Hokkaido Railway Company
Encyclopedia
The is one of the constituent companies of Japan Railways Group (JR Group), and thus often known as . It operates intercity rail services in Hokkaido
, Japan. The company introduced Kitaca
, a smart card
ticketing system, from autumn 2008.
At the time of its privatization in 1987, JR Hokkaido operated 21 railway lines totalling 3,176.6 km of track, as well as a ferry service to Aomori
. Since then, that number has dwindled to just below 2,500 km, 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 The ferry service has also been replaced by the Seikan Tunnel
.
Hokkaido Railway's headquarters are in Chūō-ku, Sapporo
.
} - (60.2 km (37.41 mi))
} - (2.6 km (1.62 mi))
} - - (35.3 km (21.93 mi))
} - - - (211 km (131.11 mi))
} - - (443.8 km (275.77 mi))
} - (16.1 km (10 mi))
} - - (79.9 km (49.65 mi))
} - Asahikawa (54.8 km (34.05 mi))
} - (146.5 km (91.03 mi))
} - - (234 km (145.4 mi))
} - - Kikonai (87.3 km (54.25 mi))
} - (66.8 km (41.51 mi))
} - (76.5 km (47.54 mi))
} - (166.2 km (103.27 mi))
Hokkaido
, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...
, Japan. The company introduced Kitaca
Kitaca
is a rechargeable contactless smart card ticketing system for public transport in Sapporo, Japan. Hokkaidō Railway Company introduced the system from October 25 2008. Its name means "the card of ", while 北 is also the first character of . Like other electronic fare collection systems in Japan, the...
, a smart card
Smart card
A smart card, chip card, or integrated circuit card , is any pocket-sized card with embedded integrated circuits. A smart card or microprocessor cards contain volatile memory and microprocessor components. The card is made of plastic, generally polyvinyl chloride, but sometimes acrylonitrile...
ticketing system, from autumn 2008.
At the time of its privatization in 1987, JR Hokkaido operated 21 railway lines totalling 3,176.6 km of track, as well as a ferry service to Aomori
Aomori, Aomori
is the capital city of Aomori Prefecture, in the northern Tōhoku region of Japan. As of 2009, the city had an estimated population of 302,068 and a density of 366 persons per km². Its total area was 824.52 km².- History :...
. Since then, that number has dwindled to just below 2,500 km, 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
Seikan Tunnel
The Seikan Tunnel is a railway tunnel in Japan, with a long portion under the seabed. Track level is about below seabed and below sea level. It travels beneath the Tsugaru Strait—connecting Aomori Prefecture on the Japanese island of Honshu and the island of Hokkaido—as part of the Kaikyo Line...
.
Hokkaido Railway's headquarters are in Chūō-ku, Sapporo
Chūō-ku, Sapporo
is one of the ten wards in Sapporo city, Japan. Chūō-ku means "central ward" in Japanese. As its name suggests, city administration and entertainment facilities are centred in this ward.- History :...
.
History
- April 1, 1987: Upon the privatization of the Japanese National RailwaysJapanese National Railways, abbreviated or "JNR", was the national railway network of Japan from 1949 to 1987.-History:The term Kokuyū Tetsudō "state-owned railway" originally referred to a network of railway lines operated by nationalized companies under the control of the Railway Institute following the nationalization...
(JNR), the Hokkaido Railway Company was formed - October 25, 2008: KitacaKitacais a rechargeable contactless smart card ticketing system for public transport in Sapporo, Japan. Hokkaidō Railway Company introduced the system from October 25 2008. Its name means "the card of ", while 北 is also the first character of . Like other electronic fare collection systems in Japan, the...
contactless smart card introduced in Sapporo area
Headquarters and branch offices
- Headquarters: 1-1-15 Kita-11-jō-Nishi, Chūō-ku, SapporoChūō-ku, Sapporois one of the ten wards in Sapporo city, Japan. Chūō-ku means "central ward" in Japanese. As its name suggests, city administration and entertainment facilities are centred in this ward.- History :...
- Branch offices:
- Asahikawa branch office: 6-4152-2 Miyashita-dōri, AsahikawaAsahikawa, Hokkaidois a city in Kamikawa Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. It is the capital of the subprefecture and the second-largest city in Hokkaido, after Sapporo. It has been a Core city since April 1, 2000...
- Hakodate branch office: 12-5 Wakamatsu-chō, HakodateHakodate, Hokkaidois a city and port located in Oshima Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. It is the capital city of Oshima Subprefecture.Hakodate was Japan's first city whose port was opened to foreign trade in 1854 as a result of Convention of Kanagawa, and used to be the most important port in northern Japan...
