JR Hokkaido is scheduled to abolish non-reserved seats on 4 kinds of the Limited Express Trains. All of the seats on these trains will be reserved seats.
ＪＲ北海道 ４特急列車の自由席なくし すべて指定席で検討
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/sapporo-news/20231111/7000062403.html
(Summary)
・Non-reserved seats will be vanished from the trains below.
"Tokachi" Ltd Express between Sapporo and Obihiro
"Oozora" Ltd Express between Sapporo and Kushiro
"Suzuran" Ltd Express between Sapporo and Muroran
"Hokuto" Ltd Express between Sapporo and Hakodate
・Trains from New Chitose Airport will be operated with 10 mins headways, instead of the current 12 mins
・Airport Regional Rapid Trains will commence service, and Airport Special Rapid Trains will be added.(Information from another news source)
(Summary ends)
Train frequency from New Chitose Airport will reach upper limit after this timetable revision. But, after extension of Hokkaido Shinkansen to Sapporo, demand of the Airport Rapid will decrease.
