Sekihoku Main Line


Sekihoku Main Line is a railway line in Hokkaido, Japan, operated by Hokkaido Railway Company between in Asahikawa and Abashiri Station in Abashiri. The name comes from the first Kanji characters of Ishikari Province and Kitami Province, names of 19th century provinces along the line.
On 19 November 2016, JR Hokkaido's President announced plans to rationalize the network by up to, or ~50% of the current network, including the proposed conversion to Third Sector operation of the Sekihoku Main Line, but if local governments are not agreeable, the line will face closure.

Basic data

Services

The Okhotsk limited express train, named after the Sea of Okhotsk, runs from Sapporo to Abashiri with two daily return workings. The Taisetsu limited express train runs from Asahikawa to Abashiri with two return workings daily. The rapid train Kitami operates between Asahikawa and Abashiri, with one return service daily.
Local services along the line are roughly divided into three segments. In the segment between Asahikawa and Kamikawa, the line functions as a commuter rail of Asahikawa City. There is one local train service per one to two hours. The segment between Kamikawa and Engaru is a sparsely populated area. Between Kamikawa and Shirataki, a local train runs one lap per day. For the segment between Engaru and Abashiri, there is one local train service per one to two hours.

Stations

Closed Stations

  • Nakakoshi, Oku-Shirataki and Temmaku: Since 1 July 2001, of which Nakakoshi and Oku-Shirataki downgraded to signal bases
  • Shin-sakaeno: Since 18 March 2006
  • A44, A54, A46 and A47 : Since 26 March 2016, of which Kanehana and Shimo-Shirataki downgraded to signal bases
  • A52, A33, A36 and A42 : Since 13 March 2021
  • A40 : Since 16 March 2024

History

The principal route between Sapporo and Okhotsk Subprefecture has changed several times. Originally, the route was the Hakodate Main Line to Asahikawa, then the southbound Nemuro Main Line and then the northbound line from Ikeda, via the Abashiri Main Line to Kitami. The route shortened by when the section between Takikawa and Furano on the Nemuro Main Line opened in 1913.
Another route, northbound from Asahikawa to Nayoro, then southeast to Kitami was completed as the Nayoro Main Line and Yūbetsu Line in 1921.
A third route was a shortcut between Asahikawa and Engaru, straight through the Kitami Pass. The Sekihoku Line, completed in 1932, finally completed the main route still used today.
The current Sekihoku Main Line consists of the remnants of these three lines. The section between Shin-Asahikawa and Engaru is from the Sekihoku Line, the section between Engaru and Kitami from the Yūbetsu Line, and the section between Kitami and Abashiri from the Abashiri Main Line.
The first of the above-mentioned sections to open was from Abashiri to Kitami in 1912. The Kitami to Engaru line was opened between 1912 and 1915 as a gauge line, but was converted to gauge in 1916.
The Asahikawa to Kamikawa section opened between 1922 and 1923, and the Engaru to Shiritaki section between 1927 and 1929. The final section, including the Ishikita tunnel, opened in 1932.
In July 2015, JR Hokkaido announced that it would be closing four stations line in March 2016, due to low passenger usage.