For example, the Hokuriku Shinkansen line will be extended and opened in March. From the Tokyo metropolitan area, visitors can not only make a simple round-trip trip, but also take a circuitous route that includes the Tokaido Shinkansen and Hokuriku Honsen lines. This is a more interesting and varied option, and the ticket price would be less expensive.
If the itinerary is simply a round-trip between points A and B, it is common to take the route that connects the two points in the shortest possible time. However, if the purpose of the train trip itself is to travel by train, it is a different story. You can intentionally make a detour or take a roundabout route.
Right-handed? Left turn?
So, if we were to construct a circular route, would we go clockwise or counterclockwise? We may start creating an itinerary with a vague idea of “rightward” or “leftward”.
If the number of trains on the line is large, such as the Hokuriku Shinkansen mentioned at the beginning of this article, it does not make much difference which way the train goes. However, if the number of trains is low, the story is different.
For example. The Nemuro Main Line between Furano and Shintoku (Higashikagoshi and Shintoku are served by buses) will be discontinued at the end of March, and since the “Seishun 18 Ticket” can be used from March 1, we can set up a situation in which visitors can take a day trip from Sapporo to this section by connecting regular trains, and set up a round trip route.
Although only between Shin-Yubari and Shintoku, only limited express trains run on this section of the route. However, only between Shin-Yubari and Shintoku, there is a special exception that allows you to ride on a local limited express train with only a ticket.
The shortest route to Furano from Sapporo is to take the Hakodate Main Line to Takikawa and change to the Nemuro Main Line there. When I opened the timetable there, I was astonished to find that no connection was established. The Furano – Higashi-Sukagoshi – Shintoku connection is established when the next train departs from Furano at 7:17 a.m. and the next departs from Furano at 2:14 p.m.
In order to catch the former, the train would have to leave Takikawa at 5:49 a.m., which would not be possible if it departed from Sapporo. With the latter, I could make it even if I overslept, but after arriving at Shintoku at 4:21 p.m., that would be a problem. There, there is a two-hour waiting time, and the train ends when it arrives at Shin-Yubari by limited express. The last regular train up to Shin-Yubari leaves Shin-Yubari almost 40 minutes earlier than that. The limited express train, however, is available.
Therefore, we will consider a reverse route. In other words, Sapporo – (Hakodate Main Line) – Shiroishi – (Chitose Line) – Minami Chitose – (Ishikatsu Line) – Shintoku – (Nemuro Main Line) – Higashishikagoshi – (Nemuro Main Line) – Takikawa – (Hakodate Main Line) – Sapporo. This route has a good connection and returns to Sapporo on the same day. Sapporo departs as late as 10:23 a.m., so you don’t have to get up that early.
However, it will return to Sapporo at 23:16, and the crucial section to be discontinued will be at nightfall. Furthermore, there is a 3-hour and 20-minute major stop at Shin-Yubari on the way to this route, but that is another story.
This “a connection can be established in one direction but not in the opposite direction” occurs when the number of trains in operation is extremely limited. The success or failure of the connection depends on whether or not those few trains can be connected.
From March 16 to 31, JR Hokkaido will add one more train at 11:00 a.m. on the Furano to Higashikagoshi down train, which has been available until 2:00 p.m. following the 7:00 a.m. train. If there are no major changes in the Ishikatsu Line timetable, a “right turn only with a ticket” may be feasible.
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