Westward limited express Super Oozora passenger train ascending Karikachi Pass near Shintoku, Hokkaido, Japan. The pass links eastern Hokkaido with Sapporo, the island's largest city. The lower level of the circuitous route can be seen in the background at far right. This line replaced the original 2.5% grade in 1966 with a 1.2% grade and much broader curves. The 283-series DMUs, which employ six-degree tilt mechanisms, race over the pass at nearly 60 mph.
