An extension north to Sapporo, which will add 211.8 kilometres (131.6mi) of new line, was originally scheduled to open by fiscal year 2030,[3] but in December 2024 the opening was revised to the end of FY2038.[4][5]
Associated actions
The dual-gauge Kaikyo Line near Kikonai Station in March 2016
In preparation for the opening of the Hokkaido Shinkansen, the Seikan Tunnel (Kaikyō Line) and its approaches, totaling approximately 82km (51mi),[6] were converted to dual gauge, accommodating both the Shinkansen's 1,435mm (4ft8+1⁄2in)standard-gauge and conventional 1,067mm (3ft6in)narrow gauge tracks.[7]
Two types of Shinkansen services operate on the Hokkaido Shinkansen: express Hayabusa services between Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto and Shin-Aomori, with through services continuing to Tokyo or Sendai via the Tōhoku Shinkansen, and local Hayate services operating between Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto and Shin-Aomori, with some trains continuing to Morioka via the Tōhoku Shinkansen.
Under the initial timetable, ten daily round-trip Hayabusa services operate between Tokyo and Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto, along with one daily round trip between Sendai and Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto. Hayate services include one daily round trip each between Morioka and Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto, and between Shin-Aomori and Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto.[9]
Operating speed
Upon commencement of services in 2016, the maximum speed on the approximately 82-kilometre (51mi)dual-gauge section approaching and through the Seikan Tunnel was limited to 140 kilometres per hour (87mph), later increased to 160 kilometres per hour (99mph) in March 2019.[10] This restriction is necessary because the shock wave from a Shinkansen train traveling at full speed could destabilize a narrow-gauge freight train travelling in the opposite direction. Approximately 50 freight trains use the dual-gauge section each day, so operations cannot be limited to times outside Shinkansen services. Because of this restriction, the fastest journey time between Tokyo and Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto is currently 3 hours, 57 minutes.
During holiday periods, when freight traffic is reduced and passenger demand increases, the maximum speed on the dual-gauge section is raised. This scheme was first implemented during the 2020–21 New Year holiday and the Golden Week period from 3–6 May 2021, when speeds were increased to 210 kilometres per hour (130mph),[10] and continued until January 2024, when JR Hokkaido announced that speeds would be raised to 260 kilometres per hour (160mph) during major holiday periods.[11]
To operate Shinkansen trains at 260 kilometres per hour (160mph) through the dual-gauge section, proposals include a system to automatically reduce speed when passing narrow-gauge trains and loading freight trains onto specially designed "train on train" standard-gauge vehicles capable of withstanding the shock waves from passing Shinkansen trains. If such a train on train system is implemented, it could reduce travel times by 12 minutes.
Effects of winter weather on train operation
Operating in areas that see significant snowfall during the winter months, accumulation of snow has effects on various train operations. It can cause damage to equipment or can cause a moving train to miss a switch. In particular, accretion of snow in the bogies of the train has been shown to be significant, causing damage or causing schedule delays. Methods have been used to estimate snow accumulation on trains running up to 130km/h (81mph), and newer estimates based on weather data can predict accumulation of up to 3cm (1.2in) in bogies upon arrival at a station.[12]
The winter season also adversely impacts the occupancy rates of the rail line, with recorded occupancy reaching a low of 19% in the months of January and February.[13]
All services are formed of 10-car JR East E5 or JR Hokkaido H5 series trainsets.[9]
In February 2014, JR Hokkaido placed an order for four 10-car H5 Series Shinkansen trainsets for use on Hokkaido Shinkansen services from March 2016.[14] Based on the E5 series trainsets operated by JR East since 2011, the order for 40 vehicles cost approximately 18 billion yen.[14] The first two sets of the order are scheduled to be delivered to Hakodate Depot by road from Hakodate Port in October 2014, with test running commencing before the end of the year.[15] The remaining two sets on order were scheduled to be delivered in 2015.[15] The vehicles feature the usual upper green and lower white livery, with a purple stripe in the middle. The color purple was chosen to represent the purple flowers of Hokkaido: lilacs, lupine and lavender. Inside, the ordinary-class cars feature wood paneling and carpet with a snowflake motif. Green class features cream-colored walls representing the local dairy industry and carpet with a drift-ice motif. Gran class features dark blue carpets, said to be modeled after the shimmering lakes and bodies of water along the route.[16]
A chart showing proposed journey times between Tokyo and Sapporo as the Hokkaido Shinkansen is extended.
In the early 1970s, two other Shinkansen routes were proposed for Hokkaido: Sapporo – Asahikawa (Hokkaido Shinkansen extension) and Oshamambe – Muroran – Sapporo (Hokkaido South Route). There were also further unofficial plans to connect to Abashiri, Kushiro and Nayoro/Wakkanai. These plans have been indefinitely shelved.
