The is a

limited express A limited express is a type of express train service. It refers to an express service that stops at a limited number of stops in comparison to other express services on the same or similar routes. Japan The term "limited express" is a commo ...

train service between and via the

Hakodate is a city and port located in Oshima Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. It is the capital city of Oshima Subprefecture. As of July 31, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 279,851 with 143,221 households, and a population density of ...

and Nemuro Main Lines in

Hokkaido is Japan, Japan's Japanese archipelago, second largest island 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 from Honshu; th ...

, 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 using its official abbreviation of . It operates intercity and local rail services in Hokkaido, Japan. The company introduced Kitaca, a sm ...

(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).JR Timetable, October 2009 issue

Stops

Trains stop at the following stations: - - - - - - - - - -

Rolling stock

''Super Tokachi'' services are formed of 4-car (originally 5-car)

KiHa 261 series The is a 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 trains introduced ...

and 5-car

KiHa 283 series The is a tilting diesel 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 series trains introduced in 1994. Operations ...

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 als ...

(DMU) trains.

Formations

All cars are no-smoking.

KiHa 261 series

KiHa 283 series (Past)

Past

File:Kiha183 tokati sapporo.jpg, KiHa 183 series ''Tokachi'' service, September 1990 File:Kiha183 supertokati.jpg, KiHa 183 series ''Super Tokachi'' service, 1993 File:JRH-kiha183 Limited-express Tokachi.jpg, KiHa 183 series ''Tokachi'' service, August 2009 File:Kiha261-1000 ST1203 Tokachi.jpg, KiHa 261 series ''Tokachi'' service, September 2021

History

The service commenced as the express on 1 February 1962, operating between and . The service continued until 30 September 1968. The name was revived from 1 September 1990 as the

Limited express A limited express is a type of express train service. It refers to an express service that stops at a limited number of stops in comparison to other express services on the same or similar routes. Japan The term "limited express" is a commo ...

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 A green vehicle, clean vehicle, eco-friendly vehicle or environmentally friendly vehicle is a road motor vehicle that produces less harmful impacts to the environment than comparable conventional internal combustion engine vehicles running on ...

. From 1 October 2007, new 5-car KiHa 261-1000 series tilting DMUs were introduced on ''Super Tokachi'' services, with

tilting DMUs also used on some services. From 1 October 2009, the remaining two ''Tokachi'' return services daily were upgraded to ''Super Tokachi'' using KiHa 261-1000 series DMUs.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. However, the service was returned to simply ''Tokachi'' from the start of the revised timetable on 14 March 2020.

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. The refreshment service was discontinued entirely from 1 January 2015.

References

External links

{{Hokkaidō transit Named passenger trains of Japan Railway services introduced in 1962