were gradually repainted into a new livery with white front ends, yellow front-end gangway doors, and a purple bodyside stripe.
KiHa 261-5000 series
On 17 October 2019, JR Hokkaido announced plans to introduce two new KiHa 261-5000 series 5-car sets. They each feature external colour schemes inspired by the hamanasu andlavender
''Lavandula'' (common name lavender) is a genus of 47 known species of flowering plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae. It is native to the Old World and is found in Cape Verde and the Canary Islands, and from Europe across to northern and easte ...
flowers, which, according to JR Hokkaido, are prominent throughout Hokkaido.
Car 1 is designated as a lounge car, featuring window-facing seats and transverse seating bays with tables. Cars 2 through 5 are ordinary-class cars, featuring 2+2 abreast seating throughout.
The "Hamanasu" set was built at Kawasaki Heavy Industries
(or simply Kawasaki) is a Japanese Public company, public multinational corporation manufacturer of motorcycles, engines, Heavy equipment (construction), heavy equipment, aerospace and Military, defense equipment, rolling stock and ships, headq ...
' Hyogo factory, and was delivered to JR Hokkaido in July 2020. It entered revenue service on 17 October of that year. The "Lavender" set was delivered from the same factory in January 2021 and entered revenue service in May of that year, although it was originally intended to enter service in April.References
External links
JR Hokkaido KiHa 261 ''Super Soya'' train information
{{JR Hokkaido trainsets 261 series Hokkaido Railway Company Tilting trains Train-related introductions in 2000 261 261