The is a limited express train service operated by Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido) between and in Hokkaido via the Hakodate Main Line since 4 March 2017. The ''Lilac'' train service name was also formerly used for express and limited express services operated by Japanese National Railways (JNR) and later by JR Hokkaido between 1963 and 2007.

Stations

Rolling stock

Services are normally formed of six-car 789 series electric multiple unit (EMU) trains. All cars are no-smoking. Up until 2007, ''Lilac'' services were normally formed of 4-car 781 series EMUs based at Sapporo. All cars were non-reserved except for car 4.

History

1963-1968

The ''Lilac'' was first introduced on 1 June 1963 as an express service operating between and via . This service was discontinued from 1 October 1968 when it was merged with the ''Niseko'' express.

1980-2007

The ''Lilac'' name was revived from 1 October 1980 as a limited express service operating between and via , replacing previous ''Ishikari (train), Ishikari'' (Sapporo – Asahikawa) limited express and ''Chitose'' (Chitose and Muroran Main Line) express services. From 1 July 1992, with the opening of , ''Lilac'' services were changed to operate between New Chitose Airport and Asahikawa via Sapporo, where trains reversed. Between Sapporo and New Chitose Airport, trains operated as the ''Airport'' rapid service. At the same time, the services to Mururan were split off to become the ''Suzuran'' limited express. The ''Lilac'' services supplemented the ''White Arrow (train), Super White Arrow'' services between Sapporo and Asahikawa, which stopped at fewer stations. The ''Lilac'' services operated hourly, departing from Sapporo and Asahikawa at 30 minutes past the hour, taking 1 hour 30 minutes. Trains were repainted from the original JNR livery into a new livery based on that of the ''Super Tokachi'' between February 1992 and March 1993. Improved "u-Seat" reserved seating accommodation (rows 1 to 7) was added to half of car 4 between March and June 2001. ''Lilac'' services were discontinued from the start of the 1 October 2007 timetable revision, when they were merged and replaced together with the former ''White Arrow (train), Super White Arrow'' services to become Super Kamui services, and the 781 series EMUs were retired. File:781 Lilac.jpg, 781 series EMU in original JNR livery, 1986 File:781 Lilac Asahikawa 20061103.jpg, 781 series on a ''Lilac'' service at Asahikawa Station, showing the modified livery applied to the "u-Seat" car, November 2006

2017-

From the start of the revised timetable on 4 March 2017, ''Lilac'' limited express services were reintroduced between and using six-car 789 series, 789-0 series EMUs previously used on ''Super Hakucho'' services until March 2016. These services complement the ''Super Kamui, Kamui'' services using five-car 789-1000 series EMUs.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lilac (Train) Named passenger trains of Japan Hokkaido Railway Company Railway services introduced in 1963 Railway services introduced in 1980 Railway services introduced in 2017 ja:ライラック (列車)