Chitose Line

The Chitose Line (千歳線, Chitose-sen) is a railway line in Hokkaido operated by Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido), connecting Numanohata, Tomakomai and Shiroishi Station in Shiroishi-ku, Sapporo, linking the Muroran Main Line and Hakodate Main Line. There also is a branch line to New Chitose Airport.

Chitose Line
A 721 series EMU on an Airport rapid service at Minami-Chitose Station
Overview
Native name千歳線
OwnerThe logo of Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido). JR Hokkaido
LocaleHokkaido
Termini
Stations15
Service
TypeAirport rail link
Commuter rail
History
Opened21 August 1926 (1926-08-21)
Technical
Line length56.6 km (35.2 mi)
Number of tracksDouble (except Airport branch which is single)
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
ElectrificationAC 20 kV 50 Hz with overhead catenary
Route map

Service outline

The line forms part of the trunk route between Sapporo and Southern Hokkaido. As such, Hokuto limited express trains run between Sapporo and Hakodate once every 1 to 2 hours, as well as the Suzuran limited express between Sapporo and Muroran.[1]

The section between Sapporo and Minami-Chitose is also a part of the trunk route between Sapporo and eastern Hokkaido. The limited express trains Ōzora and Super Tokachi run through.[1]

The rapid trains Special Rapid Airport and Rapid Airport run approximately once every 12 minutes, functioning as the airport rail link between New Chitose Airport Station and Sapporo or Otaru. Since the Chitose Line goes through the most urbanized area in Hokkaido, there are roughly 3 to 4 local train services per hour.

Former services

There were sleeper trains between Honshu and Hokkaido, such as the Hokutosei, Cassiopeia, Twilight Express, and Hamanasu.

Station list[2]
SRA: Special Rapid Airport
RA: Rapid Airport
L: Local
All rapid trains stop at stations signed "+", some at "◌", and all skip stations marked "-".[3] Local trains stop at most stations but some skip stations signed "◌".
No.Station nameJapaneseDistance (km)SRARALTransfersLocation (all in Hokkaido)
Tomakomai to Numanohata: officially Muroran Main Line
H18Tomakomai苫小牧-8.8+
 Tomakomai
Chitose Line (Main Line)
H17Numanohata沼ノ端0.0+■ Muroran Main Line (for Oiwake)Tomakomai
H16Uenae植苗6.4◌
H14Minami-Chitose南千歳18.4 +++
 Chitose
H13Chitose千歳21.4 -++
H12Osatsu長都24.9 --+
H11Sapporo Beer Teienサッポロビール庭園27.1 --◌Eniwa
H10Eniwa恵庭29.4 -++
H09Megumino恵み野31.9 --+
H08Shimamatsu島松34.1 --+
H07Kitahiroshima北広島40.6 -++Kitahiroshima
H06Kami-Nopporo上野幌48.6 --+Atsubetsu-ku, Sapporo
H05Shin-Sapporo新札幌51.5 +++The logo of the Tozai Line of the Sapporo Municipal Subway. Tōzai Line (T19)
H04Heiwa平和54.4 --+Shiroishi-ku, Sapporo
Shiroishi to Sapporo: officially Hakodate Main Line
H03Shiroishi白石56.6 -◌+■ Hakodate Main Line (for Asahikawa)Shiroishi-ku, Sapporo
H02Naebo苗穂60.2 --+Chūō-ku, Sapporo
 01 Sapporo札幌62.4 +++
 Kita-ku, Sapporo

    Airport Branch Line
    No.Station nameJapaneseDistance (km)SRARALTransfersLocation (all in Hokkaido)
    H14Minami-Chitose南千歳0.0 +++
    •   Chitose Line (Main Line)
    • ■ Sekishō Line
    		 Chitose
    AP15New Chitose Airport新千歳空港2.6 +++

    Closed station
    • H15 Bibi: Closed since 4 March 2017, now a signal base.

    Rolling stock
    • A 721 series EMU on the Chitose Line, June 2008
      A 721 series EMU on the Chitose Line, June 2008
    • A 731 series EMU on the Chitose Line, July 2006
      A 731 series EMU on the Chitose Line, July 2006
    • A 733 series EMU on the Chitose Line, February 2014
      A 733 series EMU on the Chitose Line, February 2014
    • 735 series EMUs, May 2012
      735 series EMUs, May 2012

    History

    The entire line opened on 21 August 1926.

    Duplication

    The Chitose-Eniwa section was double-tracked in September 1965, and extended to Kitahiroshima in September 1966.

    The Chitose-Uenae section was double-tracked in 1968, and extended to Numanohata in 1969.

    The Shiraishi-Kitahiroshima section was double-tracked in 1973, completing the work to double-track the line.

    Electrification

    Chitose Station and its approaches were elevated in 1980, and the line was electrified in association with the opening of the nearby Chitose airport.

    The Minami-chitose—Chitose Airport branch opened as an electrified line in 1992.

    See also

    References
    1. "Train Guide". Hokkaido Railway Company. Retrieved 2016-11-20.
    2. "列車運行情報｜JR北海道- Hokkaido Railway Company".
    3. "New Chitose Airport => Sapporo Travel Information". Hokkaido Railway Company. Retrieved 2020-04-23.
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