A freight train derailed in Japan’s northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido early Saturday, with a disruption of passenger and commercial railway services likely to continue through Monday, its operator, JR Freight, said.
The accident and subsequent suspension of some sections forced JR Hokkaido to cancel 35 express trains per day, affecting an estimated 7,000 passengers.
JR Hokkaido plans to operate shuttle bus services on the affected section through Monday to accommodate travelers.
Photo taken in a town near Hakodate, Hokkaido, shows a freight train that derailed on Nov. 16, 2024. (Kyodo)
Five of the train’s 20 freight cars came off the tracks while traveling between stations in a town near Hakodate, a southern port city in the prefecture. The driver was not injured, according to JR Freight, which is responsible for freight trains across the country.
The freight train had departed from Nagoya in central Japan and was bound for Sapporo, the capital of Hokkaido. The emergency brake was applied while it was in motion, and the driver confirmed that some cars had derailed.
According to the two operators, three rail sections near the derailment site were damaged. Another freight train passed through the area about 15 minutes before the accident, but no abnormalities were detected.
Masahito Nishimoto, a Japan Transport Safety Board inspector, told reporters, “We found a rail was broken at a crossing and will investigate whether it is related to the derailment.”
Shoshi Shimamura, managing director of JR Hokkaido, apologized at a press conference, which was also attended by JR Freight, for the cancellation of trains caused by the accident.
“We will do our utmost to cooperate with the JTSB investigation and try to resume train services soon,” he said.
Following the accident, local train services were suspended from the morning, and operations of the express train connecting Sapporo and Hakodate were halted.
AloJapan.com