Ōzora

KiHa 261-1000 series DMU on an Ōzora service, February 2023
Overview
Service type	Limited express
Status	Operational
Locale	Sekishō Line Nemuro Line
First service	1 October 1961 (Ōzora) 22 March 1997 (Super Ōzora)
Last service	13 March 2020 (Super Ōzora)
Current operator(s)	JR Hokkaido
Former operator(s)	JNR
Route
Termini	Sapporo Kushiro
Stops	15
Distance travelled	348.5 km (216.5 mi)
Average journey time	3 hours 58 minutes approx
Service frequency	6 return services daily
On-board services
Class(es)	Standard + Green
Disabled access	Yes
Sleeping arrangements	None
Catering facilities	None
Observation facilities	None
Entertainment facilities	None
Other facilities	Toilets
Technical
Rolling stock	KiHa 261 series DMU KiHa 283 series DMU
Track gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification	Diesel
Operating speed	110 km/h (68 mph)
Track owner(s)	JR Hokkaido

The Ōzora (おおぞら) is a limited express train service between Sapporo and Kushiro in Hokkaido, Japan, operated by Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido). There are six trains per day running in both directions, with the fastest journeys taking 3 hours 58 minutes.^[1]

The service commenced as the limited express Ōzora (おおぞら) on 1 October 1961, operating between Hakodate and Asahikawa using KiHa 80 series DMUs with one return working daily. The service was extended to run between Hakodate and Kushiro from 1967. By 1973, there were three return workings daily. In October 1980, following the opening of New Chitose Airport, services were reorganized, with just one return working daily between Sapporo and Kushiro. From October 1981, the train was rerouted via the Sekishō Line, reducing journey times by approximately one hour.^[2] From 22 March 1997, four Ōzora services were upgraded to become Super Ōzora (スーパーおおぞら) following the introduction of new KiHa 283 series tilting DMUs.^[1] The remaining Ōzora services using KiHa 183 series DMUs were phased out by 2001. KiHa 261 series DMUs were introduced on 14 March 2020, and the service has since been returned to simply Ōzora.^{[citation needed]}

Trains stop at the following stations:

Sapporo - Shin-Sapporo - Minami-Chitose - (Oiwake) - (Shin-Yubari) - (Shimukappu) - Tomamu - Shintoku - (Tokachi-Shimizu) - (Memuro) - Obihiro - Ikeda - (Urahoro) - (Shiranuka) - Kushiro

Stations in brackets () are stations where only some trains stop at.

The Ōzora is operated by 6-car KiHa 283 series and KiHa 261 series DMUs, ^[3] with car 1 at the Kushiro (eastern) end. All cars are no-smoking.

For departures using KiHa 283 series, cars 1, 2 and 4 to 6 are ordinary-class cars with 2+2 seating, and car 3 is a "Green" car with 2+1 seating.

For departures using KiHa 261 series, car 1 is a "Green" car with 2+1 seating, and cars 2 to 6 are ordinary-class cars with 2+2 seating.

• KiHa 80 series DMUs
• KiHa 183 series DMUs (1980–2001)

• 
  KiHa 80 series DMU on an Ōzora service in 1986
• 
  KiHa 183 series DMU on an Ōzora service at Sapporo Station in 1986
• 
  KiHa 183 series DMU on an Ōzora service in 1984
• 
  KiHa 183 series DMU on an Ōzora service in 1992

On 27 May 2011, the Super Ōzora 14 service from Kushiro to Sapporo was brought to an emergency stop inside the 685-metre-long (2,247 ft 5 in) No. 1 Niniu Tunnel in Shimukappu, Hokkaidō, at around 21:55 after car number 2 of the 6-car formation became derailed. The train caught fire, and all of the 245 people on board, including train staff eventually evacuated the train. 39 were treated for smoke inhalation and minor burn injuries.^[4] The burnt-out train was removed from the tunnel on 29 May 2011.^[5]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ōzora.

• JR Hokkaido official website (in Japanese)
• JR Hokkaido official website Archived 29 November 2006 at the Wayback Machine