Osaka Line

The Osaka Line (大阪線, Ōsaka-sen) is a railway line in Japan owned by Kintetsu Railway, connecting Osaka and Mie Prefecture via Nara Prefecture. The line is the longest double-tracked railway of non-JR operators. Together with the Nagoya Line, this line forms the route for Kintetsu limited express services connecting Osaka and Nagoya in competition with the Tokaido Shinkansen.

Osaka Line
21000 series EMU on a limited express service passing New Aoyama Tunnel
Overview
Owner	Kintetsu Railway
Line number	D
Locale	Kansai (Osaka, Nara and Mie Prefectures
Termini	Osaka Uehommachi Ise-Nakagawa
Stations	48
Service
Type	Commuter rail Intercity rail
Operator(s)	Kintetsu Railway
Depot(s)	Takayasu (Branch: Goido, Nabari, Aoyamacho) Goido (workshop)
History
Opened	30 April 1914; 110 years ago (1914-04-30)
Technical
Line length	108.9 km (67.7 mi)
Track length	107.6 km (66.9 mi)
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Minimum radius	400 m (1,300 ft)
Electrification	1,500 V DC (overhead line)
Operating speed	130 km/h (80 mph) (some limited express trains) 120 km/h (75 mph) (limited express trains) 110 km/h (70 mph) (other trains)
Signalling	Automatic closing block
Train protection system	Kintetsu ATS, ATS-SP
Maximum incline	3.56%
Route map Legend 0.0* km via the former route A01 Osaka Namba Namba Line (A) Sennichimae Line (S18) Tanimachi Line (T25) Tanimachi Kyūchōme 0.0 D03 Osaka Uehommachi S19 as Sennichimae Line JR West: Osaka Loop Line 1.1 D04 Tsuruhashi 2.8 D05 Imazato Sennichimae Line 4.1 D06 Fuse Nara Line (A) 5.1 D07 Shuntokumichi JR Shuntokumichi Osaka Higashi Line 6.2 D08 Nagase 7.4 D09 Mito 8.3 D10 Kyūhōjiguchi 9.2 Kintetsu Yao -1978 9.6 D11 Kintetsu Yao 1978- 11.1 D12 Kawachi-Yamamoto Shigi Line (J) Takayasu Inspection Depot / Workshop 12.2 D13 Takayasu Takayasu Depot 13.3 D14 Onji 14.9 D15 Hōzenji Yamatoji Line 15.7 D16 Katashimo Kashiwara Kashiwara-minamiguchi 16.6 D17 Andō Kashiwara (temporary) Domyoji Line (N) Yamatoji Line Yamato River 18.2 D18 Kawachi-Kokubu 19.8 D19 Ōsaka-Kyōikudai-mae Tamateyama Tunnel Osaka/Nara 22.0 D20 Sekiya 24.1 D21 Nijō 25.7 D22 Kintetsu Shimoda Wakayama Line (Kashiba) Goidō Workshop/ Takayasu Inspection Goido Depot 27.1 D23 Goidō JR Goidō 28.8 D24 Tsukiyama 29.9 D25 Yamato-Takada ( *Takada) JR West: Wakayama Line JR West: Sakurai Line (Man-yo Mahoroba Line) 31.8 D26 Matsuzuka 32.8 D27 Masuga Kyoto Kyoto Line (B) Ninokuchi Bypass B40 Yagi-nishiguchi [* 1] 34.8 D39 Yamato-Yagi Kashihara Line (B) Unebi 36.9 D40 Miminashi 38.2 D41 Daifuku Yamato Railway 39.8 D42 Sakurai Sakurai Line (Man-yo Mahoroba Line) Daiki: Hase Line 41.9 D43 Yamato-Asakura Hase 45.6 D44 Hasedera 50.1 D45 Haibara 57.2 D46 Murōguchi-Ōno 59.7 D47 Sambommatsu Nara/Mie 64.0 D48 Akameguchi Nishi-Nabari 67.2 D49 Nabari Takayasu Inspection Nabari Depot 70.0 D50 Kikyōgaoka 73.1 D51 Mihata 75.5 D52 Iga-Kambe Iga Railway Iga Line 77.9 D53 Aoyamachō Takayasu Inspection Aoyamacho Depot 80.6 D54 Iga-Kōzu Miyashita Tunnel Kitayama Tunnel Tanioku Tunnel Sangen-ya Tunnel 83.4* Sangen-ya Signal Box -1973 83.8 D55 Nishi-Aoyama 1975- Osaka Transportation Department 84.048 Nagoya Transportation Department 85.3* Nishi-Aoyama -1975 New Aoyama Tunnel 5,652 m Aoyama Tunnel 89.1* Higashi-Aoyama -1975 Kaito Tunnel Takiguchi Tunnel Mizoguchi Tunnel Nikawa Tunnel 91.8* Kaito-nishi Signal Box -1975 91.5 D56 Higashi-Aoyama 1975- 93.1* Kaito-higashi Signal Box -1975 Sōdani Tunnel Kajigahiro Tunnel 95.4 D57 Sakakibara-Onsenguchi 97.6 D58 Ōmitsu 100.1 Kametani Signal Box -1974 101.6 D59 Ise-Ishibashi Chusei Railway Kumozu River Takano Signal Box -1974 Meishō Line 104.4 D60 Kawai-Takaoka ( *Ichishi) Kintetsu Nagoya 108.2 Miyako Junction Nakagawa Bypass for limited express trains Nakamura River Nagoya Line (E) Osaka Line 108.9 D61 Ise-Nakagawa Yamada Line (M) Ujiyamada Toba Line (M) Toba Shima Line (M) Kashikojima Same station as Yamato-Yagi

