By AKIHIDE TAKEZAWA/ Staff Writer
February 14, 2023 at 08:00 JST
KUSHIRO, Hokkaido--With a puff of black smoke and the toot of a whistle, SL Fuyu-no-Shitsugen Train (The winter wetland steam engine) of Hokkaido Railway Co. (JR Hokkaido) is full steam ahead again after two years.
A demonstration ride was provided on the morning of Jan. 18. The train sounded its whistle, then slowly departed from Kushiro Station, heading to the snow-covered Kushiro wetlands.
Cars No. 2 through 4 underwent a facelift to decorate the interior with red-crowned cranes and Ezo shika deer, among other features.
The cars are warmed with signature coal stoves, with which passengers can cook dried “surume” squid and other foods while aboard.
Ice cream, cheese and other local specialties from areas along the line are also available on board.
Last year, a diesel locomotive pulled the five-car sightseeing steam engine because of malfunctioning parts in the steamer.
The sightseeing service will operate one round trip, mainly on weekends, for a total of 32 days until March 21, according to JR Hokkaido.
All seats are reserved and require reservations.
A one-way ticket is 2,970 yen ($23).
For a detailed schedule, visit (https://www.jrhokkaido.co.jp/travel/sl/guid.html).
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The SL Fuyu-no-Shitsugen Train arrives at the platform for Track No. 3 at Kushiro Station during a demonstration ride held on Jan. 18 in Kushiro, Hokkaido. (Akihide Takezawa)
