KiHa 261 series

The KiHa 261 series (キハ261系) is a tilting diesel multiple unit (DMU) train type operated by Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido) on limited express services in Hokkaido, Japan, since 2000.[1]

KiHa 261 series
KiHa 261 series on a Super Sōya service in February 2010
In service	2000–Present
Manufacturer	Fuji Heavy Industries, JR Hokkaido
Constructed	1998–
Number under construction	28 vehicles
Number built	35 vehicles
Number in service	35 vehicles
Formation	4-6 cars per trainset
Operator(s)	JR Hokkaido
Depot(s)	Naebo
Specifications
Car body construction	Stainless steel
Car length	21,300 mm (69 ft 11 in) (intermediate) 21,470 mm (70 ft 5 in) (261-0 end) 21,670 mm (71 ft 1 in) (261-1000 end)
Width	2,800 mm (9 ft 2 in) (261-0) 2,928 mm (9 ft 7.3 in)(261-1000)
Height	4,012 mm (13 ft 2.0 in) (261-0) 3,982 mm (13 ft 0.8 in)(261-1000)
Doors	1 per side
Maximum speed	130 km/h (81 mph)
Prime mover(s)	N-DMF13HZH (460 hp) x1 or 2 per car
Transmission	Hydraulic
Track gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)

Design

The running gear was based on the KiHa 201 series trains introduced in 1997, and the body design was a joint venture with the Danish State Railways (DSB).[2]

Fleet

As of 1 April 2013, 35 KiHa 261 series vehicles were in operation.[3] 14 were built by Fuji Heavy Industries, and 21 were built by JR Hokkaido.[3] A further 28 vehicles are on order to be delivered from fiscal 2015.[4]

Operations

KiHa 261 series trainsets are used on the following services.[1]

KiHa 261-0 Series

• Sōya services between Sapporo and Wakkanai, since 11 March 2000
• Sarobetsu services between Asahikawa and Wakkanai, since 4 March 2017

KiHa 261-1000 Series

• Tokachi services between Sapporo and Obihiro , since 1 October 2007
• Hokuto services between Sapporo and Hakodate, since 26 March 2016
• Ōzora services between Sapporo and Kushiro, since 14 March 2020

Formations

Sōya

Sōya services are normally formed of four-car KiHa 261-100 series sets, and are sometimes lengthened to six cars during busy periods.[5]

4-car formations

Four-car sets are formed as follows.[5]

Car No.	1	2	3	4
Numbering	KiRoHa 261-200	KiHa 260-200	KiHa 260-100	KiHa 261-100

6-car formations

Six-car sets are formed by adding two cars as shown below. Car 1 (and car 21) includes Green (first) class and standard class accommodation.[5]

Car No.	1	2	3	4		5	6
Numbering	KiRoHa 261-200	KiHa 260-200	KiHa 260-100	KiHa 261-100		KiHa 260-100	KiHa 261-100

Car No.	21	22		1	2	3	4
Numbering	KiRoHa 261-200	KiHa 260-200		KiRoHa 261-200	KiHa 260-200	KiHa 260-100	KiHa 261-100

Super Tokachi

4-car KiHa 261-1000 series set on a Super Tokachi service in August 2012

Super Tokachi services were originally formed of five-car KiHa 261-1000 series sets, but these were later reduced to four cars.[1]

The 4-car Super Tokachi sets are formed as follows.

Car No.	1	2	3	4
Numbering	KiRo 261-1100	KiHa 260-1100	KiHa 260-1200	KiHa 261-1200

Interior

• 
  Interior of Green car KiRo 261-1102 in April 2009
• 
  Interior of ordinary-class car KiHa 260-1102 in April 2009

History

5-car KiHa 261-1000 series set as first introduced on Super Tokachi services, October 2007

A four-car pre-production set was delivered from Fuji Heavy Industries in November 1998 for evaluation and testing.[1][2] The first production trains were introduced on Super Sōya services between Sapporo and Wakkanai from the start of the revised timetable on 11 March 2000.[1]

New KiHa 261-1000 series 5-car sets were introduced on Super Tokachi services between Sapporo and Obihiro from October 2007.[1]

KiHa 261-1000 series set ST1203 in revised colour scheme in May 2016

A further 28 KiHa 261 series vehicles were delivered from 2015 onward, and these are not equipped with tilting capability.[4]

From December 2015 until the end of 2017, the KiHa 261-1000 series fleet were gradually repainted into a new livery with white front ends, yellow front-end gangway doors, and a purple bodyside stripe.[6]

References

1. Haraguchi, Takayuki (2009). Jr全車両: ビジュアル決定版 Encyclopedia of JR's Railway Cars: JR全車輌. Japan: Sekai Bunka. p. 115. ISBN 978-4-418-09905-4.
2. Jēāru zensharyō handobukku: Rail Magazine 2009 JR全車輌ハンドブック2009 [JR Rolling Stock Handbook 2009]. Japan: Neko Publishing. 2009. pp. 448–449. ISBN 978-4-7770-0836-0.
3. JR電車編成表 2014冬 [JR EMU Formations - Winter 2014]. Japan: JRR. 1 December 2013. p. 391. ISBN 978-4-330-42413-2.
4. 車体傾斜装置、取りやめ検討　ＪＲ北海道、１５年度以降導入の２８両　将来の高速化に足かせも [JR Hokkaido to abandon tilt: 28 vehicles on order from FY2015 may hinder future speed increases]. Doshin (in Japanese). Japan: The Hokkaido Shimbun Press. 5 December 2013. Archived from the original on 6 December 2013. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
5. JR気動車客車編成表 '04年版 [JR DMU & Coaching Stock Formations - 2004]. Japan: JRR. 1 July 2004. p. 16. ISBN 978-4-88283-125-9.
6. JR北海道，キハ261系1000番台のエクステリアデザインを変更 [JR Hokkaido to modify exterior styling of KiHa 261-1000 series]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 10 September 2015. Retrieved 10 September 2015.

External links

• JR Hokkaido KiHa 261 Super Soya train information (in Japanese)
• JR Hokkaido KiHa 261/283 Super Tokachi train information (in Japanese)