- Kushiro branch office: 5-14 Kita-ōdōri, KushiroKushiro, Hokkaidois a city located in Kushiro Subprefecture, Hokkaidō, Japan. It is the capital city of Kushiro Subprefecture, as well as the most populous city in eastern Hokkaidō....
- Asahikawa branch office: 6-4152-2 Miyashita-dōri, Asahikawa
Lines and key stations
Trunk lines
- Chitose LineChitose Lineis a railway line in Hokkaidō operated by JR Hokkaidō, between Numanohata, Tomakomai and Shiroishi Station, Shiroishi Ward, Sapporo, linking Muroran Main Line and Hakodate Main Line. There also is a branch line to New Chitose Airport.-Basic Data:...
:
} - (60.2 km (37.41 mi))
} - (2.6 km (1.62 mi))
- Hakodate Main LineHakodate Main Lineis a railway line between the cities of Hakodate and Asahikawa in Hokkaido, Japan. It is one of the trunk lines operated by the Hokkaido Railway Company ....
(Most trains run between Sapporo and Oshamanbe.)- - - - (423.1 km (262.9 mi))
} - - (35.3 km (21.93 mi))
- Muroran Main LineMuroran Main LineThe is a railway line in Hokkaidō operated by Hokkaido Railway Company , between Oshamambe Station in Oshamambe and Iwamizawa Station in Iwamizawa, running through the coast of Iburi Subprefecture...
} - - - (211 km (131.11 mi))
-
- Higashi-Muroran - Muroran (7 km (4.35 mi))
- Nemuro Main LineNemuro Main Lineis a railway line in Hokkaidō operated by JR Hokkaidō, between Takikawa Station, Takikawa City and Nemuro Station, Nemuro City, running througheastern Hokkaidō including Obihiro and Kushiro.- Basic Data :*Operators, distances...
} - - (443.8 km (275.77 mi))
- Sekishō LineSekisho LineThe is a railway line in Japan operated by Hokkaido Railway Company . The main Sekishō Line runs between in Chitose and Shintoku Station in the town of Shintoku. A branch line runs from to...
- Minami-Chitose - (132.4 km (82.27 mi))
} - (16.1 km (10 mi))
Other lines
- Esashi LineEsashi LineThe is a Japanese rail line operated by Hokkaido Railway Company that runs between Hakodate City and Esashi Town in Hokkaidō.-Stations:All stations are in Hokkaidō.Track: ∥: Double track, ∨: Double track ends, ◇: Passing loop |: No passing loop...
} - - (79.9 km (49.65 mi))
- Furano LineFurano LineThe is part of the Hokkaido Railway Company network in Hokkaidō, Japan. It connects Furano Station in the city of Furano and Asahikawa Station in the city of Asahikawa...
} - Asahikawa (54.8 km (34.05 mi))
} - (146.5 km (91.03 mi))
} - - (234 km (145.4 mi))
- Kaikyō LineKaikyo Lineis an 87.8-kilometre railway line operated mainly by the Hokkaido Railway Company. The line runs from Naka-Oguni Station in Sotogahama, Aomori, through the Seikan Tunnel between Honshū and Hokkaidō, and on to Kikonai Station in Kikonai, Hokkaidō...
} - - Kikonai (87.3 km (54.25 mi))
- Rumoi Main LineRumoi Main LineThe is a Japanese rail line operated by Hokkaidō Railway Company that runs between Fukagawa and Mashike in Hokkaidō.-Stations: Stop ... ●: All trains stop, ◆: some trains stop, ▼: down trains pass, ▲: up trains pass...
} - (66.8 km (41.51 mi))
- Sasshō LineSasshō LineThe is a railway line in Japan operated by Hokkaido Railway Company , which runs between in Sapporo and in Shintotsukawa, Hokkaidō. Its name comes from and , the latter of which was terminus of the line until it was truncated at Shin-Totsukawa in 1972.-Stations:...
} - (76.5 km (47.54 mi))
- Senmō Main LineSenmo Main Lineis a Japanese railway line in Hokkaidō, of JR Hokkaidō, between Higashi-Kushiro Station in Kushiro and Abashiri Station in Abashiri. The name comes from and .-Basic Data:*Operators, distances**Hokkaidō Railway Company...
} - (166.2 km (103.27 mi))
- Sōya Main Line
- Asahikawa - - (259.4 km (161.18 mi))
Under construction
- Hokkaido ShinkansenHokkaido ShinkansenThe is a high-speed rail line currently under construction between Aomori and Hokkaido through the Seikan Tunnel. Construction started in May 2005, and the initial Shin-Aomori to Shin-Hakodate section is projected to open in 2015. There are long-term plans to extend the line to Sapporo...
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