Services

Along with charged Limited express, non-charged local and express services are operated on the line.

Local (普通, Futsū) (L)

Mostly using 6-car trains, operations are divided at Nabari. In the west trains normally run between Osaka Uehommachi and Takayasu or Kawachi-Kokubu. During the day, 6 trains operate per hour, 5 between Osaka Uehommachi and Takayasu, and one between Osaka Uehommachi and Kawachi-Kokubu. In the east, local trains run between Nabari or Aoyamacho and Ise-Nakagawa. Some trains continues as other train types west of Nabari.

Suburban Semi-Express (区間準急, Kukan Junkyū) (SSE)

The service started on March 20, 2012.^[1] These operate using 6-car trains, between Osaka Uehommachi and Yamato-Asakura, Haibara, or Nabari, during off-peak hours.

Semi-Express (準急, Junkyū) (SE)

Between Osaka Uehommachi and Takayasu, Haibara or Nabari, peak hours only, replacing suburban semi-express services, using 10-, 8-, or 6-car formations.

Express (急行, Kyūkō) (Ex)

Operated at all times except during rush hours in the peak direction, connecting Osaka Uehommachi and Aoyamachō or Isuzugawa on Toba Line, one and two services per hour respectively. These trains use short 6-car formations due to the lengths of platforms at Kawachi-Kokubu and Sambommatsu. Makes a connection to express train on Nagoya Line at Ise-Nakagawa.

Rapid Express (快速急行, Kaisoku Kyūkō) (RE)

Long distance rapid service replacing express trains at rush hours, between Osaka Uehommachi and Aoyamachō, or Matsusaka, Ujiyamada, Isuzugawa or Toba on Toba Line in Mie Prefecture. To the west of Nabari, they operate with up to 10 cars, to the west of Aoyamachō with up to 8 cars, and 4 or 6 cars in the eastern section.

