The 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 services between 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 ...

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). The journey time of the ''Hokuto'' is approximately 3 hours 40 minutes. ''Super Hokuto'' services started on 1 March 1994, and cut journey time by about 30 minutes due to the higher speeds through the many curves of the line between Sapporo and Hakodate. All trains have been renamed to ''Hokuto'' since 2020, after the KiHa 183 series used on the original ''Hokuto'' service was replaced with KiHa 261 series.

Stops

Trains stop at the following stations:

Rolling stock

The ''Hokuto'' is operated by 7-car

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 ...

DMUs 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 ...

, with car 1 at the Hakodate (southern) end. All cars are no-smoking. Until 30 September 2022, the ''Hokuto'' was also operated by

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 ...

DMUs. For departures using

, cars 1, 2 and 4 to 7 were ordinary-class cars with 2+2 seating, and car 3 was a "Green" car with 2+1 seating. For departures using

, car 1 is a "Green" car with 2+1 seating, and cars 2 to 7 are ordinary-class cars with 2+2 seating. File:JNR Hokkaido kiha80 hokuto.jpg, A KiHa 80 series DMU on a ''Hokuto'' service circa 1986 File:JR Hokkaido kiha183series N183 hokuto.jpg, A KiHa 183 series DMU on a ''Hokuto'' service in 1992 File:JNR 183 series DMU 519.JPG, A KiHa 183 series DMU on a ''Hokuto'' service in February 2010 File:JR hokkaido kiha281 super hokuto sapporo.jpg, A KiHa 281 series DMU on a ''Super Hokuto'' service in 1994 File:DC283 hokuto 001.jpg, A KiHa 283 series DMU on a ''Super Hokuto'' service in June 2001 File:KiHa 261-1000 ST1203 Super Hokuto 9 20160508.jpg, A KiHa 261-1000 series DMU on a ''Super Hokuto'' service in May 2016

References

External links

JR Hokkaido KiHa 281/283 ''Super Hokuto'' train information
{{Hokkaidō transit Hokkaido Railway Company Named passenger trains of Japan Railway services introduced in 1949