Sarobetsu (train)

*Sarobetsu*
	KiHa 183 series DMU on a Sarobetsu service, July 2006
Overview
Service type	Limited express
First service	1992
Current operator(s)	JR Hokkaido
Route
Line(s) used	Hakodate Main Line, Sōya Main Line
Technical
Rolling stock	KiHa 183 series DMUs
Operating speed	120 km/h (75 mph)*

The Sarobetsu (サロベツ) is a limited express train service between Sapporo and Wakkanai in Hokkaido, Japan, which is operated by Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido). One train per day operates in each direction, with the journey taking approximately five and a half hours. The train operates over the same route as the Super Sōya, but stops at more stations and takes 20-30 minutes longer.^[1]

Stations

Sapporo - Iwamizawa - Bibai - Sunagawa - Takikawa - Fukagawa - Asahikawa - Wassamu - Shibetsu - Nayoro - Bifuka - Otoineppu - Teshio-Nakagawa - Horonobe - Toyotomi - Minami-Wakkanai - Wakkanai

Rolling stock

Services are normally formed of 3-car KiHa 183 series DMUs. Up until 2007, an additional "Japanese-style seating car" (お座敷車, Ozashikisha) was attached to the train during busy seasons.^[2]

History

The Sarobetsu service was suspended, as the same type of train used for the service was involved in a fire on the Hakodate Main Line in July 2013.^[3] The service was supposed to resume the following month, but was delayed due to the accident investigation and resulting preventative measures.^[4] The suspension ended on March 31, 2014.^[3] In the meantime, a temporary rapid train service replaced the Sarobetsu.^[5]

References

^ JR Timetable, August 2008 issue
^ "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. 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. 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. Retrieved February 14, 2014.

External links

Sarobetsu information on JR Hokkaido official website Template:Ja icon

[timetable-1] JR Timetable, August 2008 issue

[Kotsu-2] "ＪＲ新幹線＆特急列車ファイル" (JR Shinkansen & Limited Express Train File), published 2008 by Kōtsū Shimbun

[suspension-3] "JR宗谷本線　特急サロベツ　運休のご案内" (in Japanese). Wakkanai City website. Retrieved February 14, 2014.

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

[5] 「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. 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)