Tokachi (train)

*Tokachi*
	KiHa 261-1000 series DMU on a Super Tokachi service at Obihiro Station, October 2007
Overview
Service type	Limited express
Status	Operational
Locale	Hokkaido
First service	1 February 1962 (Express); 1 September 1990 (Limited express); 27 July 1991 (Super Tokachi)
Current operator(s)	JR Hokkaido
Former operator(s)	JNR
Route
Termini	Sapporo; Obihiro
Stops	11
Distance travelled	220.2 km (136.8 mi)
Average journey time	2 hours 30 minutes approx
Service frequency	5 return services daily
On-board services
Class(es)	Standard Green
Disabled access	Yes
Sleeping arrangements	None
Catering facilities	None
Observation facilities	None
Entertainment facilities	None
Other facilities	Toilets
Technical
Rolling stock	KiHa 261 series, KiHa 283 series DMUs
Track gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification	Diesel
Operating speed	120 km/h (75 mph)
Track owner(s)	JR Hokkaido

The Tokachi (とかち) is a limited express train service between Sapporo and Obihiro 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, with the fastest journey taking 2 hours 25 minutes (Super Tokachi 4).^[2]

Stops

Trains stop at the following stations:

Sapporo - Shin-Sapporo - Minami-Chitose - Oiwake - Shin-Yubari - Shimukappu - Tomamu - Shintoku - Tokachi-Shimizu - Memuro - Obihiro

Rolling stock

Super Tokachi services are formed of 4-car (originally 5-car) KiHa 261 series and 5-car KiHa 283 series diesel multiple unit (DMU) trains.^[3]

Formations

All cars are no-smoking.

KiHa 261 series

Car No.	1	2	3	4
Accommodation	Green	Reserved	Reserved	Non-reserved

KiHa 283 series (Past)

Car No.	1	2	3	4	5
Accommodation	Green	Reserved	Reserved	Non-reserved	Non-reserved

Past

KiHa 183 series Tokachi service, September 1990
KiHa 183 series Super Tokachi service, 1993
KiHa 183 series Tokachi service, August 2009
KiHa 261 series Tokachi service, September 2021

History

The service commenced as the express Tokachi (十勝) on 1 February 1962, operating between Sapporo and Obihiro. The service continued until 30 September 1968.^[4]

The name was revived from 1 September 1990 as the Limited express Tokachi (とかち) using KiHa 183 series DMUs. From 27 July 1991, four Tokachi services were upgraded to become Super Tokachi using KiHa 183 series DMU sets including bilevel Green cars.^[4]

From 1 October 2007, new 5-car KiHa 261-1000 series tilting DMUs were introduced on Super Tokachi services, with KiHa 283 series tilting DMUs also used on some services.^[1]

From 1 October 2009, the remaining two Tokachi return services daily were upgraded to Super Tokachi using KiHa 261-1000 series DMUs.^[5] However, the service was returned to simply Tokachi from the start of the revised timetable on 14 March 2020.^{[citation needed]}

Discontinuation of catering services

From 1 November 2014, the refreshment trolley service and Green car complimentary drink service were discontinued, with refreshments sold instead in car 1.^[6] The refreshment service was discontinued entirely from 1 January 2015.^[6]

References

^ ^a ^b JR新幹線＆特急列車ファイル [JR Shinkansen & Limited Express Train File]. Japan: Kōtsū Shimbun. 2008. p. 114. ISBN 978-4-330-00608-6.
^ JR Timetable, October 2009 issue
^ 特急スーパーとかち（261系・283系）列車ガイド [Super Tokachi (261/283 series) Train guide] (in Japanese). Japan: Hokkaido Railway Company. 21 July 2011. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
^ ^a ^b 列車名鑑1995 [Train Name Directory 1995]. Japan: Railway Journal. August 1995. p. 127.
^ Rail Magazine: キハ183系特急〈とかち〉消滅 (KiHa 183 series Tokachi disappear) (1 October 2009). Retrieved on 1 October 2009. (in Japanese)
^ ^a ^b "JR北海道、特急「スーパーとかち」車内販売&グリーン車サービス年内で終了" [JR Hokkaido to end on-board sales and Green car service on Super Tokachi limited express]. Mynavi News (in Japanese). Japan: Mynavi Corporation. 28 October 2014. Retrieved 30 October 2014.

External links

JR Hokkaido Super Tokachi train information (in Japanese)

[kotsu2008-1] JR新幹線＆特急列車ファイル [JR Shinkansen & Limited Express Train File]. Japan: Kōtsū Shimbun. 2008. p. 114. ISBN 978-4-330-00608-6.

[tt200910-2] JR Timetable, October 2009 issue

[jrhokkaido-3] 特急スーパーとかち（261系・283系）列車ガイド [Super Tokachi (261/283 series) Train guide] (in Japanese). Japan: Hokkaido Railway Company. 21 July 2011. Retrieved 23 February 2012.

[meikan1995-4] 列車名鑑1995 [Train Name Directory 1995]. Japan: Railway Journal. August 1995. p. 127.

[5] Rail Magazine: キハ183系特急〈とかち〉消滅 (KiHa 183 series Tokachi disappear) (1 October 2009). Retrieved on 1 October 2009. (in Japanese)

[mynavi20141028-6] "JR北海道、特急「スーパーとかち」車内販売&グリーン車サービス年内で終了" [JR Hokkaido to end on-board sales and Green car service on Super Tokachi limited express]. Mynavi News (in Japanese). Japan: Mynavi Corporation. 28 October 2014. Retrieved 30 October 2014.

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v t e Mass transit in Hokkaido
JR Hokkaido lines	Hokkaido Shinkansen ■■ Chitose ■ Furano ■■■ Hakodate ■ Hidaka ■ Kaikyō ■■ Muroran ■■ Nemuro ■ Rumoi ■ Sasshō ■ Sekihoku ■ Sekishō ■ Senmō ■ Sōya
JR named trains	Hayabusa Hayate Hokuto Kamui Kitami Lilac Okhotsk Ōzora Sarobetsu Sōya Suzuran Taisetsu Tokachi
Discontinued JR named trains	Cassiopeia Hakuchō Hamanasu Ishikari Super Hakuchō Super White Arrow Twilight Express White Arrow
Sapporo Municipal Subway	Namboku Line Tōzai Line Tōhō Line
Other railways	South Hokkaido Railway Company Hakodate Streetcar Sapporo Streetcar Taiheiyō Coal (freight only)
Terminals	Rail Hakodate Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Sapporo Ōdōri Shin-Sapporo Asahikawa Airports Asahikawa New Chitose Hakodate Kushiro Memanbetsu Monbetsu Nakashibetsu Okadama Okushiri Rishiri Tokachi–Obihiro Wakkanai Ports Hakodate Otaru Tomakomai Kushiro
Public Ferries	Heart Land Ferry (ja) (Wakkanai—N. Islands) Silver Ferry (Tomakomai—Hachinohe) Tsugaru Kaikyō Ferry (Hakodate—Aomori) Seikan Ferry (Hakodate—Aomori) Shin Nihonkai Ferry MOL Ferry Taiheiyō Ferry Haboro-Enkai Ferry (ja) (Haboro—Yagishiri Island)
Miscellaneous	Cards Kitaca SAPICA Tunnels Seikan Tunnel
Japan transit: Tokyo Keihanshin Nagoya Fukuoka Hakone Fuji Izu Hokkaido Aomori Sendai Akita Niigata Toyama Nagano Okayama Hiroshima Shikoku Metro systems Shinkansen trams (list) aerial lifts (list)