Search the Community

Hakodate Liner may be expanded to 6 car trains for peak period services. It appears JR Hokkaido is considering adding an additional 3 carriages to the originally planned 3 carriage Hakodate Liner shuttle services between Shin-Hakodate Hokuto and Hakodate, scheduled to start next spring. The additional carriages will require lengthening of a platform at Shin Hakodate Hokuto Station. Cited was the capacity of a Hokkaido Shinkansen H5 trainset at 731 passengers, while the capacity of a 3 carriage shuttle train would be 441 passengers. Doubling that number would ensure all could get a ride to Hakodate during heavy traffic periods. Business interests are welcoming the move. http://dd.hokkaido-np.co.jp/news/area/donan/1-0151676.html Hokkaido Shinkansen terminal platforms may be located west of the main Sapporo Station platforms. It has come to light that JR Hokkaido is considering locating the platforms of the Hokkaido Shinkansen, scheduled for completion to Sapporo in 2030, approx. 300m west of the current station. Originally it was planned to build the shinkansen platforms at the current location of the (south side) #1 and #2 zairaisen tracks, and build a new zairaisen platform on the north side. However, doing so would result in traffic conflicts affecting up to 100 scheduled zairaisen services due to trains crossing over, so the option of building at the west location is being considered. However, having shinkansen platforms at that location would reduce greatly convenience for passengers, as they would be located far from subway and long distance bus connections. http://dd.hokkaido-np.co.jp/news/economy/economy/1-0152629.html