The is one of the constituent companies of the Japan Railways Group (JR Group), and is often referred to using its official abbreviation of . It operates intercity and local rail services in Hokkaido, Japan. The company introduced Kitaca, a smart card ticketing system, in autumn 2008.
At the time of its privatization in 1987, JR Hokkaido operated 21 railway lines totalling of narrow-gauge () track, as well as a ferry service to Aomori. Since then, that figure has dwindled to just below , as unprofitable lines have been shut down or spun off (in the case of the Hokkaidō Chihoku Kōgen Railway). The ferry service has also been replaced by the Seikan Tunnel.
On 19 November 2016, JR Hokkaido's president announced plans to further rationalize its network by the withdrawal of services from up to 1,237 km, or about 50% of the current network, including closure of the remaining section of the Rumoi Main Line (the Rumoi - Mashike section closed on 4 December 2016), the Shin-Yubari - Yubari section of the Sekisho Line (closed on 1 April 2019), the non-electrified section of the Sassho Line (closed 17 April 2020) and the Nemuro Line between Furano and Shintoku. Other lines including the Sekihoku Main Line, Senmo Main Line, the Nayoro - Wakkanai section of the Soya Line and Kushiro - Nemuro section of the Nemuro Line are proposed for conversion to Third Sector operation, but if local governments are not agreeable, such sections will also face closure. JR Hokkaido closed 25 stations from March 2021 to March 2022 due to a decrease in passengers.
JR Hokkaido's headquarters are in Chūō-ku, Sapporo.
History
1 April 1987: Upon the privatization of the Japanese National Railways (JNR), the Hokkaido Railway Company was formed 25 October 2008: Kitaca contactless smart card introduced in Sapporo area 26 March 2016: First Hokkaido Shinkansen service between and launched.
Headquarters and branch offices
Headquarters: 1-1-15 Kita-11-jō-Nishi, Chūō-ku, Sapporo
Branch offices: Asahikawa branch office: 6-4152-2 Miyashita-dōri, Asahikawa Hakodate branch office: 12-5 Wakamatsu-chō, Hakodate Kushiro branch office: 5-14 Kita-ōdōri, Kushiro
Lines and key stations
Shinkansen
Hokkaido Shinkansen: -
Trunk lines
Chitose Line: - - Hakodate Main Line() - - - - - - Muroran Main Line - - - Higashi-Muroran - Muroran Nemuro Main Line - - Sekishō Line Minami-Chitose -
Other lines
Furano Line
- Asahikawa
Hidaka Main Line
-
Sekihoku Main Line
- -
Rumoi Main Line
-
Sasshō Line
-
Senmō Main Line
-
Sōya Main Line
Asahikawa - -
Under construction
Hokkaido Shinkansen
- scheduled to open in 2031
Former lines
These lines were closed under the ownership of JR Hokkaido since 1987. Chihoku Line - 140.0 km (87.0 mi) transferred to Hokkaidō Chihoku Kōgen Railway Company on June 4, 1989, then closed on April 21, 2006 Esashi Line - 37.8 km (23.5 mi) transferred to South Hokkaido Railway Company on March 26, 2016. Kikonai - 42.1 km (26.2 mi) closed on May 12, 2014. Hakodate Main Line branch - 7.3 km (4.5 mi) closed on May 16, 1994.
- 18.1 km (11.2 mi) and - 2.7 km (1.7 mi) closed on July 13, 1987.
- 50.8 km (31.6 mi) closed on February 1, 1988. Nayoro Main Line - 138.1 (85.8 mi) and - 4.9 km (3.0 mi) closed on May 1, 1989. Rumoi Main Line - 16.7 km (10.4 mi) closed on December 4, 2016. Rumoi - Ishikari-Numata 35.7km (22.2 mi) closed on 1 April 2023.
- 69.4 km (43.1 mi) and - 47.5 km (29.5 mi) closed on April 30, 1989.
- 121.8 km (75.7 mi) closed on September 4, 1995. Tempoku Line - 148.9 km (92.5 mi) closed on May 1, 1989.
- 14.5 km (9.0 mi) closed on April 25, 1988. Sekishō Line Yūbari - Shin-Yūbari 16.1 km (10.0 mi) closed on March 31, 2019. Sasshō Line - 47.6 km (29.6 mi) closed on April 17, 2020.
The company also operated the Seikan Ferry until 1988.
Former JNR lines closed before JR Hokkaido formation
These lines have been closed by JNR in Hokkaido before 1 April 1987.