Super Ōzora limited express trains run between Sapporo and Kushiro 7 times a day, while Super Tokachi runs twice daily, Tokachi 4 times daily, both between Sapporo and Obihiro.

The Marimo sleeping car service which formerly operated between Sapporo and Kushiro, was discontinued in 2008.

There are no local train services between Shin-Yūbari and Shintoku, since the line runs through rather sparsely populated areas.

In 1892, the Hokkaido Colliery and Railway Company opened the Yūbari Line (夕張線, Yūbari-sen) from Oiwake to Yūbari for transporting coal to the Port of Muroran via the Muroran Main Line.

The abandoned western tunnel north of Shimizusawa, and significant portions of the second line formation are still visible.

Previously, passengers to Shintoku and further east had to travel via the Nemuro Main Line.

However, on 31 August further torrential rain from Typhoon Lionrock caused further erosion at Tomamu, closing the section again until 1 October.

Three separate private railways connected to the Yūbari line: On 27 May 2011, the Super Ōzora 14 service from Kushiro to Sapporo was brought to an emergency stop inside the 685 metre-long No.

1 Niniu Tunnel in Shimukappu, Hokkaidō, at around 21:55 after car number 2 of the 6-car formation became derailed.

The driver reportedly applied the brakes, but the train failed to stop and was derailed by the catch points protecting the single-track line, hitting the wall of a snow shelter protecting the junction.

The JR Freight Class DF200 diesel locomotive and four of the container wagons in the train were derailed, but the lone 25-year-old driver was uninjured.