Nineteen buses run daily, and commuters and students have begun using the service. At the bus stop in front of Ishikari-Numata Station in Numata Town, residents were seen using the bus to commute to work and school on the morning of the 1st. (Bus user) “I go to Fukagawa for
work, so the time in the morning is the same, which is good, but the time on the way back will be a little inconvenient.” (Bus user) “I wish it were a little cheaper.”
The JR Rumoi Line connects Ishikari-Numata Station and Fukagawa Station in Numata Town. On the evening of the 31st, the last train departed Ishikari-Numata Station about 20 minutes late. (Someone seeing off the last train) “Hearing stories of local grandmothers and others who used the line to go to the hospital, you can see how much it was loved by the locals.”
Many passengers imprinted the last views from the train windows into their hearts. (Announcement) “The history of the Rumoi Main Line ends today, but the memories of the last Rumoi Main Line train will live on forever in everyone’s hearts. Thank you Rumoi Line. Thank you Ishikari Numata.” And then, the last train, carrying approximately 660 passengers, arrived at Fukagawa Station… The JR Rumoi Line, which was loved as a means of transportation for the region even though it was the shortest main line in Japan, closed its doors after 116 years of history. (Passenger on the last train) “I am overwhelmed with emotion to have been able to ride in such a good seat.”
With the closure of the Rumoi Line, the section between Ishikari Numata, Chichibetsu, and Fukagawa has been converted to bus service since the 1st. In the new transportation system, a bus route has been established connecting Fukagawa Nishi High School and Fukagawa Municipal Hospital, located beyond JR Fukagawa Station, with 19 buses running per day. Furthermore, Chichibetsu Town has constructed a new multi-purpose facility on the site of the former Chamber of Commerce. The community space on the first floor is open to everyone and can also be used as a bus waiting area.
(Yasufumi Watanabe, Chief of Finance and Property Management, Chichibetsu Town) “Since there is no high school in the town, students inevitably have to commute to Fukagawa City. Regarding bus operations, Numata Town, Fukagawa City, and Honmachi are working together to make arrangements so that buses can be operated.” Currently, construction of a bus terminal and a town center exchange facility is underway in front of JR Fukagawa Station.
The exchange facility is scheduled to open in November 2026 with the aim of expanding learning opportunities, improving the convenience of citizens’ lives, and creating a lively atmosphere in the town center. Challenges have also emerged due to the bus conversion. One example is the bus fare. The fare between Ishikari-Numata and Fukagawa was 360 yen one way on the JR line, but it will be 650 yen on the bus. This will increase the burden on residents. Railway lines are disappearing one after another throughout Hokkaido. The development of local transportation systems is an urgent need.
