Bear Collision Derails Express Train in Hokkaido

On November 2, train services on part of the JR Soya Line in Hokkaido remained suspended following a collision between a limited express train and a brown bear. The accident occurred near Nakagawa on October 31, resulting in the derailment of the train. Replacement bus services began operating between Asahikawa and Wakkanai on Monday morning, Monday, November 2, as the railway operator estimated no timeline for resuming normal train operations.

The disruption affected rail services connecting northern Hokkaido to Asahikawa, requiring passengers to rely on alternative transportation. JR Hokkaido stated that the derailed train remained at the accident site, preventing the reopening of the affected track section. The Soya Main Line, stretching approximately 260 kilometers from Asahikawa to Wakkanai, is Japan's longest conventional railway line without electrification.

The limited express journey typically takes three hours and 40 minutes, passing through remote northern landscapes, including farming communities, forests, river valleys, and coastal plains. Wildlife, particularly brown bears, inhabits the region, with passengers more likely to observe signs of other animals like Ezo deer rather than bear sightings.