Hokkaido along with Shikoku was, prior to the opening of the line, the only of the four main islands of Japan without a Shinkansen connection. Similarly, JR Hokkaido and JR Shikoku along with JR Freight are the only parts of JR Group that have yet to undergo privatization. In 2024, the air route between Sapporo and Tokyo was the second busiest in the world by passenger numbers. A faster train connection would shift some of those passengers from air to rail as happened when other Shinkansen services were inaugurated.[17][18][19]
On 1 November 2014, a ceremony was held at Kikonai Station to mark the completion of track-laying for the line between Shin-Aomori and Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto.[20] Test-running on the Hokkaido Shinkansen tracks within Hokkaido commenced from 1 December 2014, initially at low speeds, with the speed raised to the maximum of 260km/h (160mph) later that month.[21] Test-running was extended through the Seikan Tunnel to Okutsugaru-Imabetsu in December 2014.[22] Test-running south of Okutsugaru-Imabetsu commenced on 21 April 2015, with the first train reaching Shin-Aomori Station from the north in the early hours of 24 May.[22]
Sapporo extension
JR Hokkaido is extending the Hokkaido Shinkansen from Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto to Sapporo, originally planned to open by 2030.[23] However, in May 2024, the JRTT reported to the MLIT that it would be 'extremely difficult' to extend the line to Sapporo by 2030.[24] In December 2024, MLIT announced the opening will be delayed until FY2038.[25] There is potential for the opening date to be revised in either direction, and a further announcement will be made after discussions at a panel of experts which will commence in January 2025.[25]
Tunneling work on the 5,265m (3.272mi) Murayama Tunnel, situated about 1 kilometer (0.6mi) north of Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto station commenced in March 2015. However in July 2016 the short section between the Murayama Tunnel and the next tunnel (26,470m) was deemed unnecessary so the construction altered and the planned two tunnels were integrated into the Toshima Tunnel with a total length of 32,675m. When opened, it will be the longest land tunnel in the country.
The 211.3km (131.3mi) extension will be approximately 76% in tunnels, including major tunnels such as Toshima (mentioned above), Oshima (26.5km or 16.5mi), Teine (18.8km or 11.7mi) and Shiribeshi (18km or 11mi).[26]
When the section to Sapporo opens, the estimated journey time from Tokyo to Sapporo will be at most 5 hours and 1 minute.[27]
In May 2019, JR Hokkaido announced that it had requested permission from the MLIT to increase the speed limit on the 212km (132mi) of new track to be constructed between Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto and Sapporo to 320km/h (200mph).[28] This would involve the extension of buffers on about 170km (110mi) of tunnels, installation of sound barriers on about 30km (19mi) of the remaining 42km (26mi) of surface track and strengthening of viaducts.
Notes
↑Speed restricted to 160km/h (99mph) through the Seikan Tunnel, except during holiday periods.
↑北海道新幹線開業は来年3月26日 JRが最終調整[Hokkaido Shinkansen to open on 26 March next year - JR Hokkaido makes final adjustments]. Doshin (in Japanese). Japan: The Hokkaido Shimbun Press. 12 August 2015. Archived from the original on 12 August 2015. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
↑"北海道新幹線札幌開業、2038年度が軸 国交省が調整 1月以降に決定 開業時期変更は2度目（北海道新聞）"[Hokkaido Shinkansen extension to Sapporo delayed to FY2038, MLIT to decide in January or later]. Yahoo!ニュース (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 30 December 2024. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
↑Sato, Yoshihiko (16 February 2016). "Hokkaido Shinkansen prepares for launch". International Railway Journal. Simmons-Boardman Publishing Inc. Archived from the original on 12 July 2018. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
↑道南いさりび鉄道、ロゴマークを発表...津軽海峡をモチーフ[South Hokkaido Railway Company unveils logo – Tsugaru Straits motif]. Response (in Japanese). Japan: IID Inc. 23 March 2015. Archived from the original on 24 March 2015. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
12北海道新幹線 新青森〜新函館北斗間開業に伴う運行計画の概要について[Details of operations following opening of Hokkaido Shinkansen between Sendai and Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto](PDF). News release (in Japanese). Japan: East Japan Railway Company. 16 September 2015. Archived(PDF) from the original on 16 September 2015. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
12北海道新幹線「H5系」、内装には雪の結晶も[Hokkaido Shinkansen "H5 series" – Interiors to feature snowflake design]. Yomiuri Online (in Japanese). Japan: The Yomiuri Shimbun. 16 April 2014. Archived from the original on 15 April 2014. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
12北海道新幹線車両、函館港に10月陸揚げ 今年まず20両、基地へ陸送[Hokkaido Shinkansen trains to arrive at Hakodate Port in October with 20 vehicles delivered to depot this year]. Doshin Web (in Japanese). Japan: The Hokkaido Shimbun Press. 19 March 2014. Archived from the original on 18 March 2014. Retrieved 19 March 2014.
↑北海道新幹線(新青森・新函館北斗間)レール締結式の開催について[Hokkaido Shinkansen rail joining ceremony](PDF). Press release (in Japanese). Japan: Japan Railway Construction, Transport and Technology Agency. 19 September 2014. Archived from the original(PDF) on 22 September 2014. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
↑Suzuki, Katsuichi (1 December 2014). 北海道新幹線:試験走行始まる 下旬には260キロで[Hokkaido Shinkansen test running starts – 260km/h by early December]. Mainichi Shimbun (in Japanese). Japan: The Mainichi Newspapers. Archived from the original on 1 December 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
12北海道新幹線の試験走行、新青森駅に初乗り入れ[Hokkaido Shinkansen test-running reaches Shin-Aomori Station for the first time]. Asahi Shimbun Digital (in Japanese). Japan: The Asahi Shimbun Company. 24 May 2015. Archived from the original on 23 May 2015. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
↑北海道新幹線の札幌延伸"目標の2030年度末開業 極めて困難"[Hokkaido Shinkansen Sapporo extension "Targeted to open by the end of 2030 is extremely difficult"]. NHK. 8 May 2024. Archived from the original on 16 July 2024. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
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