Hokkaido Railway Company

The Hokkaido Railway Company (北海道旅客鉄道株式会社, Hokkaidō Ryokaku Tetsudō Kabushiki-gaisha) is one of the constituent companies of the Japan Railways Group (JR Group), and is often referred to using its official abbreviation of JR Hokkaido (JR北海道, Jeiāru Hokkaidō). It operates intercity and local rail services in Hokkaido, Japan. The company introduced Kitaca, a smart card ticketing system, in autumn 2008.

Hokkaido Railway Company
Native name
北海道旅客鉄道株式会社
Hokkaidō Ryokaku Tetsudō ("Hokkaido Passenger Railway") kabushiki gaisha
TypeState-owned KK
IndustryPrivate railway
PredecessorJapanese National Railways (JNR)
FoundedApril 1, 1987 (privatization of JNR)
Headquarters
Chūō-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido
,
Japan
Area served
Hokkaido
ProductsKitaca (a rechargeable contactless smart card)
ServicesPassenger rail
Freight services
Intercity bus
OwnerJapan Railway Construction, Transport and Technology Agency (100%)
Number of employees
7,970 (as of April 1, 2007)
SubsidiariesJR Hokkaido Bus
Websitewww.jrhokkaido.co.jp/global

At the time of its privatization in 1987, JR Hokkaido operated 21 railway lines totalling 3,176.6 kilometres (1,973.8 mi) of narrow-gauge (1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)) track, as well as a ferry service to Aomori. Since then, that figure has dwindled to just below 2,500 kilometres (1,600 mi), 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 The ferry service has also been replaced by the Seikan Tunnel.

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,[1] including closure of the remaining section of the Rumoi Main Line (the Rumoi - Mashike section closed on 4 December 2016), 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 Kami-Ochiai Junction. 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. In March 2021, 18 unmanned stations will be closed due to a decrease in the number of passengers.

Hokkaido Railway's headquarters are in Chūō-ku, Sapporo.[2]

History

Headquarters and branch offices
Headquarters building
  • 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
KiHa 283 series DMU Super Hokuto
789-1000 series EMU Super Kamui

Shinkansen

Trunk lines
  1. Most trains run between Sapporo and Oshamanbe.

Other lines
Sapporo Station

Under construction

Former lines

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 April 1, 1987.

  • Aioi Line
    • Bihoro - Kitami-Aioi 36.8 km (22.9 mi) closed on April 1, 1985
  • Bikō Line
    • Bifuka - Niupu 21.2 km (13.2 mi) closed on September 17, 1985
  • Haboro Line
  • Hiroo Line
    • Obihiro - Hiroo 84.0 km (52.2 mi) closed on February 2, 1987
  • Iburi Line
    • Kutchan - Datemombetsu 83.0 km (51.6 mi) and Kyōgoku - Wakikata 7.5 km (4.7 mi) closed on November 11, 1986
  • Iwanai Line
    • Kozawa - Iwanai 14.9 km (9.3 mi) closed on September 1, 1985
  • Kōhin'hoku Line
    • Hama-Tombetsu - Kitami-Esashi 30.4 km (18.9 mi) closed on July 1, 1985
  • Kōhin'nan Line
    • Ōmu - Okoppe 19.9 km (12.4 mi) closed on July 15, 1985
  • Konpoku Line
  • Manji Line
    • Shibun - Manji-Tanzan 23.8 km (14.8 mi) closed on April 1, 1985
  • Setana Line
    • Kunnui - Setana 48.4 km (30.1 mi) closed on March 16, 1987
  • Shihoro Line
    • Obihiro - Tokachi-Mitsumata 78.3 km (48.7 mi) closed on March 23, 1987
  • Shiranuka Line
    • Shiranuka - Hokushin 33.1 km (20.6 mi) closed on October 23, 1983
  • Shokotsu Line
    • Shokotsu - Kitami-Takinoue 34.3 km (21.3 mi) closed on April 1, 1985
  • Temiya Line
    • Minami-Otaru - Temiya 2.8 km (1.7 mi) closed on November 5, 1985
  • Tomiuchi Line
    • Mukawa - Hidakachō 82.5 km (51.3 mi) closed on November 1, 1986
  • Yūmō Line
    • Naka-Yūbetsu - Abashiri 121.8 km (75.7 mi) closed on March 20, 1987
  • Sasshō Line

References
  1. "JR Hokkaido says it can't maintain half of its railways". 2016-11-19. Archived from the original on 2017-02-02.
  2. "会社概要 Archived 2013-10-14 at the Wayback Machine." Hokkaido Railway Company. Retrieved on March 27, 2010.
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