Osaka Metro Chūō Line

Osaka Metro Chūō Line
A Chūō Line 20 series EMU in August 2012
Overview
Other name(s) Yumehanna
Type Rapid transit
System Osaka Metro
Locale Osaka and Higashiosaka
Termini Cosmosquare
Nagata
Stations 14
Line number 4
Operation
Opened December 11, 1961
Owner Osaka Municipal Transportation Bureau (Osakako — Nagata)
Osaka Port Transport System Co., Ltd. (Cosmosquare — Osakako)
Operator(s) Osaka Metro (2018–present)
Osaka Municipal Transportation Bureau (1961–2018)
Depot(s) Morinomiya
Technical
Line length 17.9 km (11.1 mi)
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in)
Electrification 750 V DC, third rail
Operating speed 70 km/h (43 mph)
Route map

The Osaka Metro Chūō Line (大阪市営地下鉄中央線, Ōsaka-shiei-chikatetsu Chūō-sen) is a rapid transit system in Osaka, Japan, operated by Osaka Metro. The line runs east-westerly under Chūō Avenue (中央大通, Chūō Ōdōri). Its official name is Rapid Electric Tramway Line No. 4 (高速電気軌道第4号線), while the Osaka Municipal Transportation Bureau refers to it as Osaka City Rapid Railway Line No. 4 (大阪市高速鉄道第4号線), and in MLIT publications, it is written as Line No. 4 (Chūō Line) (4号線（中央線）). Station numbers are indicated by the letter C.

Together with the through operation to the Keihanna Line, the two lines have a unified nickname "Yumehanna" (ゆめはんな).

On July 1, 2005, Osaka City bought the Technoport Line (テクノポート線) from Cosmosquare to Osakakō of its subsidiary Osaka Port Transport System Co., Ltd. (大阪港トランスポートシステム), reducing fare to increase traffic. The section became a part of the Chūō Line, however is still owned by OTS.

The Chūō Line is the only line to connect to all other railway lines operated by the Osaka Municipal Transportation Bureau, including the Nankō Port Town Line.

Line data

  • Above-ground section: west of Ōsakakō to west of Awaza; east of Aramoto (Keihanna Line)
  • Block signalling: Automatic
  • Train protection system: WS-ATC
  • Cars per train: 6 (1984 – present)
  • Maximum possible cars per train (platform length): 8

Stations

No. Station Japanese Distance (km) Transfers Location
 C10  Cosmosquare コスモスクエア 0.0 Nankō Port Town Line (P09) Suminoe-ku, Osaka
 C11  Ōsakakō
(Tempozan)		 大阪港
（天保山）		 2.4 Minato-ku, Osaka
 C12  Asashiobashi 朝潮橋 3.9
 C13  Bentenchō 弁天町 5.5  O  Osaka Loop Line
 C14  Kujō 九条 6.8 Hanshin Namba Line Nishi-ku, Osaka
 C15  Awaza 阿波座 8.3 Sennichimae Line (S13)
 C16  Hommachi
(Semba-nishi)		 本町
（船場西）		 9.4
Chūō-ku, Osaka
 C17  Sakaisuji-Hommachi
(Semba-higashi)		 堺筋本町
（船場東）		 10.1 Sakaisuji Line (K15)
 C18  Tanimachi Yonchōme 谷町四丁目 11.1 Tanimachi Line (T23)
 C19  Morinomiya 森ノ宮 12.4
 C20  Midoribashi 緑橋 13.6 Imazatosuji Line (I20) Higashinari-ku, Osaka
 C21  Fukaebashi 深江橋 14.7
 C22  Takaida 高井田 16.1  F  Osaka Higashi Line - Takaida-Chuo Higashiosaka
 C23  Nagata 長田 17.9  C  Keihanna Line
↓ Through-service to/from Gakken Nara-Tomigaoka Station via the Keihanna Line ↓

Rolling stock

Osaka Municipal Subway

Kintetsu

The Osaka Municipal Subway trains are based at Morinomiya Depot, while the Kintetsu trains are based at Higashi-Hanazono and Tomigaoka Depots located on the Keihanna Line.

Former

  • 800 series (1961-1978)
  • 900 series (1964-1978)
  • 30 series (1967-1969, 1983-1995)
  • 50 series (1969-1991)

History

The line (initially known as Line No. 4) opened on December 11, 1961, initially running between Ōsakakō and Bentenchō (this was the first elevated portion of the Osaka subway system); trains were initially composed of one car.[1] Between 1964 and 1985, the line was expanded towards Nagata in four stages:

  • October 31, 1964: Section between Bentenchō and Hommachi opens, with intermediate stations at Kujo and Awaza.
  • September 30, 1967: The section between Tanimachi 4-chome and Morinomiya opens as a shuttle service with 2-car trains.
  • July 29, 1968: The section of the shuttle service between Morinomiya and Fukaebashi opens.
  • December 6, 1969: The section between Hommachi and Tanimachi 4-chome (including Sakaisuji-Hommachi) opens after construction delays; the shuttle service between Tanimachi 4-chome and Fukaebashi was absorbed into the line, which was now named the Chūō Line. 4-car trains begin operation.
  • April 5, 1985: The section between Fukaebashi and Nagata opens. 6-car trains begin operation.
  • October 1, 1986: Through service to Ikoma commences upon the opening of the Kintetsu Keihanna Line (then named the Higashiosaka Line).

On December 18, 1997, the OTS Technoport Line opened between Ōsakakō and Cosmosquare. This line was absorbed into the Chūō Line on July 1, 2005. The Keihanna Line was extended further into Nara when the extension to Gakken Nara-Tomigaoka opened on March 27, 2006.

References

  1. ↑ Terada, Hirokazu (July 2002). データブック日本の私鉄 [Databook: Japan's Private Railways]. Japan: Neko Publishing. p. 133. ISBN 4-87366-874-3.
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