Services are normally formed of six-car 789 series electric multiple unit (EMU) trains.

[3] The Lilac was first introduced on 1 June 1963 as an express service operating between Hakodate and Sapporo via Otaru.

At the same time, the services to Mururan were split off to become the Suzuran limited express.

[6] Improved "u-Seat" reserved seating accommodation (rows 1 to 7) was added to half of car 4 between March and June 2001.

[7] 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.