After the schedule change on March 20, 2012, these trains were integrated with suburban rapid express trains (区間快速急行, 区間快速, Kukan Kaisoku Kyūkō, Kukan Kaisoku). Muroguchi-Ono and Akameguchi stations became stops of rapid express trains, but Iga-Kozu, Nishi-Aoyama, and Higashi-Aoyama stations are skipped.^[1]

After the schedule change on March 14, 2020, morning westbound trains are shortened between Aoyamacho and Osaka Uehommachi, and trains from the Yamada Line and the Toba Line are operated as express trains until Nabari. A timetable revision scheduled for 16 March 2024 looks to mark the end of operation with 10-car trains.^[2]

Limited Express (特急, Tokkyū)

Seat reservation required for an extra charge, between Osaka Uehommachi or Osaka Namba on the Kintetsu Namba Line in Osaka and Nagoya or the Ise - Shima region.

Stations

• 〇 : All trains stop.
• ▲ : Most trains stop
• △ : Some trains stop

No.	Stations	Japanese	Distance (km)	SSE	SE	Ex	RE	LE	Transfers	Location
D03	Ōsaka Uehommachi	大阪上本町	0.0	〇	〇	〇	〇	〇	A Kintetsu Namba Line (A03) Tanimachi Line (Tanimachi Kyūchōme) (T25) Sennichimae Line (Tanimachi Kyūchōme) (S18)	Tennōji-ku, Osaka	Osaka Prefecture
D04	Tsuruhashi	鶴橋	1.1	〇	〇	〇	〇	〇	O Osaka Loop Line (JR-O04) Sennichimae Line (S19)	Ikuno-ku, Osaka
D05	Imazato	今里	2.8
D06	Fuse	布施	4.1	〇	〇	〇		△	A Kintetsu-Nara Line (A06)	Higashiōsaka
D07	Shuntokumichi	俊徳道	5.1						F Osaka Higashi Line (JR Shuntokumichi) (JR-F11)
D08	Nagase (Kindai University)	長瀬	6.2
D09	Mito	弥刀	7.4
D10	Kyūhōjiguchi	久宝寺口	8.3							Yao
D11	Kintetsu Yao	近鉄八尾	9.6	〇	〇
D12	Kawachi-Yamamoto	河内山本	11.1	〇	〇				J Shigi Line (J12)
D13	Takayasu	高安	12.2	〇	〇
D14	Onji	恩智	13.3	〇
D15	Hōzenji	法善寺	14.9	〇						Kashiwara
D16	Katashimo	堅下	15.7	〇					N Domyoji Line (Kashiwara) (N17) Q Yamatoji Line (Kashiwara) (JR-Q27)
D17	Andō	安堂	16.6	〇
D18	Kawachi-Kokubu (Kansai University of Welfare Sciences)	河内国分	18.2	〇	〇	〇
D19	Ōsaka-Kyōikudai-mae (Ōsaka Kyōiku University)	大阪 教育大前	19.8	〇	〇
D20	Sekiya	関屋	22.0	〇	〇					Kashiba	Nara Prefecture
D21	Nijō	二上	24.1	〇	〇
D22	Kintetsu Shimoda	近鉄下田	25.7	〇	〇
D23	Goidō (Mamigaoka New Town)	五位堂	27.1	〇	〇	〇	〇
D24	Tsukiyama	築山	28.8	〇	〇					Yamatotakada
D25	Yamato-Takada	大和高田	29.9	〇	〇	〇	〇	△
D26	Matsuzuka	松塚	31.8	〇	〇
D27	Masuga	真菅	32.8	〇	〇					Kashihara
D39	Yamato-Yagi	大和八木	34.8	〇	〇	〇	〇	▲	B Kashihara Line (B39)
D40	Miminashi	耳成	36.9	〇	〇
D41	Daifuku	大福	38.2	〇	〇					Sakurai
D42	Sakurai	桜井	39.8	〇	〇	〇	〇		U Man-yō Mahoroba Line (Sakurai Line)
D43	Yamato-Asakura	大和朝倉	41.9	〇	〇	〇
D44	Hasedera	長谷寺	45.6	〇	〇	〇
D45	Haibara	榛原	50.1	〇	〇	〇	〇	△		Uda
D46	Murōguchi-Ōno	室生口大野	57.2	〇	〇	〇	〇
D47	Sambommatsu	三本松	59.7	〇	〇	〇
D48	Akameguchi	赤目口	64.0	〇	〇	〇	〇			Nabari	Mie Prefecture
D49	Nabari	名張	67.2	〇	〇	〇	〇	▲
D50	Kikyōgaoka	桔梗が丘	70.0			〇	〇	△
D51	Mihata	美旗	73.1			〇	〇
D52	Iga-Kambe	伊賀神戸	75.5			〇	〇	△	■ Iga Railway Iga Line	Iga
D53	Aoyamachō	青山町	77.9			〇	〇
D54	Iga-Kōzu	伊賀上津	80.6			〇
D55	Nishi-Aoyama	西青山	83.8			〇
D56	Higashi-Aoyama	東青山	91.5			〇				Tsu
D57	Sakakibara-Onsenguchi	榊原温泉口	95.4			〇	〇	△
D58	Ōmitsu	大三	97.6
D59	Ise-Ishibashi	伊勢石橋	101.6
D60	Kawai-Takaoka	川合高岡	104.4
D61	Ise-Nakagawa	伊勢中川	108.9			〇	〇	▲	E Nagoya Line (E61) M Yamada Line (M61)	Matsusaka

