Osaka Metro Chūō Line

Metro line in Osaka prefecture, Japan

The Osaka Metro Chūō Line (中央線, 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), 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 1 July 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 operationally became a part of the Chūō Line, but is however still owned by OTS.

The Chūō Line is the only line to connect to all other subway lines operated by the Osaka Metro, including the Nankō Port Town Line.

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 single-car trainsets.^[1] Between 1964 and 1985, the line was expanded towards Nagata in four stages:

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

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

Future Plans

The OTS North Technoport Line [ja] is a planned extension of the Chūō line from Cosmosquare to Yumeshima, Maishima, and Sakurajima. Its first phase, consisting of a one-stop extension to Yumeshima, is currently under construction with a projected completion date of 2024, in advance of the Osaka 2025 Expo.^[2]

Separately, a new station is planned to be built on the spur track to the Morinomiya depot facility as part of local revitalization efforts and also to serve the new Morinomiya campus of Osaka Metropolitan University, with a projected completion date of 2028.^[3]

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

Rolling stock

Morinomiya Depot in May 2015.

Osaka Metro

• 24 series (from 1991)
• 30000A series (from July 2022)^[4]
• 400 series (from 25 June 2023)^[5]

Kintetsu Railway

• 7000 series (from 1986)
• 7020 series (from 2004)

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

• 
  24 series (in green livery)
• 
  30000A series
• 
  400 series
• 
  Kintetsu 7000/7020 series

Former

• 800 series (1961–1978)
• 900 series (1964–1978)
• 30 series (1967–1969, 1983–1995)
• 50 series (1969–1991)
• 20 series (1984–2024)

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.
2. "Osaka Metro Group 2018～2024年度 中期経営計画について｜Osaka Metro". Osaka Metro (in Japanese). Retrieved January 5, 2023.
3. "森之宮新駅構想について｜Osaka Metro". Osaka Metro (in Japanese). Retrieved January 5, 2023.
4. デビュー秒読み 異形の地下鉄「400系」新機軸だらけの秘密とは？ 大阪メトロが動画公開 [Osaka Metro announces debut countdown for innovative "400 series" – what makes it so unusual?]. Traffic News (in Japanese). Japan: Mediavague Co., Ltd. April 14, 2023. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
5. 「大阪メトロ」新型車両400系、6/25運行開始へ - ダイヤは公開せず ["Osaka Metro" delays new 400 series introduction to 25 June]. Mynavi News (in Japanese). April 25, 2023. Retrieved April 25, 2023.