In 1889, Hokkaido Coal Railway was founded by accepting a concession of then financially ailing state-owned Horonai Railway's lines and laid the lines that later became a part of the Hakodate Main Line, Muroran Main Line, and Ishikatsu Line.
北海道炭礦鉄道は1889年、営業不振であった官営幌内鉄道の路線を譲り受ける形で発足し、後の函館本線・室蘭本線・石勝線などの一部に該当する路線を敷設する。