Poles and trees cut beside JR Hokkaido's Senmo Line before Norokko train's final run
In short
JR Hokkaido (JR北海道) said four wooden poles carrying communication cables beside the Senmō Line (釧網線) between Tōya (遠矢) and Kushiro-Shitsugen (釧路湿原) had V-shaped cuts of up to about 10 cm, and that trees and grass nearby had been cut or pulled out. The line carries the sightseeing train Kushiro Shitsugen Norokko-go (くしろ湿原ノロッコ号), which makes its final run on October 10. The company reinforced the poles with metal, consulted police and is stepping up patrols.
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JR Hokkaido (JR北海道) has found cuts in four wooden poles that carry communication cables beside the Senmō Line (釧網線) between Tōya (遠矢) and Kushiro-Shitsugen (釧路湿原) stations, and trees near the track had also been cut, the company announced. Mainichi Shimbun reported that the company's Kushiro branch (釧路支社) disclosed the damage on October 7, while Tokyo Shimbun and Nishi-Nippon Shimbun said the announcement was made by October 8. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
According to the company, the poles are about 20 cm in diameter and had V-shaped cuts of up to about 10 cm. The company said the poles could disrupt train operations if they fell, and it reinforced them with metal. Trees and grass were also cut or pulled out over an area of about 1 km around the site, Tokyo Shimbun and Nishi-Nippon Shimbun reported. Mainichi Shimbun said trees and grass along the track had been cut or pulled out in an unnatural way. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
The Kushiro branch said the damage came to light on September 25 after it received information from a passenger, according to Mainichi Shimbun. The branch described the damage as an act that hinders safe train operation and called for caution. [ 1 ]
The company has consulted police and will strengthen patrols, Tokyo Shimbun and Nishi-Nippon Shimbun reported. The two papers said the area is a spot where people are seen photographing trains. [ 3 , 4 ]
The section is on the route of the sightseeing train Kushiro Shitsugen Norokko-go (くしろ湿原ノロッコ号), which makes its final run on October 10. The reports did not say who was responsible for the damage or why. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
Why it matters
The company said the poles could disrupt train operations if they fell, and its Kushiro branch called the damage an act that hinders safe train operation. The incident comes days before the last run of a sightseeing train on the route.
Key facts
- Four wooden poles for communication cables near the Senmō Line between Tōya and Kushiro-Shitsugen were found with V-shaped cuts. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- The poles are about 20 cm in diameter and the cuts were up to about 10 cm deep. [ 3 , 4 ]
- Trees and grass were cut or pulled out over an area of about 1 km around the site. [ 3 , 4 ]
- The damage came to light on September 25 after information from a passenger, according to JR Hokkaido's Kushiro branch. [ 1 ]
- JR Hokkaido reinforced the poles with metal, consulted police and will strengthen patrols. [ 3 , 4 ]
- The sightseeing train Kushiro Shitsugen Norokko-go, which runs on the route, makes its final run on October 10. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Four wooden communication-cable poles beside the Senmō Line between Tōya and Kushiro-Shitsugen had cuts, and trees nearby were cut. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- The Kushiro Shitsugen Norokko-go sightseeing train makes its final run on October 10. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- The poles had V-shaped cuts of up to about 10 cm and were reinforced with metal. [ 3 , 4 ]
- JR Hokkaido consulted police and will strengthen patrols. [ 3 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- Who cut the poles and trees, and why. The documents do not identify anyone responsible or give a motive.
- The damage was discovered on September 25 following a passenger's tip. Only one outlet reports the discovery date and the passenger tip.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- October 7: Mainichi Shimbun reports that JR Hokkaido's Kushiro branch disclosed the cut poles and trees on the Senmō Line. [ 1 ]
- October 8: Tokyo Shimbun reports JR Hokkaido's announcement, including metal reinforcement, police consultation and stronger patrols. [ 3 ]
- October 8: Nishi-Nippon Shimbun carries the same report. [ 4 ]