The speed violation occurred on the downbound line between Yamazaki Station and Kuroiwa Station on the JR Hakodate Line.

At 11:24 AM on August 30, the Limited Express Hokuto No. 7, bound for Sapporo from Hakodate, exceeded the speed limit of 45 km/h, which was set due to bridge repair work, by approximately 13 to 29 km/h.

According to JR Hokkaido, the driver was reminded of the speed restriction zone when the “driving support app,” which alerts about speed violations in slow-speed sections, issued a warning. The driver then applied the emergency brakes to stop the train.

There were 156 passengers on board, but no injuries were reported among passengers or crew members.

At the time, the train was running about 6 minutes behind schedule due to waiting for connections at intermediate stations. The driver was reportedly preoccupied with concerns about delaying other trains and temporarily forgot about the speed restriction zone.

JR Hokkaido commented, “We deeply apologize for causing such an incident during the enhanced safety audit system by the Hokkaido Transport Bureau and for the concern it has caused to our customers and all involved.”

JR Hakodate Line

The JR Hakodate Line is a railway line on Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido, connecting the cities of Oshamambe and Hakodate. Its history is tied to the pioneering era of Hokkaido’s development, with its initial section opening in 1902 to facilitate transportation and trade across the region.

Yamazaki Station

Yamazaki Station is a railway station in Ōyamazaki, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan, operated by West Japan Railway Company (JR West). It is historically significant as the site of the 1582 Battle of Yamazaki, where Toyotomi Hideyoshi defeated Akechi Mitsuhide following the assassination of Oda Nobunaga. The station itself was opened in 1876 and serves as a local stop on the JR Kyoto Line.

Kuroiwa Station

Kuroiwa Station is a small, unmanned railway station located in the town of Tōkai, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan, on the JR East Jōban Line. It is most famous for its unique location directly in front of the historic Kuroiwa Jōseki, the stone wall ruins of a medieval castle. The station was opened in 1988, making it a modern stop that provides access to this ancient site.

Limited Express Hokuto No. 7

“Limited Express Hokuto No. 7” is a famous overnight sleeper train service that operated in Japan, connecting Tokyo and Sapporo on the northern island of Hokkaido. It was part of the Hokuto series, which began service in 1988 and became an iconic part of Japan’s railway culture before its discontinuation in 2016 due to declining ridership.

Sapporo

Sapporo is the capital of Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido, founded officially in 1868 during the Meiji Restoration as a planned city to develop the region. It is now internationally famous for hosting the 1972 Winter Olympics and its annual Sapporo Snow Festival, as well as being the birthplace of Sapporo beer.

Hakodate

Hakodate is a historic port city located on the island of Hokkaido, Japan. It was one of the first Japanese ports to open to international trade following the 1854 Convention of Kanagawa, which heavily influenced its development. The city is famous for its Western-influenced architecture, a spectacular night view from Mount Hakodate, and the star-shaped Goryōkaku fort.

JR Hokkaido

JR Hokkaido, formally known as Hokkaido Railway Company, is a major railway operator that was established in 1987 following the privatization of the Japanese National Railways. It manages an extensive network of train lines across Japan’s northernmost major island, Hokkaido, connecting its major cities and rural areas. Its history is rooted in the development of Hokkaido’s infrastructure, which was heavily promoted by the government from the Meiji era onward to settle and industrialize the region.

Hokkaido Transport Bureau

The Hokkaido Transport Bureau is a government agency responsible for managing and maintaining public transportation infrastructure across Japan’s northernmost island. It was established to develop and connect the region’s transport networks, which were historically crucial for the settlement and economic development of Hokkaido following the Meiji Restoration.