[3][additional citation(s) needed] A three-car pre-production set was delivered from Fuji Heavy Industries in 1995 for evaluation and testing.

[2] 20 production vehicles were delivered from 1996,[2] with the first trains introduced on Super Ōzora services between Sapporo and Kushiro from the start of the revised timetable on 22 March 1997.

[3] From the start of the revised timetable on 12 March 2022, all Ōzora limited express services are scheduled to be operated by KiHa 261 series DMUs;[7] the KiHa 283 series DMUs were withdrawn from Ōzora limited express services on 11 March 2022.

[9] On 27 May 2011, a 6-car KiHa 283 series train was destroyed by fire after it derailed and made an emergency stop inside the 685-metre-long (2,247 ft) No.

1 Niniu Tunnel on the Sekishō Line in Shimukappu, at around 21:55, while forming the Super Ōzora 14 service from Kushiro to Sapporo.