 KiHa 261-1000 series DMU on anŌzora service, February 2023 | |
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Service type | Limited express |
| Status | Operational |
| Locale | Sekishō Line Nemuro Line |
| First service | 1 October 1961 (Ōzora) 22 March 1997 (Super Ōzora) |
| Last service | 13 March 2020 (Super Ōzora) |
| Current operator | JR Hokkaido |
| Former operator | JNR |
| Route | |
| Termini | Sapporo Kushiro |
| Stops | 15 |
| Distance travelled | 348.5 km (216.5 mi) |
| Average journey time | 3 hours 58 minutes approx |
| Service frequency | 6 return services daily |
| On-board services | |
| Class | 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 KiHa 283 series DMU |
| Track gauge | 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) |
| Electrification | Diesel |
| Operating speed | 110 km/h (68 mph) |
| Track owner | JR Hokkaido |
TheŌzora (おおぞら) is alimited express train service betweenSapporo andKushiro inHokkaido, Japan, operated byHokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido). There are six trains per day running in both directions, with the fastest journeys taking 3 hours 58 minutes.[1]
The service commenced as the limited expressŌzora (おおぞら) on 1 October 1961, operating betweenHakodate andAsahikawa using KiHa 80 series DMUs with one return working daily. The service was extended to run between Hakodate andKushiro from 1967. By 1973, there were three return workings daily. In October 1980, following the opening ofNew Chitose Airport, services were reorganized, with just one return working daily between Sapporo and Kushiro. From October 1981, the train was rerouted via theSekishō Line, reducing journey times by approximately one hour.[2] From 22 March 1997, fourŌzora services were upgraded to becomeSuper Ōzora (スーパーおおぞら) following the introduction of new KiHa 283 seriestilting DMUs.[1] The remainingŌzora services using KiHa 183 series DMUs were phased out by 2001. KiHa 261 series DMUs were introduced on 14 March 2020, and the service has since been returned to simplyŌzora.[citation needed]
Trains stop at the following stations:
Sapporo -Shin-Sapporo -Minami-Chitose - (Oiwake) - (Shin-Yubari) - (Shimukappu) -Tomamu -Shintoku - (Tokachi-Shimizu) - (Memuro) -Obihiro -Ikeda - (Urahoro) - (Shiranuka) -Kushiro
Stations in brackets () are stations where only some trains stop at.
TheŌzora is operated by 6-carKiHa 283 series andKiHa 261 seriesDMUs,[3] with car 1 at the Kushiro (eastern) end. All cars are no-smoking.
For departures usingKiHa 283 series, cars 1, 2 and 4 to 6 are ordinary-class cars with 2+2 seating, and car 3 is a "Green" car with 2+1 seating.
| Car No. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | Reserved | Reserved | Green | Reserved | Non-reserved | Non-reserved |
| Facilities | Toilets | Toilets | Wheelchair space, accessible toilet | Toilets |
For departures usingKiHa 261 series, car 1 is a "Green" car with 2+1 seating, and cars 2 to 6 are ordinary-class cars with 2+2 seating.
| Car No. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | Green | Reserved | Reserved | Reserved | Non-reserved | Non-reserved |
| Facilities | Wheelchair space, accessible toilet | Toilets | Toilets | Toilets |
On 27 May 2011, theSuper Ōzora 14 service from Kushiro to Sapporo was brought to an emergency stop inside the 685-metre-long (2,247 ft 5 in) No. 1 Niniu Tunnel inShimukappu, Hokkaidō, at around 21:55 after car number 2 of the 6-car formation became derailed. The train caught fire, and all of the 245 people on board, including train staff eventually evacuated the train. 39 were treated for smoke inhalation and minor burn injuries.[4] The burnt-out train was removed from the tunnel on 29 May 2011.[5]
Transit inHokkaido | |
|---|---|
| Shinkansen | |
 JR Hokkaido | |
 Sapporo Municipal Subway | |
| Other heavy rail lines | |
| trams and light rails | |
| Terminals |
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| Public Ferries |
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| Miscellaneous | |
