The Okhotsk (オホーツク) is a limited express train service in Japan operated by the Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido), which runs between Sapporo and Abashiri. There are two services per day running in both directions, with the journey time taking approximately 5 hours and 30 minutes. Trains operate at a maximum speed of 110 km/h (68 mph). It is named after the Sea of Okhotsk.

Stops

Trains stop at the following stations: Sapporo - Iwamizawa - (Bibai) - (Sunagawa) - Takikawa - Fukagawa - Asahikawa - Kamikawa - Shirataki - Maruseppu - Engaru - Ikutahara - Rubeshibe - Kitami - Bihoro - Memanbetsu - Abashiri Stations in brackets are stations where not all trains stop at.

Rolling stock

Okhotsk services are normally formed of 3-car KiHa 283 series diesel multiple unit (DMU) trains, with monoclass passenger accommodation.

Formations

KiHa 183 series

Okhotsk services were previously formed of 4-car KiHa 183 series diesel multiple unit (DMU) trains as shown below, with car 1 at the Sapporo and Abashiri end (train reverses at Engaru Station). These trains were replaced by KiHa 283 series DMUs from 18 March 2023. All cars were non-smoking.

Past

History

The Okhotsk service was first introduced by Japanese National Railways from the start of the revised timetable on 22 September 1959, as a semi-express service operating between Asahikawa and Abashiri, using KiHa 22 2-car DMUs, with five return workings daily. From July 1960, services were extended to Sapporo, and ran coupled with Sōya semi express services over the Hakodate Main Line. From the start of the revised timetable in October 1961, services were upgraded to "Express" status, and were operated using KiHa 56 4-car DMU formations, including a KiRo 26 Green (first class) car. From the start of the revised timetable on 2 October 1972, services were upgraded to "Limited express" status, and were operated using KiHa 80 series DMU formations. From the start of the revised timetable in November 1986, the KiHa 80 series rolling stock was replaced with KiHa 183 series 6-car DMUs.

Sleeper service

From 1992, the former Taisetsu (大雪) express overnight sleeper service was integrated with the Okhotsk (becoming Okhotsk 9 & 10), featuring a SuHaNeFu 14-500 series sleeping car sandwiched in the DMU formation. From March 2006, this became a seasonal-only train (Okhotsk 81 & 82), and the overnight service was discontinued entirely from 16 March 2008.

SL Okhotsk

JR Hokkaido operates seasonal SL Okhotsk services formed of 14 series passenger coaches hauled by a JNR Class C11 steam locomotive and assisted by a JNR Class DE15 diesel locomotive.