KiHa 261 series


The KiHa 261 series is a tilting diesel multiple unit train type operated by Hokkaido Railway Company on limited express services in Hokkaido, Japan, since 2000.

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.

Fleet

, 35 KiHa 261 series vehicles were in operation. 14 were built by Fuji Heavy Industries, and 21 were built by JR Hokkaido. A further 28 vehicles are on order to be delivered from fiscal 2015.

Operations

KiHa 261 series trainsets are used on the following services.
KiHa 261-0 Series
KiHa 261-1000 Series

''Super Sōya''

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

4-car formations

Four-car sets are formed as follows.
Car No.1234
NumberingKiRoHa 261-200KiHa 260-200KiHa 260-100KiHa 261-100

6-car formations

Six-car sets are formed by adding two cars as shown below. Car 1 includes Green class and standard class accommodation.
Car No.123456
NumberingKiRoHa 261-200KiHa 260-200KiHa 260-100KiHa 261-100KiHa 260-100KiHa 261-100

Car No.21221234
NumberingKiRoHa 261-200KiHa 260-200KiRoHa 261-200KiHa 260-200KiHa 260-100KiHa 261-100

''Super Tokachi''

Super Tokachi services were originally formed of five-car KiHa 261-1000 series sets, but these were later reduced to four cars.
The 4-car Super Tokachi sets are formed as follows.
Car No.1234
NumberingKiRo 261-1100KiHa 260-1100KiHa 260-1200KiHa 261-1200

Interior

History

A four-car pre-production set was delivered from Fuji Heavy Industries in November 1998 for evaluation and testing. The first production trains were introduced on Super Sōya services between and from the start of the revised timetable on 11 March 2000.
New KiHa 261-1000 series 5-car sets were introduced on Super Tokachi services between and from October 2007.
A further 28 KiHa 261 series vehicles were delivered from 2015 onward, and these are not equipped with tilting capability.
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.