Sarobetsu (train)

*Sarobetsu*
	KiHa 183 series DMU on a Sarobetsu service, July 2006
Overview
Service type	Limited express
Status	Operational
First service	1 July 1992
Current operator(s)	JR Hokkaido
Route
Termini	Asahikawa; Wakkanai
Stops	11
Distance travelled	259.4 km (161.2 mi)
Average journey time	3 hours 45 minutes approx
Service frequency	2 return trips daily
Line(s) used	Sōya Main Line
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 DMU
Electrification	Diesel
Operating speed	120 km/h (75 mph)
Track owner(s)	JR Hokkaido

The Sarobetsu (サロベツ) is a limited express train service between Asahikawa and Wakkanai in Hokkaido, Japan, which is operated by Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido). Two trains per day operate in each direction, with the journey taking approximately 3 hours 45 minutes.

Stations

Trains stop at the following stations:

Asahikawa - Wassamu - Shibetsu - Nayoro - Bifuka - Otoineppu - Teshio-Nakagawa - Horonobe - Toyotomi - Minami-Wakkanai - Wakkanai

Rolling stock

Services are normally formed of 4-car KiHa 261 series DMUs, with Car No. 1 at the Wakkanai end and Car No. 4 at the Asahikawa end. Car No. 1 consists of both ordinary-class seats and the Green Car, while the other cars are ordinary-class cars. All seats are non-smoking. Up until 2007, an additional "Japanese-style seating car" (お座敷車, Ozashikisha) was attached to the train during busy seasons.^[1]

Car No.	1		2	3	4
Class	Green car	Reserved	Reserved	Reserved	Non-reserved
Facilities			Toilets	Wheelchair-accessible toilet

History

One of the Sōya services changed its name to Sarobetsu on July 1, 1992. At that time both Sōya and Sarobetsu ran between Sapporo and Wakkanai. However, the Sarobetsu service had no green cars, in contrast to Sōya, and stopped at these stations: Sapporo - Iwamizawa - Bibai - Sunagawa - Takikawa - Fukagawa - Asahikawa - Wassamu - Shibetsu - Nayoro - Bifuka - Otoineppu - Teshio-Nakagawa - Horonobe - Toyotomi - Minami-Wakkanai - Wakkanai

The Sarobetsu service was suspended, as the KiHa 183 series, which was the same type of train used for the service at that time, was involved in a fire on the Hakodate Main Line in July 2013.^[2] The service was supposed to resume the following month, but was delayed due to the accident investigation and resulting preventative measures.^[3] The suspension ended on March 31, 2014.^[2] In the meantime, a temporary rapid train service replaced the Sarobetsu.^[4]

From the start of the revised timetable of 4 March 2017, the Sarobetsu service was re-routed to operate between Asahikawa and Wakkanai, when the Lilac was introduced between Sapporo and Asahikawa. Also, the KiHa 261 series sets were used to replace the ageing KiHa 183 series sets.

References

^ "ＪＲ新幹線＆特急列車ファイル" (JR Shinkansen & Limited Express Train File), published 2008 by Kōtsū Shimbun
^ ^a ^b "JR宗谷本線特急サロベツ運休のご案内" (in Japanese). Wakkanai City website. Archived from the original on November 9, 2013. Retrieved February 14, 2014.
^ 平成25年第３回定例会（９月）一般行政報告 (in Japanese). Wakkanai City website. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved February 14, 2014.
^ 「臨時快速」運行（11/1～）に伴うお知らせについて (PDF) (in Japanese). Wakkanai City website. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved February 14, 2014.

External links

Sarobetsu information on JR Hokkaido official website (in Japanese)

[Kotsu-1] "ＪＲ新幹線＆特急列車ファイル" (JR Shinkansen & Limited Express Train File), published 2008 by Kōtsū Shimbun

[suspension-2] "JR宗谷本線特急サロベツ運休のご案内" (in Japanese). Wakkanai City website. Archived from the original on November 9, 2013. Retrieved February 14, 2014.

[3] 平成25年第３回定例会（９月）一般行政報告 (in Japanese). Wakkanai City website. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved February 14, 2014.

[4] 「臨時快速」運行（11/1～）に伴うお知らせについて (PDF) (in Japanese). Wakkanai City website. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved February 14, 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)