Hokkaido rail operator weighs cutting onion freight route amid losses

Hokkaido Railway Co. has placed the Abashiri to Shin-Asahikawa line under review as part of a broader examination of eight loss-making routes. The line is vital for transporting onions grown in Kitami, which supplies about 20 percent of Japan's total harvest. In fiscal 2025, railways moved 28,435 tons of onions across the country, with roughly 8,410 tons delivered to Tokyo and surrounding areas and about 5,945 tons to the Kyushu region.

The company seeks assistance from local authorities to maintain infrastructure, yet the specific route incurred a 5.2 billion-yen operating deficit. An onion-freight official cautioned that the cessation of the service would halt deliveries to the mainland, potentially affecting consumer prices for seasonal produce.