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Minami Osaka Line

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Minami Osaka Line
Kintetsu 6820 series EMU at Osaka Abenobashi Station on a semi-express service for Kawachi-Nagano
Overview
Native name南大阪線
OwnerThe logo of the Kintetsu Railway Company. Kintetsu Railway
Line numberF
LocaleOsaka Prefecture
Nara Prefecture
Termini
Stations28
Color on map     (#008446)
Service
TypeHeavy rail
SystemKintetsu Railway
Operator(s)Kintetsu Railway
Depot(s)Furuichi
Branch: Amami
Rolling stock
History
Opened24 March 1898; 126 years ago (1898-03-24) (Domyoji–Furuichi)
Technical
Line length39.7 km (24.7 mi)
Number of tracksDouble-track
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification1,500 V DC (overhead lines)
Operating speed110 km/h (68 mph) (limited express trains)
100 km/h (62 mph) (commuter trains)
SignallingAutomatic closing block
Train protection systemKintetsu ATS, ATS-SP
Route map

Lines are of Kintetsu unless noted
Left arrowNankai: Tennoji Branch Line
0.0
Left arrowLeft arrowF01 Ōsaka Abenobashi
Left arrow, Right arrow, Right arrowRight arrowTennōji
JR West: Osaka Loop LineRight arrow
Left arrowJR West: Hanwa Line
JR West: Kansai Main Line (Yamatoji Line)Right arrow
1.0
F02 Koboreguchi
2.1
F03 Kita-Tanabe
2.7
F04 Imagawa
Left arrowNankai: Hirano LineRight arrow
Left arrowSubway: Tanimachi LineRight arrow (Komagawa-Nakano)
3.8
F05 Harinakano
5.1
F06 Yata
Left arrowJR West: Hanwa Freight LineRight arrow
7.3
F07 Kawachi-Amami
Furuichi Inspection Amami Depot
8.3
F08 Nunose
9.1
F09 Takaminosato
10.0
F10 Kawachi-Matsubara
11.6
F11 Eganoshō
12.6
F12 Takawashi
13.7
F13 Fujiidera
14.8
Ōjingoryō-mae
abandoned in 1974
15.6
F14 Hajinosato
16.3
F15 Dōmyōji
17.8
Konda Hachiman
abandoned in 1974
18.3
F16/O16 Furuichi
Left arrowFuruichi Inspection Depot
Ishikawa River
20.0
F17 Komagatani
22.0
F18 Kaminotaishi
Prefectural border (Up arrowOsaka/NaraDown arrow)
24.9
Donzurubō
27.3
F19 Nijōzan
28.4
F20 Nijō-jinjaguchi
30.4
F21 Taimadera
31.1
F22 Iwaki
32.3
F23/P23 Shakudo
34.2
F24 Takadashi
Left arrowJR West: Wakayama LineRight arrow
35.6
F25 Ukiana
36.8
F26 Bōjō
38.5
F27 Kashiharajingū-nishiguchi
Kashiharajingū
abandoned in 1939
Yoshino Line, Unebi Line
39.7
F42 Kashiharajingū-mae
Track conversion facility
26000 series Limited Express EMU (before renovation)

The Minami Osaka Line (南大阪線, Minami-Ōsaka-sen) is a railway line operated by Kintetsu Railway. It runs between Ōsaka Abenobashi in Osaka and Kashiharajingū-mae in Kashihara, Nara Prefecture. The line connects Osaka to southern part of the Nara Basin, running through Osaka's southern suburb cities of Matsubara, Fujiidera and Habikino in Osaka Prefecture, and Katsuragi and Yamato-Takada in Nara Prefecture. Via the Yoshino Line, it also provides access to the Yoshino refuge of Emperor Godaigo, a popular tourist destination, especially during the spring.

The line and its network of branch lines use 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) narrow gauge tracks, the only lines in the Kintetsu network with this gauge. Other Kintetsu lines use 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge.

History

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The first section of the line opened in 1898 between Kashiwara Station and Furuichi Station by Kayō Railway Co., Ltd. (河陽鉄道, Kayō Tetsudō). The next year Kanan Railway Co., Ltd. (河南鉄道, Kanan Railway) took over the line, before renaming itself Osaka Railway Co., Ltd. (大阪鉄道, Osaka Tetsudō). The railway then constructed its own access line to Osaka center, completed in 1923 and electrified at 1,500 V DC, then the highest voltage in Japan. An extension to Nara Prefecture to what is now Kashiharajingū-mae station was built in 1929 and through service began to the Yoshino Railway, now the Yoshino Line.

The entire route competed with the existing Osaka Line, operated by Kansai Kyūkō Electric Railway, or Kankyū. In 1943, Osaka Railway was merged with Kankyū and the Minami Osaka Line continued to operate as part of the Kankyū network. Kankyū would later rename itself in 1944 to the Kinki Nippon Railway, or Kintetsu, after merging with the Nankai Electric Railway.

Operations

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Some trains go through to the Nagano Line or the Yoshino Line, some operate between Furuichi and Gose Station on the Gose Line, and some from Gose run through to Osaka Abenobashi. Local trains run between Osaka Abenobashi and Fujiidera or Furuichi, and between Furuichi and Kashiharajingū-mae (including conductorless trains between Furuichi and Kashiharajingū-mae).

Rapid service

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Local train (普通 Futsu)

Running all day, but the operation is divided at Furuichi station except in the early morning and late night. 

