Lilac (train)
Japanese limited express train service
title: "Lilac (train)" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["named-passenger-trains-of-japan", "hokkaido-railway-company", "railway-services-introduced-in-1963", "railway-services-introduced-in-1980", "railway-services-introduced-in-2017"] description: "Japanese limited express train service" topic_path: "geography/japan" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lilac_(train)" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Japanese limited express train service ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox rail service"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Lilac |
| image | JRH-789 HE-103 Lilac Shiroishi 20170304.jpg |
| image_width | 300px |
| caption | A 789 series EMU on a Lilac service in March 2017 |
| type | Limited express |
| status | Operational |
| locale | Japan |
| first | {{Plainlist |
| operator | JR Hokkaido |
| formeroperator | JNR |
| start | |
| end | |
| line_used | Hakodate Main Line |
| class | Green + Ordinary |
| stock | 789 series EMUs |
| gauge | |
| el | 20 kV AC overhead |
| :: |
| name = Lilac | image = JRH-789 HE-103 Lilac Shiroishi 20170304.jpg | image_width = 300px | caption = A 789 series EMU on a Lilac service in March 2017 | type = Limited express | status = Operational | locale = Japan | predecessor = | first = {{Plainlist|
- 1 June 1963 (Express)
- 1 October 1980 (Limited express)
- 4 March 2017 (Limited express) | last = | successor = | operator = JR Hokkaido | formeroperator = JNR | start = | stops = | end = | distance = | journeytime = | frequency = | trainnumber = | line_used = Hakodate Main Line | class = Green + Ordinary | access = | seating = | catering = | stock = 789 series EMUs | gauge = | el = 20 kV AC overhead | speed = | owners = | routenumber = | map = | map_state = The Lilac is a limited express train service operated by Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido) between and in Hokkaido via the Hakodate Main Line since 4 March 2017. The Lilac train service name was also formerly used for express and limited express services operated by Japanese National Railways (JNR) and later by JR Hokkaido between 1963 and 2007.
Stations
Services stop at the following stations.
Rolling stock
Services are normally formed of six-car 789 series electric multiple unit (EMU) trains. All cars are no-smoking.
Up until 2007, Lilac services were normally formed of 4-car 781 series EMUs based at Sapporo. All cars were non-reserved except for car 4.
History
1963–1968
The Lilac was first introduced on 1 June 1963 as an express service operating between and via . This service was discontinued from 1 October 1968 when it was merged with the Niseko express.
1980–2007
The Lilac name was revived from 1 October 1980 as a limited express service operating between and via , replacing previous Ishikari (Sapporo – Asahikawa) limited express and Chitose (Chitose and Muroran Main Line) express services.
From 1 July 1992, with the opening of , Lilac services were changed to operate between New Chitose Airport and Asahikawa via Sapporo, where trains reversed. Between Sapporo and New Chitose Airport, trains operated as the Airport rapid service. At the same time, the services to Muroran were split off to become the Suzuran limited express. The Lilac services supplemented the Super White Arrow services between Sapporo and Asahikawa, which stopped at fewer stations. The Lilac services operated hourly, departing from Sapporo and Asahikawa at 30 minutes past the hour, taking 1 hour 30 minutes.
Trains were repainted from the original JNR livery into a new livery based on that of the Super Tokachi between February 1992 and March 1993.
Improved "u-Seat" reserved seating accommodation (rows 1 to 7) was added to half of car 4 between March and June 2001.
Lilac services were discontinued from the start of the 1 October 2007 timetable revision, when they were merged and replaced together with the former Super White Arrow services to become Super Kamui services, and the 781 series EMUs were retired.
File:781 Lilac.jpg|781 series EMU in original JNR livery, 1986 File:781 Lilac Asahikawa 20061103.jpg|781 series on a Lilac service at Asahikawa Station, showing the modified livery applied to the "u-Seat" car, November 2006
2017–
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/15/JRH-789_HE-106_Lilac_Shiroishi_20170305.jpg" caption="789 series EMU set HE-106 on a ''Lilac'' service in March 2017"] ::
From the start of the revised timetable on 4 March 2017, Lilac limited express services were reintroduced between and using six-car 789-0 series EMUs previously used on Super Hakucho services until March 2016. These services complement the Kamui services using five-car 789-1000 series EMUs.
Future plans
On 19 November 2025, JR Hokkaido announced that all non-reserved seating on Lilac services would be eliminated effective the next timetable revision, making all trains operate solely with reserved seating.
References
References
- Haraguchi, Takayuki. (2009). "Encyclopedia of JR's Railway Cars: JR全車輌". Sekai Bunka.
- (2017). "JR Hokkaido Train Guide". Hokkaido Railway Company.
- Ikaros Publishing. (August 2000)
- Railway Journal. (August 1995)
- JTB. (November 1992)
- JRR. (January 2005)
- Kōtsū Shimbun. (2008)
- link. (16 December 2016). News release. Hokkaido Railway Company
- (19 November 2025). "北海道内の特急から「自由席」消滅へ 来年春から全車指定席に “不公平感”解消目指す".
::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::