JR Hokkaido to Revise Timetable for Special Rapid and Limited Express Trains Between Sapporo/Asahikawa and Abashiri Stations – Timetable Revision on March 15, 2025

JR Hokkaido will be revising the operation timetable for special rapid and limited express trains running between Sapporo/Asahikawa and Abashiri stations with the timetable revision on March 15, 2025.

The limited express “Daisetsu” currently suspends its operation on days with low usage between Asahikawa and Abashiri stations. It will operate as a special rapid service named “Daisetsu”, making one round trip each day.

Operated with two Series H100 cars, all seats are unreserved. To enhance the comfort of long-distance travel, an increase in the number of seats and improvements to seat comfort will be made. At Asahikawa Station, transfers can be made on the same platform as the Limited Express “Lilac”.

Additionally, the departing times for the Limited Express “Okhotsk 3” heading towards Kitami and Abashiri will be moved up by two hours, while the “Okhotsk 2” towards Asahikawa and Sapporo will be delayed by one hour, and the “Okhotsk 4” will be moved up by about three hours to create a more user-friendly timetable.

Furthermore, the special rapid service between Asahikawa and Kitami stations will be extended to Abashiri Station, with stops at each station between Kitami and Abashiri. The service will be renamed to Rapid “Kitami”.