Hokkaidō Shinkansen
| Hokkaido Shinkansen | |||
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An H5 series Shinkansen undergoing testing in November 2015
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| Overview | |||
| Native name | 北海道新幹線 | ||
| Type | Shinkansen | ||
| Status | Operational | ||
| Locale | Japan | ||
| Termini |
Shin-Aomori Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto |
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| Stations | 4 | ||
| Operation | |||
| Opened | 26 March 2016 | ||
| Owner |
.svg){kind=logo} JR Hokkaido
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| Rolling stock | E5 series, H5 series | ||
| Technical | |||
| Line length | 148.9 km | ||
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) | ||
| Electrification | 25 kV AC, 50 Hz, overhead catenary | ||
| Operating speed | 260 km/h (160 mph) 140 km/h (85 mph) (through Seikan Tunnel) |
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The Hokkaido Shinkansen (北海道新幹線 Hokkaidō Shinkansen?) is a Japanese high-speed shinkansen rail line that links up with the Tōhoku Shinkansen in northern Aomori Prefecture in Honshu and continues on into the interior of Hokkaido through the undersea Seikan Tunnel. Construction started in May 2005, and the initial Shin-Aomori to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto section opened on 26 March 2016. Extension of the line to Sapporo is scheduled to open by March 2031. The line is operated by the Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido).
In preparation for the opening of the Hokkaido Shinkansen, the Seikan Tunnel (Kaikyō Line) and associated approaches (approximately 82 km in total) were converted to dual gauge, with both the Shinkansen 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard and 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) narrow gauge tracks.
Upon the opening of the Shinkansen line the section of the conventional (narrow gauge) Esashi Line approximately paralleling the same route between Goryōkaku and Kikonai was transferred from the control of JR Hokkaido to a newly established third-sector railway operating company, South Hokkaido Railway Company, becoming the Isaribi Line.
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