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.
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.[4]
Line data
Above-ground section: west of Ōsakakō to west of Awaza; east of Aramoto (Keihanna Line)
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.
^"大阪市高速電気軌道，中央線延伸部の開業日を2025年1月19日に決定" [Osaka Municipal Subway sets opening date for Chuo Line extension on January 19, 2025]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). September 6, 2024. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
^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.
^「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.
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