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.[3]
History
1963–1968
The Lilac was first introduced on 1 June 1963 as an express service operating between Hakodate and Sapporo via Otaru. This service was discontinued from 1 October 1968 when it was merged with the Niseko express.[4]
1980–2007
The Lilac name was revived from 1 October 1980 as a limited express service operating between Muroran and Asahikawa via Sapporo, replacing previous Ishikari (Sapporo – Asahikawa) limited express and Chitose (Chitose and Muroran Main Line) express services.[4]
From 1 July 1992, with the opening of New Chitose Airport, 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.[5] 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.[3]
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.[6]
Improved "u-Seat" reserved seating accommodation (rows 1 to 7) was added to half of car 4 between March and June 2001.[6]
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.[7]
781 series EMU in original JNR livery, 1986
781 series on a Lilac service at Asahikawa Station, showing the modified livery applied to the "u-Seat" car, November 2006
2017–
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 Sapporo and Asahikawa 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.[8]
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.[9]
↑平成29年3月ダイヤ改正について[March 2017 timetable revision](PDF). News release (in Japanese). Japan: Hokkaido Railway Company. 16 December 2016. p.3. Archived(PDF) from the original on 16 December 2016. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
↑"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"["Unreserved seats" to be eliminated from Hokkaido express trains; all seats to be reserved from next spring, aiming to eliminate "unfairness"]. Traffic News (in Japanese). 19 November 2025. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
