Osaka Metro

The Template:Nihongo is a major rapid transit system in the Osaka metropolitan area of Japan, operated by the Osaka Metro Company, Ltd. It serves the city of Osaka and the adjacent municipalities of Higashiosaka, Kadoma, Moriguchi, Sakai, Suita, and Yao. Osaka Metro forms an integral part of the extensive mass transit system of Greater Osaka (part of the Kansai region), having 123<ref name="overview" /> out of the 1,108 rail stations (2007) in the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto region.<ref>MiSoL ASP会員サービス・アプリケーション概要 Template:Webarchive</ref> In 2010, the greater Osaka region had 13 million rail passengers daily (see Transport in Keihanshin) of which the Osaka Municipal Subway (as it was then known) accounted for 2.29 million.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Osaka Metro is the only subway system in Japan to be partially legally classified as a tram system,Template:Efn whereas all other subway systems in Japan are legally classified as railways. Despite this, it has all the characteristics typical of a full-fledged metro system.<ref name="tetsuyou"/>

Overview

The network's first service, the Midōsuji Line from Template:STN to Template:STN, opened in 1933.<ref name="railfan576">Template:Cite magazine</ref> As a north–south trunk route, it is the oldest and busiest line in the whole network.<ref name="most crowded train lines Osaka">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="大阪府内で働く人の通勤時間">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=overview /> Both it and the main east–west route, the Chūō Line, were later extended to the north and east, respectively. These extensions are owned by other railway companies, but both Osaka Metro and these private operators run their own set of trains through between the two sections.

All but one of the remaining lines of the network, including the Yotsubashi Line, Tanimachi Line, and Sennichimae Line, are completely independent lines with no through services. The lone exception is the Sakaisuji Line, which operates through trains to existing Hankyu Railway lines and is the only line to operate through services to existing railway lines that are not isolated from the national rail network (which is the case with the Midōsuji and Chūō Lines). As such, it is not compatible with the rest of the lines.

Nearly all stations have a letter number combination, the letter identifying the line served by the station and the number indicating the relative location of the station on the line. For example, Higobashi Station on the Yotsubashi Line is also known as Y12. This combination is heard in bilingual Japanese-English automated next-station announcements on board all trains, which also provide information on local businesses near the station. Only Hankyu stations served by the Sakaisuji Line do not follow this convention.

Management

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The network is operated by a municipally owned stock company trading as the Osaka Metro Company, Ltd.Template:Efn The Osaka Metro Co. is the direct legal successor to the Osaka Municipal Transportation Bureau, which operated the subway as Template:Nihongo foot; under the Bureau's management, the subway was the oldest publicly operated subway network in Japan, having begun operations in 1933. A proposal to corporatize the Osaka subway was sent to the city government in February 2013 and was given final approval in 2017. The rationale behind corporatization is that it would bring private investors to Osaka and could help revive Osaka's economy. The Osaka Metro Co. was incorporated on June 1, 2017, and took over operations on April 1, 2018.

The Osaka Metro Co. also operates all city buses in Osaka, through its majority-owned subsidiary, the Template:Interlanguage link.

Branding

File:Osaka Metro logo 2.svg

"moving M"

Osaka Metro stations are denoted by the Osaka Metro Co.'s corporate logo, a white-on-dark-blue icon placed at ground-level entrances, depicting an "M" (for "Metro") based on a coiled ribbon, which would form an "O" (for "Osaka") when viewed from the side (this symbol is officially called the "moving M"), with the "Osaka Metro" wordmark set in the Gotham typeface. "Osaka Metro" (in Latin characters) is the official branding in Japanese, and is always represented as such in official media. (News outlets have been seen to use 大阪メトロ, presumably to better flow with article text.) Individual lines are represented by a public-facing name (e.g. "Midōsuji Line" for Rapid Electric Tramway Line No. 1) and a specific color, as well as a single Latin letter, which is paired with a different number at each station for easy identification (see below). Icons for each line (featured in station wayfinding signage) are represented by a solid roundel in the line color, superimposed with the line's letter-designation in the Parisine typeface.

An older branding (also used on the original tram network run by the city until 1969) is the "Mio-Den" mark, which depicts an old-fashioned Template:Nihongo, the logo for Osaka City, over the kanji for Template:Nihongo, short for Template:Nihongo. This mark is still present on newer trainsets and staff uniforms as Osaka Metro retained it as its monsho, as well as a connection to the subway network's roots.

When it was run by the Osaka Municipal Transportation Bureau, the subway used a logo known as the Template:Nihongo symbol, which is a katakana Template:Nihongo for Template:Nihongo superimposed over a circular capital "O" for "Osaka" (see infobox, above). This remained on many older trainsets and at stations, until it was completely replaced by the Osaka Metro logo by 2020.

Lines

Currently, there are eight lines, operating on Template:Convert of track and serving 124 stations; there is also a Template:Convert-long, 10-station automated people mover line known as the "New Tram".<ref name="overview">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Line color	Line icon	Line number	Name	Japanese	First Opened	Last Extension	Length<ref name="overview" />	Stations<ref name="overview" />	Train Length
rowspan=2 style="background:#Template:Rcr;"|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Red	align="center"	Via trackage rights	Kitakyū Namboku Line	北大阪急行電鉄	1970	2024	Template:Convert	6<ref group="Note">Including Esaka Station</ref>	10 cars
Line 1		Midōsuji Line	御堂筋線	1933	1987	Template:Convert	20
style="background:#Template:Rcr;"|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Purple	align="center"	Line 2	Tanimachi Line	谷町線	1967	1983	Template:Convert	26	6 cars
style="background:#Template:Rcr;"|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Blue	align="center"	Line 3	Yotsubashi Line	四つ橋線	1942	1972	Template:Convert	11	6 cars
rowspan=3 style="background:#Template:Rcr;"|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Green	align="center"	Line 4	Chūō Line (Yumehanna)	中央線	1997<ref group="Note">Owned by Osaka Port Transport System between Yumeshima Station and Ōsakakō Station</ref>	2025	Template:Convert	3<ref group="Note">Including Ōsakakō Station</ref>	6 cars
1961<ref group="Note">Between Ōsakakō Station and Nagata Station</ref>					1985	Template:Convert	13
Template:Rcb	Via trackage rights	Keihanna Line (Yumehanna)	近鉄けいはんな線	1986	2006	Template:Convert	8<ref group="Note">Including Nagata Station</ref>
style="background:#Template:Rcr;"|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Pink	align="center"	Line 5	Sennichimae Line	千日前線	1969	1981	Template:Convert	14	4 cars
rowspan=3 style="background:#Template:Rcr;"|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Brown	align="center"	Via trackage rights	Hankyu Senri Line	阪急千里線	1969	–	Template:Convert	11<ref group="Note">Including Tenjimbashisuji Rokuchōme Station</ref>	8 cars<ref group="Note">All through trains onto the Sakaisuji Line are 8 car trains. Trains on the Hankyu lines terminating at Hankyu Umeda can be 7 or 8 cars.</ref>
Hankyu Kyoto Main Line			阪急京都本線	1969<ref group="Note">Between Awaji Station and Kawaramachi Station</ref>	–	Template:Convert	22<ref group="Note">Including Awaji Station</ref>
align="center"	Line 6	Sakaisuji Line	堺筋線	1969	1993	Template:Convert	10	8 cars
style="background:#Template:Rcr;"|Template:Ifsubst style="color:black">Lime Green	align="center"	Line 7	Nagahori Tsurumi-ryokuchi Line	長堀鶴見緑地線	1990Template:Sfn	1997Template:Sfn	Template:Convert	17	4 cars
style="background:#Template:Rcr;"|Template:Ifsubst style="color:black">Orange	align="center"	Line 8	Imazatosuji Line	今里筋線	2006	–	Template:Convert	11	4 cars
TOTAL							Total Length	Total Stations
TOTAL (Subway only – not incl. trackage rights portions):							Template:Convert	124
Subway incl. Kitakyu and Keihanna trackage rights portions):							Template:Cvt	136
Automated people mover
rowspan=2 style="background:#Template:Rcr;"|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Light Blue	File:Osaka Metro Nanko Port Town line symbol.svg	New Tram	Nankō Port Town Line	南港ポートタウン線	1997<ref group="Note">Owned by Osaka Port Transport System between Cosmosquare Station and Trade Center-mae Station</ref>	–	Template:Convert	1<ref group="Note">Including Trade Center-mae Station</ref>	4 cars
1981<ref group="Note">Between Trade Center-mae Station and Suminoekoen Station</ref>					2005	Template:Convert	9
TOTAL (Subway, incl. People Mover):							Template:Convert<ref name="overview" />	134<ref name="overview" />

Table notes

Planned line and extensions

In addition, there are five line extensions and one entirely new line that are planned. However, on August 28, 2014, the Osaka Municipal Transportation Bureau met about creating the extensions of the later five of the six lines listed below, and have stated considering the current cost of the new extensions (and the possibly of privatization at the time), the government has also considered using light rail transit or bus rapid transit instead.<ref name="地下鉄4線延伸">Template:Cite news</ref> Osaka Metro is now experimenting with bus rapid transit on the route of the Imazatosuji Line extension, with "Imazato Liner" service between Imazato and Yuzato-Rokuchōme slated to begin in April 2019.

With Osaka being the host of Expo 2025, a northwest extension to Yumeshima (the event's planned site) opened on 19 January 2025, with long-term plans envisioning a further extension to Sakurajima north of Universal Studios Japan via Maishima Sports Island. Provisions were put in place for such an extension when the Yumesaki Tunnel between Cosmosquare and Yumeshima was built in the late-2000s, but the then-state of the artificial island at the time of the bid (with only industrial facilities and a single convenience store for the workers) meant it would have been unlikely to proceed had Osaka not won said bid.

Line color	Line icon	Line number	Name	Start	Terminus	Length
style="background:#Template:Rcr;"|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Blue	align="center"	Line 3	Yotsubashi Line	Nishi-Umeda	Jūsō, later towards Shin-Ōsaka	Template:Convert (to Jūsō)
rowspan="2" style="background:#Template:