History

The Osaka Electric Railway opened the Osaka Uehommachi to Fuse section as 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) gauge dual track electrified at 600 V DC (as were all further sections unless otherwise noted) in 1914. The line was extended to Kintetsu Yao in 1924, and to Onji the following year. The Yamato-Takada to Yamato-Yagi section opened (with a single track) the same year, and was then linked to Onji and duplicated in 1927. The line was then extended to Sakurai in 1929 and the voltage on the Sakurai to Fuse section increased to 1,500 V DC to permit through-running with the Sangu Express Railway line (see below).

The Sangu Express Railway opened the Sakurai to Hase section in 1929, electrified at 1,500 V DC, and extended the line to Ise-Nakagawa the following year, single track beyond Nabari. The two companies became part of Kintetsu between 1941 and 1944.

The voltage on the Osaka Uehommachi to Fuse section was increased to 1,500 V DC in 1956, the Nabari to Iga-Kozu section was double-tracked between 1959 and 1961, and the rest of the line double-tracked between 1967 and 1975, when the 5,652 m Shin Aoyama tunnel was opened, at the time the longest tunnel built in Japan by a private railway.

Former connecting lines

• Sakurai Station: The Hase Railway opened a 6 km (3.7 mi) 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) gauge line to Hase in 1909. The company merged with the Osaka Electric Railway in 1928, the year before the Sangu Express Railway opened the Sakurai to Hase line in 1929, and the line closed in 1938. The Yamato Railway operated an 8 km (5.0 mi) 1,067 mm gauge line electrified at 600 V DC to Nishi-Tawaramoto on the Kashihara Line between 1923 and 1958.
• Iga-Kambe Station: The (first) Iga Railway opened a 26 km (16 mi) 1,067 mm gauge line between Iga-Ueno on the Kansai Main Line and Nishi-Nabari in 1922, including a connection at this station. The line was electrified at 1,500 V DC in 1926. The section to Nishi-Nabari closed in 1964, with the Iga Line operated by the (second) Iga Railway after Kintetsu transferred operation of the line in 2007.
• Ise-Ishibashi Station: The Dainippon Railway operated a 15 km (9.3 mi) 762 mm (2 ft 6 in) gauge line between Hisai on the Nagoya Line and Ise-Kawaguchi on the Meisho Line that connected here between 1925 and 1943.

References

This article incorporates material from the corresponding article in the Japanese Wikipedia.

1. 平成24年のダイヤ変更について (PDF) (Press release) (in Japanese). Kintetsu Corporation. January 20, 2012. p. 3. Retrieved January 21, 2012.
2. "大阪線「10両快速急行」廃止に 近鉄3月ダイヤ改正 五位堂→上本町の急行＆準急増発も". Traffic News (in Japanese). 18 January 2024. Retrieved 19 January 2024.