Super Hokuto services started on 1 March 1994,[1] 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.
Hokuto No. 2 (for Hakodate) does not stop at Noboribetsu and Shiraoi.
Hokuto No. 4 (for Hakodate) and 21 (for Sapporo) does not stop at Shiraoi.
Rolling stock
The Hokuto is operated by 7-car KiHa 261 seriesDMUs,[2] 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 DMUs.[3]
For departures using KiHa 281 series, 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.
Car No.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Accommodation
Reserved
Reserved
Green
Reserved
Reserved
Non-reserved
Non-reserved
Facilities
Toilets
Toilets
Wheelchair space, accessible toilet
Toilets
For departures using KiHa 261 series, car 1 is a "Green" car with 2+1 seating, and cars 2 to 7 are ordinary-class cars with 2+2 seating.
Car No.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Accommodation
Green
Reserved
Reserved
Reserved
Reserved
Non-reserved
Non-reserved
Facilities
Wheelchair space, accessible toilet
Toilets
Toilets
Toilets
Toilets
A KiHa 80 series DMU on a Hokuto service circa 1986
A KiHa 183 series DMU on a Hokuto service in 1992
A KiHa 183 series DMU on a Hokuto service in February 2010
A KiHa 281 series DMU on a Super Hokuto service in 1994
A KiHa 283 series DMU on a Super Hokuto service in June 2001
A KiHa 261-1000 series DMU on a Super Hokuto service in May 2016
References
^Haraguchi, Takayuki (2009). Encyclopedia of JR's Railway Cars: JR全車輌. Japan: Sekai Bunka. p. 115. ISBN978-4-418-09905-4.
^"JR北海道、2022年度までに特急北斗をすべてキハ261系に＿H100形気動車も追加投入" [JR Hokkaido all special express Hokuto Kiha 261 series by 2022 - H100 series additional railcar also introduced]. tetsudo-ch.com (in Japanese). EXPRESS Co., Ltd. 22 April 2019. Archived from the original on 14 July 2019. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
^"定期列車での営業運転を終えたキハ281系が返却回送される" [Final KiHa 281 series trainset in regular service transported to depot]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 1 October 2022. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
