Osaka Metro Chūō Line


The Osaka Metro Chūō Line is a rapid transit system in Osaka, Japan, operated by Osaka Metro. The line runs east-westerly under Chūō Avenue. Its official name is Rapid Electric Tramway Line No. 4, and in MLIT publications, it is written as Line No. 4 . Station numbers are indicated by the letter C.
Together with the through operation to the Keihanna Line, the three lines have a unified nickname "Yumehanna".
On 1 July 2005, Osaka City bought the Technoport Line from Cosmosquare to Osakakō of its subsidiary Osaka Port Transport System Co., Ltd., 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 opened on 11 December 1961, initially running between Ōsakakō and Bentenchō ; trains were initially composed of single-car trainsets, with occasional use of three-car trainsets during trade fairs held near Asashiobashi. 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 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.
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. On 19 January 2025, the first phase of the OTS Hokkō Technoport Line opened to Yumeshima Station in preparation for Expo 2025 to be held on the artificial island of Yumeshima.

Future plans

The is a planned extension of the Chūō Line from Cosmosquare on to Yumeshima, Maishima Sports Island and. Phase 1, consisting of a one-stop extension to Yumeshima Station, opened on 19 January 2025, ahead of the opening of the Osaka 2025 Expo.
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.

Line data

  • Above-ground section: west of Ōsakakō to west of Awaza; east of Aramoto
  • Block signalling: Automatic
  • Train protection system: WS-ATC
  • Cars per train: 6
  • Maximum possible cars per train : 8

    Stations

Rolling stock

Osaka Metro

All rolling stock have a maximum service speed limit of, which is achievable on the Yumeshima–Ōsakakō section as well as on the Keihanna Line, while the Ōsakakō–Nagata section has the standard subway speed limit of. In addition, all rolling stock are equipped with retarders to negotiate the continuous gradients of the Ikoma Tunnel of the Keihanna Line.
The Osaka Metro rolling stock are stored at Morinomiya Depot, while the Kintetsu Railway rolling stock are based at Higashi-Hanazono and Tomigaoka Depots located on the Keihanna Line. Since 2016, after heavier repairs and maintenance of all third-rail-powered Osaka Metro rolling stock have been consolidated at Midorigi Depot on the Yotsubashi Line, Chūō Line rolling stock owned by Osaka Metro are also able to access said depot via a newly-built spur track located before Hommachi Station.

Former