Sōya
Overview
Service type
Status
Operational
Locale
First service
11 March 2000
Current operator(s)
Route
Termini
Stops
17
Distance travelled
396.2 km (246.2 mi)
Average journey time
5 hours 10 minutes
Service frequency
One return service daily
Line(s) used
Hakodate Main Line, Sōya Main Line
On-board services
Standard + Green
Disabled access
Yes
Sleeping arrangements
None
Catering facilities
None
Observation facilities
None
Entertainment facilities
None
Other facilities
Toilets
Technical
KiHa 261 series DMUs
1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
None
Operating speed
120 km/h (75 mph)
Track owner(s)
JR Hokkaido
The Sōya (宗谷) is a limited express train service between Sapporo and WakkanaiinHokkaido, which is operated by Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido). It was named Super Sōya (スーパー宗谷) between 2000 and 2017.
There is only one single daily return working per direction, with an average journey time between Sapporo and Wakkanai lasting approximately 5 hours 10 minutes. Trains operate at a maximum speed of 120 kilometers per hour (75 mph).[1]
The train operates over the same route as the Sarobetsu, which operates between Asahikawa and Wakkanai.[2]
The service calls at the following stations:
Sapporo – Iwamizawa – (Bibai) – (Sunagawa) – Takikawa – Fukagawa – Asahikawa – Wassamu – Shibetsu – Nayoro – Bifuka – Otoineppu – Teshio-Nakagawa – Horonobe – Toyotomi – Minami-Wakkanai – Wakkanai
The stations in the () are only served by the northbound service.
Services are normally formed of 4-car KiHa 261 series DMUs, which were introduced from the start of services on 11 March 2000, with car 1 at the Wakkanai end. Car 1 consists of both ordinary-class seats and the Green Car, while the other cars are ordinary-class cars. All cars are no-smoking.[3][4] These are lengthened to 6 cars during busy seasons.
Car No.
1
2
3
4
Class
Green car
Reserved
Reserved
Reserved
Non-reserved
Facilities
Toilets
Wheelchair-accessible toilet
JR Hokkaido lines
JR named trains
Discontinued JR named trains
Tōzai Line
Tōhō LineOther railways
Terminals
Airports
Public Ferries
Miscellaneous
Cards
