JR Hakodate Line Freight Train Derailment: Overview and Response Status
Incident Overview
- Date and Time: November 16, 2024, around 1:40 a.m.
- Location: Near a level crossing in Mori Town, Hokkaido, on the JR Hakodate Line.
- Details:
- A freight train (21 cars) traveling from Nagoya to Sapporo Freight Terminal came to an emergency stop.
- Investigation revealed five cars had derailed to the right of the train’s direction.
- The last car was uncoupled and stopped approximately 30 meters behind the train.
- No injuries were reported.
Impact
- Service Suspension:
- Train operations between Mori Station and Oshamanbe Station on the JR Hakodate Line have been suspended.
- Limited Express Trains (Sapporo to Hakodate):
- All services for November 16 have been either canceled or operated as shuttle services.
- Resumption timeline remains uncertain.
Response Efforts
- JR Hokkaido and JR Freight:
- Held a press conference to issue an apology.
- Plans for substitute bus services from November 17 are under consideration.
- Working to expedite restoration efforts.
- Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism (MLIT):
- Deployed two accident investigators from the Transportation Safety Board to the site to determine the cause.
Train and Damage Details
- Train Composition: 21 cars (1 locomotive, 20 freight cars).
- Derailed Cars:
- 12th car: 2 axles derailed.
- 15th car: 1 axle derailed.
- 17th car: All 4 axles derailed.
- 19th car: 2 axles derailed.
- 20th car: 1 axle derailed.
- Track Damage: Three scratches were identified on the nearby rails.
Historical Context
- Similar Accidents:
- 2013: Freight train derailment at Onuma Station on the Hakodate Line.
- 2017: Freight train derailment on the Muroran Line near Toyako Town.
Next Steps
- Restoration:
- Focus on safety checks and damage repairs for early service resumption.
- Alternative Transport:
- Preparations for substitute bus services are underway.
- Investigation Findings:
- Awaiting results from the Transportation Safety Board's investigation to understand the cause and implement safety measures.
