The is a tilting

diesel multiple unit 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 ...

(DMU) train type 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) on

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 ...

services 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, since 2000.

Design

The running gear was based on the KiHa 201 series trains introduced in 1997, and the body design was a joint venture with the

Danish State Railways DSB, an abbreviation of ''Danske Statsbaner'' (, ''Danish State Railways''), is the largest Danish train operating company. It's also the largest train operating company in Scandinavia. While DSB is responsible for passenger train operation on ...

(DSB).

Fleet

, 35 KiHa 261 series vehicles were in operation. 14 were built by

Fuji Heavy Industries , formerly , is a Japanese multinational corporation and conglomerate primarily involved in both terrestrial and aerospace transportation manufacturing. It is best known for its line of Subaru automobiles. Founded in 1953, the company was named ...

, and 21 were built by

JR Hokkaido 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 c ...

. A further 28 vehicles are on order to be delivered from fiscal 2015.

Operations

KiHa 261 series trainsets are used on the following services.

KiHa 261-0 series

* '' Sōya'' services between and , since 11 March 2000 * '' Sarobetsu'' services between and , since 4 March 2017

KiHa 261-1000 series

* '' Tokachi'' services between and , since 1 October 2007 * '' Hokuto'' services between and , since 26 March 2016 * '' Ōzora'' services between and , since 14 March 2020

Formations

''Sōya''

''Sōya'' services are normally formed of four-car KiHa 261-100 series sets, and are sometimes lengthened to six cars during busy periods.

4-car formations

Four-car sets are formed as follows.

6-car formations

Six-car sets are formed by adding two cars as shown below. Car 1 (and car 21) includes Green (first) class and standard class accommodation.

''Super Tokachi''

''Super Tokachi'' services were originally formed of five-car KiHa 261-1000 series sets, but these were later reduced to four cars. The 4-car ''Super Tokachi'' sets are formed as follows.

Interior

File:JRH kiro261-1102 interior 20090408.jpg, Interior of Green car KiRo 261-1102 in April 2009 File:KiHa 260-1102 interior 20090408.jpg, Interior of ordinary-class car KiHa 260-1102 in April 2009

History

KiHa261-1000 Super-Tokachi Obihiro 20071018

A four-car pre-production set was delivered from

in November 1998 for evaluation and testing. The first production trains were introduced on ''

Super Sōya Super may refer to: Computing * SUPER (computer program), or Simplified Universal Player Encoder & Renderer, a video converter/player * Super (computer science), a keyword in object-oriented programming languages * Super key (keyboard button) ...

'' services between and from the start of the revised timetable on 11 March 2000. New KiHa 261-1000 series 5-car sets were introduced on ''

Super Tokachi The is a limited express train service between and 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, ...

'' services between and from October 2007. Kiha-261-ST1101

A further 28 KiHa 261 series vehicles were delivered from 2015 onward, and these are not equipped with tilting capability. From December 2015 until the end of 2017, the KiHa 261-1000 series fleet were gradually repainted into a new livery with white front ends, yellow front-end gangway doors, and a purple bodyside stripe.

KiHa 261-5000 series

On 17 October 2019, JR Hokkaido announced plans to introduce two new KiHa 261-5000 series 5-car sets. They each feature external colour schemes inspired by the

hamanasu ''Rosa rugosa'' (rugosa rose, beach rose, Japanese rose, Ramanas rose, or letchberry) is a species of rose native to eastern Asia, in northeastern China, Japan, Korea and southeastern Siberia, where it grows on beach coasts, often on sand dunes. ...

and

lavender ''Lavandula'' (common name lavender) is a genus of 47 known species of perennial flowering plants in the sage family, Lamiaceae. It is native plant, native to the Old World, primarily found across the drier, warmer regions of the Mediterranean ...

flowers, which, according to JR Hokkaido, are prominent throughout Hokkaido. Car 1 is designated as a lounge car, featuring window-facing seats and transverse seating bays with tables. Cars 2 through 5 are ordinary-class cars, featuring 2+2 abreast seating throughout. The "Hamanasu" set was built at

Kawasaki Heavy Industries is a Japanese Public company, public multinational corporation manufacturer of motorcycles, engines, Heavy equipment (construction), heavy equipment, aerospace and Military, defense equipment, rolling stock and ships, headquartered in Minato, To ...

' Hyogo factory, and was delivered to JR Hokkaido in July 2020. It entered revenue service on 17 October of that year. The "Lavender" set was delivered from the same factory in January 2021 and entered revenue service in May of that year, although it was originally intended to enter service in April. File:Kiha261-ST5201 Limited-express Hokuto 20220504.jpg, The KiHa 261-5000 series "Hamanasu" set in May 2022 File:Kiha261 ST-5102 Furano-lavender-express.jpg, The KiHa 261-5000 series "Lavender" set in June 2022 File:Kiha261-5000 Hamanasu-Inside Lounge.jpg, Lounge interior File:Kiha261-5000 Hamanasu-Inside.jpg, Ordinary-class interior

References

External links

JR Hokkaido KiHa 261 ''Super Soya'' train information

{{JR Hokkaido trainsets

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 ...

Hokkaido Railway Company Tilting trains Train-related introductions in 2000

261 __NOTOC__ Year 261 (Roman numerals, CCLXI) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Gallienus and Taurus (or, less frequently, year 1014 ''Ab urbe condita''). The ...