Osaka-Abenobashi-Furuichi Osaka Abenobashi - Fujiidera or Furuichi is the basic operating pattern, with four trains per hour between Osaka-Abenobashi and Fujiidera during the day, along with two additional trains between Osaka Abenobashi and Furuichi. A few trains run from Kawachi-Amami to Osaka Abenobashi in the early morning and back to Kawachi-Amami station late at night. Local trains are overtaken by Semi express trains at Imagawa, and by Limited Express or express trains at Kawachi Amami.

Furuichi-Kashiharajingu-Mae or Yoshino Normal operation is between Furuichi and Kashihara Jingu-mae. Some trains continue to Yoshino on the Yoshino Line in early morning and late nights.

In this section semi-express trains make all stops, but few trains operate here as most run on the Nagano Line after Furuichi. Local and semi-express trains to Osaka Abenobashi twice per hour alternate to provide constant daytime service. There is a direct connection from the Gose Line at Shakudo, and some trains run between Shakudo and Kashihara Jingu-mae only on weekday mornings.

Semi-Express (準急, Junkyū) (SmE)

Semi-express trains operate between Osaka Abenobashi - Kashihara Jingu-mae or Kawachinagano. Two trains per hour run to Kashihara Jingu-mae and four to Kawachinagano. During morning rush hours, some trains operate from Gose to Osaka Abenobashi. A few trains also continue from Kashihara Jingu-mae to Yoshino as well.

Suburban Express (区間急行, Kukan Kyūkō) (SbE)

One train on weekday mornings from Kashihara Jingu-Mae to Osaka Abenobashi and two trains on weekday evenings and one on weekend evenings in the reverse direction.

Express (急行, Kyūkō) (Ex)

Two trains per hour from Osaka Abenobashi, through to Yoshino on the Yoshino line. Unlike other trains on this line, they are not overtaken by limited express trains at intermediate stations.

Rapid Express (快速急行, Kaisoku Kyūkō)

Rapid express trains are operated in spring, and the stops on the Minami Osaka Line are the same as for express trains. It waits for up to 12 minutes at Kashihara Jingu-mae Station where it is overtaken by limited express trains, taking longer than normal express trains.

Limited Express (特急, Tokkyū) (LE)

Limited express trains operate between Osaka Abenobashi and Kashihara Jingu-mae or Yoshino, one to two trains per hour on weekdays and two per hour on weekends. Some trains are operated by dedicated Sakura Liner rolling stock. To board limited express trains, a limited express ticket is needed in addition to a regular ticket.

Limited Express Blue Symphony (特急 青のシンフォニー) (LE)

Operates twice a day except Wednesdays (a normal limited express train operates instead, but without the dedicated name or train set). Stations are the same as regular limited express trains. Limited Express. To board the Limited Express Blue Symphony, a limited express ticket and special car ticket are needed in addition to a regular ticket.

Stations

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  • 〇: All trains stop.
  • △: Some limited express trains stop at Furuichi (Osaka-bound trains until 9:34 a.m. or 9:35 a.m., and Kashihara-bound and Yoshino-bound trains departing Osaka Abenobashi after 8 p.m.).[1]
  • Local trains (普通) stop at every station.

For distances and connections, see route diagram.

No. Stations Japanese Distance
(km)
SmE SbE Ex LE Transfers Location
 F01  Ōsaka Abenobashi 大阪阿部野橋 0.0
Abeno-ku, Osaka Osaka Prefecture
 F02  Koboreguchi 河堀口 1.0        
 F03  Kita-Tanabe 北田辺 2.1         Higashisumiyoshi-ku, Osaka
 F04  Imagawa 今川 2.7        
 F05  Harinakano 針中野 3.8        
 F06  Yata 矢田 5.1        
 F07  Kawachi-Amami
(Hannan University)
河内天美
(阪南大学前)
7.3         Matsubara
 F08  Nunose 布忍 8.3        
 F09  Takaminosato 高見ノ里 9.1        
 F10  Kawachi-Matsubara 河内松原 10.0      
 F11  Eganoshō 恵我ノ荘 11.6         Habikino
 F12  Takawashi 高鷲 12.6        
 F13  Fujiidera 藤井寺 13.7       Fujiidera
 F14  Hajinosato 土師ノ里 15.6      
 F15  Dōmyōji 道明寺 16.3       N Domyoji Line (N15)
 F16  Furuichi 古市 18.3 O Nagano Line (O16) Habikino
 F17  Komagatani 駒ヶ谷 20.0      
 F18  Kaminotaishi 上ノ太子 22.0      
 F19  Nijōzan 二上山 27.3       Kashiba Nara Prefecture
 F20  Nijō-jinjaguchi 二上神社口 28.4       Katsuragi
 F21  Taimadera 当麻寺 30.4      
 F22  Iwaki 磐城 31.1      
 F23  Shakudo 尺土 32.3 P Gose Line (P23)
 F24  Takadashi 高田市 34.2 Yamatotakada
 F25  Ukiana 浮孔 35.6    
 F26  Bōjō 坊城 36.8     Kashihara
 F27  Kashiharajingū-nishiguchi 橿原神宮西口 38.5    
 F42  Kashiharajingū-mae 橿原神宮前 39.7
Through section
from Furuichi
to Kawachinagano on the O Nagano Line (local trains, semi-express trains, express trains)
from Shakudo
to Kintetsu Gose on the P Gose Line (local trains, semi-express trains)
from Kashiharajingū-mae
to Yoshino on the F Yoshino Line (local trains, semi-express trains, express trains, limited express trains)

References

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  1. ^ 平成26年のダイヤ変更について [Diagram revision in 2014] (PDF) (Press release) (in Japanese). Osaka, Japan: Kintetsu Corporation. July 23, 2014. Retrieved September 20, 2014.

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

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