Due to low ridership and very high maintenance costs, including coastal defences between Atsuga and Ōkaribe, JR Hokkaido held several meetings and conferences with the 7 towns along the suspended segment of the line, suggesting that repair of the line be abandoned and replaced by a bus service.
Low ridership and substantial maintenance costs, including coastal defenses between Atsuga and Ōkaribe, led JR Hokkaido to hold several meetings and conferences with the 7 towns along the suspended segment. They proposed abandoning the line's repair in favor of a bus service instead.