A visit to the new Asahikawa Station

[bikkuri bahn]

Today I took a day trip on the Hakodate Main Line to check out the newly opened Asahikawa Station.  This elevated structure is the fourth generation at this location.  

 

I arrived in the local train that originated in Otaru (2149M), the 711 series on the right:

 

Trainshed.  A bit like a warehouse or an airplane hangar, but miles better than Sapporo Station, and will get more light when the side glass panels are installed:

 

A view towards the river side.  A small section of glass panel is in place here:

 

Platform for tracks 3/4 extending outside in the Sapporo direction, a good trainwatching spot in good weather:

 

Stairwell leading up to platform.  Wood is Hokkaido timber:

 

Concourse below the platforms:

 

The old station has not been demolished yet.  There are two temporary access walkways that traverse the old station premises.  View towards the Sapporo direction, platform 1 on the right, freight elevators in the background:

 

Workers taking down the wires:

 

The old Furano Line platform peeking out the back of the new elevated station:

 

Down freight #8083 passing through the new station:

 

Ltd. Express Sarobetsu arrival, bound for Wakkanai:

 

Down freight #1085, in the fading evening light:

 

The Lotteria burger shop at the old station has closed, and will not be relocating in the new building (sorry, westfalen...):

 

Up freight #1080, was able to catch it on video:

[Martijn Meerts]

Funny, the sleepers in the 1st picture look like plastic =)

[dickturpin]

Excellent photos, clean sleepers, wow.

[westfalen]

The Lotteria burger shop at the old station has closed, and will not be relocating in the new building (sorry, westfalen...):

Doh. Oh well, maybe the guy selling donuts from a van outside will still be there.

 

I've got to admit it looks good. All that nice woodwork wouldn't last a week here.

 

I noticed a lot of those brown painted, plastic looking sleepers on bridges, must be some sort of preservative. I always though the sleepers on the Tomix bridges needed weathering but they are actually realistic looking.

[scott]

The trainshed looks a bit industrial, but otherwise it seems pretty nice for a new station.

 

Trainshed.  A bit like a warehouse or an airplane hangar, but miles better than Sapporo Station, and will get more light when the side glass panels are installed:

 

Will there be more glass panels in the roof?

 

Concourse below the platforms:

 

That's what you need to imagine underneath the main station on our layout. :-)