On September 3, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism released an interim report from the "Expert Committee on the Future of Railway Logistics Following the Extension of the Hokkaido Shinkansen to Sapporo."
<Sections where the management of parallel conventional railway lines on the Hokkaido Shinkansen is separated>
The key point of the interim report is that, at least until the opening of the Hokkaido Shinkansen extension to Sapporo, it is necessary to maintain the coastal line (Hakodate Line, between Hakodate and Oshamanbe) to ensure the functionality of the freight railway.
Furthermore, in order to maintain the functionality of freight railways, it is necessary for the government and other stakeholders to further deepen their considerations in order to resolve the wide range of issues that need to be addressed, focusing on the ownership of railway facilities, the sharing of maintenance costs, and the securing and training of personnel.
Going forward, given the significant changes in the situation surrounding coastal railway lines, we will organize the timeline for our deliberations and continue discussions toward resolving the issues while paying attention to developments in block meetings related to passenger transport.
The study committee, comprised of representatives from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, the Hokkaido Prefectural Government, academics, economic organizations, and railway operators, conducted six hearings starting in November 2023. This report summarizes the basic direction and other aspects of rail freight transport related to coastal lines.
