Hakodate Main Line’s Sundoku Regular Trains Now. There are some situations where the number of local trains running on some sections of main lines is unnecessarily low. Famous examples are the Joetsu Line (Mizukami to Echigo-Nakazato) and the Nippo Main Line (Saeki to Nobeoka). If these were local lines, one would think “that’s the way it is” even if the number of trains is low, but when the number of trains is low on a well-known main line, one is left with a “huh” feeling. It is better than these sections, but still, the number of regular trains is low and there is a large gap during the daytime. Despite this, it is not talked about much. One such section is the Hakodate Main Line between Takikawa and Asahikawa. Of these, the number of trains between Fukagawa and Asahikawa is slightly higher due to the addition of trains that directly connect to the Rumoi Main Line, but they are largely the same. However, the regular trains in this section have a surprising highlight. They are fast anyway. The line is flat and straight, and there are few stations to begin with. Moreover, recently, some stations that are not used much have been eliminated, so the number of stops has been reduced even further. And the performance of the trains is good. All of these factors have combined to create a fast-moving regular train. For example, the 2328M departing Asahikawa at 1:47 p.m. and arriving at Takikawa at 2:28 p.m. has a speed limit of 78 km/h. There are countless conventional limited express trains that have a lower speed limit than this. The 2325M, departing Iwamizawa at 11:31 and arriving Asahikawa at 12:50, also has a rated speed of 73 km/h for the entire route, but the 41-minute trip between Takikawa and Asahikawa is equivalent to the 2328M. The 2325M is a rare train that is faster than a limited express train, although its frequency is low. However, only regular trains are fast, so you have to choose a train with the train number “XXM” to take it. Although the train number is slightly lower, the train between Iwamizawa and Takikawa is just as good as the one between Iwamizawa and Takikawa, running on a straight section.
The absence of limited express trains makes it faster because there is no need for waiting. As expected, a surface speed of 78 mk/h is extreme, but regular trains of about 60 km/h can be found here and there. So, an interesting number comes up on the Muroran Main Line (Muroran – Higashi-Muroran – Tomakomai). In this section, most of the regular trains were converted back to trains from diesel trains in May 2023, and the speed increase was achieved in conjunction with this change. The 58-km distance between Higashimuroran and Tomakomai, where limited express trains run in 37 to 40 minutes, takes less than one and a half hours for regular trains during the daytime. However, early in the morning and at night, some trains take less than one hour, running in 55 to 57 minutes. The Muroran Main Line is, as usual, a “limited express route,” so even the fastest regular trains will be overtaken by limited express trains at some point. However, early in the morning and late at night, the time required is shorter because there are no limited expresses waiting for the train. Moreover, the 737 series trains have a maximum speed of 120 km/h, so they are very fast (I used a speed measurement app on my smartphone). As one might expect, the maximum speed is lower than that of Hokkaido, but the Tohoku Main Line, especially in Iwate Prefecture, is another place where fast trains are running. The 90.2-km distance between Ichinoseki and Morioka is covered in about one and a half hours, which means that the posted speed is about 60 km/h. The trains are all 701 Series long-seat cars. Some people dislike the 701 Series trains because they are all long-seat cars, but there is a different kind of enjoyment to be had.
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