The line forms part of the trunk route between Sapporo and Southern Hokkaido.

The Ōzora and Tokachi limited express services to Obihiro and Kushiro run through.

Since the Chitose Line goes through the most urbanized area in Hokkaido, there are roughly 3 to 4 local train services per hour.

This train stops at Sapporo, Shin-Sapporo and all stations between Kita-Hiroshima and New Chitose Airport.

[2] There were sleeper trains between Honshu and Hokkaido, such as the Hokutosei, Cassiopeia, Twilight Express, and Hamanasu.