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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 card ticketing system, in autumn 2008.

At the time of its privatization in 1987, JR Hokkaido operated 21 railway lines totalling of narrow-gauge () track, as well as a ferry service to Aomori. Since then, that figure has dwindled to just below , as unprofitable lines have been shut down or spun off (in the case of the Hokkaidō Chihoku Kōgen Railway). The ferry service has also been replaced by the 53.85-km long dual-gauge Seikan Tunnel for railways.

On 19 November 2016, JR Hokkaido's president announced plans to further rationalize its network by the withdrawal of services from up to 1,237 km, or about 50% of the current network, including closure of the remaining section of the Rumoi Main Line (the Rumoi - Mashike section closed on 4 December 2016, the Ishikari-Numata to Rumoi section on 1 April 2023 and the Fugagawa to Ishikari-Numata section closed on 1 April 2026), the Shin-Yubari - Yubari section of the Sekisho Line (closed on 1 April 2019), the non-electrified section of the Sassho Line (closed 17 April 2020) and the Nemuro Line between Furano and Shintoku (closed 31 March 2024). Other lines including the Sekihoku Main Line, Senmo Main Line, the Nayoro - Wakkanai section of the Soya Line and Kushiro - Nemuro section of the Nemuro Line are proposed for conversion to Third Sector operation, but if local governments are not agreeable, such sections will also face closure. JR Hokkaido closed 25 stations from March 2021 to March 2022 due to a decrease in passengers.

JR Hokkaido's headquarters are in Chūō-ku, Sapporo.

History

Headquarters and branch offices

  • Headquarters: 1-1-15 Kita-11-jō-Nishi, Chūō-ku, Sapporo
  • Branch offices:
  • Asahikawa branch office: 6-4152-2 Miyashita-dōri, Asahikawa
  • Hakodate branch office: 12-5 Wakamatsu-chō, Hakodate
  • Kushiro branch office: 5-14 Kita-ōdōri, Kushiro

Lines and key stations

Shinkansen

Trunk lines

Other lines

Under construction

Former lines

These lines were closed under the ownership of JR Hokkaido since 1987.

The company also operated the Seikan Ferry until 1988.

Former JNR lines closed before JR Hokkaido formation

These lines have been closed by JNR in Hokkaido before 1 April 1987.

  • - 36.8 km (22.9 mi) closed on 1 April 1985
  • - 21.2 km (13.2 mi) closed on 17 September 1985
  • Haboro Line
  • - 141.1 km (87.7 mi) closed on 30 March 1987
  • Hiroo Line
  • - Hiroo 84.0 km (52.2 mi) closed on 2 February 1987
  • - 83.0 km (51.6 mi) and - 7.5 km (4.7 mi) closed on 11 November 1986
  • - 14.9 km (9.3 mi) closed on 1 September 1985
  • - 30.4 km (18.9 mi) closed on 1 July 1985
  • - 19.9 km (12.4 mi) closed on 15 July 1985
  • - 12.8 km (8.0 mi) closed on 1 December 1970
  • - 23.8 km (14.8 mi) closed on 1 April 1985
  • - 48.4 km (30.1 mi) closed on 16 March 1987
  • - 78.3 km (48.7 mi) closed on 23 March 1987
  • Shiranuka Line
  • - 33.1 km (20.6 mi) closed on 23 October 1983
  • - 34.3 km (21.3 mi) closed on 1 April 1985
  • Temiya Line
  • - 2.8 km (1.7 mi) closed on 5 November 1985
  • - 82.5 km (51.3 mi) closed on 1 November 1986
  • - 121.8 km (75.7 mi) closed on 20 March 1987
  • Sasshō Line
  • - 34.9 km (21.7 mi) closed on 19 June 1972

Rolling Stock

Electric Multiple Units

Shinkansen

Commuter

Limited Express

Diesel Multiple Units

Commuter

Limited Express

References

External links