Bus services have since substituted for trains, and the line was formally closed on 1 April 2014.

The company claimed that the cost expected to secure the safety of the line would be about 1.3 billion yen and that it could not afford to spend such an amount considering its very small public demand.

[3] Local governments, including Iwate Prefecture, raised objection to the decision.

[4] In November 2013, JR East announced that agreement had been reached with local governments to formally close the line, which occurred on 1 April 2014.

[2] Since 1 April 2014, Higashinihon Kotsu has operated the Iwaizumi-Moichi Line which is a bustitution.