The is a

limited express A limited express is a type of express train or express bus service that stops at fewer locations compared to other express services on the same or similar routes. Japan The term "limited express" is a common translation of the Japanese ...

train service between and in

Hokkaido is the list of islands of Japan by area, second-largest island of Japan and comprises the largest and northernmost prefectures of Japan, prefecture, making up its own list of regions of Japan, region. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaidō fr ...

, Japan, operated by

Hokkaido Railway Company The is one of the constituent companies of the Japan Railways Group (JR Group), and is often referred to by its official abbreviation: . It operates intercity and local rail services in Hokkaido, Japan. The company introduced Kitaca, a smart ...

(JR Hokkaido). There are six trains per day running in both directions, with the fastest journeys taking 3 hours 58 minutes.

History

The service commenced as the limited express on 1 October 1961, operating between

Hakodate is a Cities of Japan, city and seaports of Japan, port located in Oshima Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. It is the capital city of Oshima Subprefecture. As of January 31, 2024, the city had an estimated population of 239,813 with 138,807 househol ...

and

Asahikawa is a Cities of Japan, city in Kamikawa Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. It is the capital of the subprefecture, and the second-largest city in Hokkaido, after Sapporo. It has been a Core cities of Japan, core city since April 1, 2000. The city i ...

using KiHa 80 series DMUs with one return working daily. The service was extended to run between Hakodate and

Kushiro is a city in Kushiro Subprefecture on the island of Hokkaido, Japan. Located along the coast of the North Pacific Ocean, it serves as the subprefecture's capital and it is the most populated city in the eastern part of the island. History An ...

from 1967. By 1973, there were three return workings daily. In October 1980, following the opening of

New Chitose Airport is an international airport located south-southeast of Chitose, Hokkaidō, Chitose and Tomakomai, Hokkaidō, Japan, serving the Sapporo metropolitan area. By both traffic and land area, it is the largest airport in Hokkaidō. It is adjacent ...

, services were reorganized, with just one return working daily between Sapporo and Kushiro. From October 1981, the train was rerouted via the

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

, reducing journey times by approximately one hour. From 22 March 1997, four ''Ōzora'' services were upgraded to become following the introduction of new KiHa 283 series tilting DMUs. The remaining ''Ōzora'' services using KiHa 183 series DMUs were phased out by 2001. KiHa 261 series DMUs were introduced on 14 March 2020, and the service has since been returned to simply ''Ōzora''.

Stops

Trains stop at the following stations: - - - () - () - () - - - () - () - - - () - () - Stations in brackets () are stations where only some trains stop at.

Rolling stock

The ''Ōzora'' is operated by 6-car

KiHa 283 series The is a tilting train, tilting diesel-hydraulic diesel multiple unit, 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 ...

and

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 tra ...

DMUs, with car 1 at the Kushiro (eastern) end. All cars are no-smoking. For departures using

, cars 1, 2 and 4 to 6 are ordinary-class cars with 2+2 seating, and car 3 is a "Green" car with 2+1 seating. For departures using

, car 1 is a "Green" car with 2+1 seating, and cars 2 to 6 are ordinary-class cars with 2+2 seating.

Former rolling stock

KiHa 80 series The was a diesel multiple unit type that operated on express services from 1960 to 2002, under Japan National Railways and later under JR Hokkaido and JR Central. Two variants were initially built: the to replace the then steam-operated '' Ha ...

DMUs *

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 ''Nise ...

DMUs (1980–2001) File:JNR Hokkaido kiha80 ozora.jpg, KiHa 80 series DMU on an ''Ōzora'' service in 1986 File:Kiha183 oozora sapporo.jpg, KiHa 183 series DMU on an ''Ōzora'' service at Sapporo Station in 1986 File:JNR-Kiha183-104.jpg, KiHa 183 series DMU on an ''Ōzora'' service in 1984 File:JR Hokkaido kiha183series N Ozora.jpg, KiHa 183 series DMU on an ''Ōzora'' service in 1992

2011 derailment and fire

On 27 May 2011, the ''Super Ōzora'' 14 service from Kushiro to Sapporo was brought to an emergency stop inside the No. 1 Niniu Tunnel in

Shimukappu, Hokkaidō is a village located in Kamikawa Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. Population 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 ...

, at around 21:55 after car number 2 of the 6-car formation became derailed. The train caught fire, and all of the 245 people on board, including train staff eventually evacuated the train. 39 were treated for smoke inhalation and minor burn injuries. The burnt-out train was removed from the tunnel on 29 May 2011.

References

External links

JR Hokkaido official website

JR Hokkaido official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ozora Named passenger trains of Japan Hokkaido Railway Company Japanese National Railways Railway services introduced in 1961 1961 establishments in Japan