10 photos from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences
- 1. JR Hokkaido 261 series DMU 011: Tennen-Gas· CC BY-SA 3.0
- 2. Kiha261 SE-201 Soya: MaedaAkihiko· CC BY-SA 4.0
- 3. JRH-Kiha261-1000 Super-Tokachi 4cars: Chatama· CC0
- 4. KiHa261-1000 Super-Tokachi Obihiro 20071018: Original: 出々 吾壱 at Japanese Wikipedia Modifications: 天然ガス at Japanese Wikipedia· CC BY-SA 3.0
- 5. KiHa 261-1000 Ltd Exp Hokuto Hakodate Station: InspectorTheWeatherDude· CC0
- 6. Kiha-261-ST1101: MaedaAkihiko· CC BY-SA 4.0
- 7. Kiha261-ST5201 Limited-express Hokuto 20220504: Rsa· CC BY-SA 3.0
- 8. Kiha261 ST-5102 Furano-lavender-express: MaedaAkihiko· CC BY-SA 4.0
- 9. 111126 Sapporo Station Japan02bs: 663highland· CC BY 2.5
- 10. 6cars SUPER SOYA: JAL EXPRESS· CC BY 3.0
what is it?
The KiHa 261 series (キハ261系) is a tilting diesel multiple unit (DMU) train type operated by Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido) on limited express services in Hokkaido, Japan, since 2000. The "KiHa" designation derives from the classification system used by JNR. "Ki" indicates a diesel-powered vehicle, while "Ha" indicates an ordinary passenger car, as opposed to a green car.
who runs it
base stats
Bars compare against all trains: 600 km/h (maglev), 1,700 seats; power, weight and number built on a log scale up to 20 MW, 1,000 t and 20,000 built.
fun facts
- First built 26 years ago, in 2000.
- 343 kW is about 4 family cars (~85 kW each) flat out.
- 21.3 m long: about 5 cars parked nose to tail.
- Still in service after 26 years.
multiple unit: A self-propelled train: motors are spread under the passenger cars, so no separate locomotive.
spec sheet
- built
- 2000
- in service from
- 2000
- status
- in service
- number built
- 35
- kind
- multiple unit
- traction
- diesel
- origin
- 🇯🇵 Japan
- builders
- Subaru Corporation, Kawasaki Railcar Manufacturing, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Niigata Transys
- operators
- Hokkaido Railway Company
- top speed
- 130 km/h
- power
- 343 kW
- gauge
- 1,067 mm Cape gauge
- formation
- 4–6 cars per trainset
- length
- 21.3 m
From the Wikipedia infobox and Wikidata. Blank means the sources don't say.
Sources: Wikidata Q6403569, Wikipedia: KiHa 261 series (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-25.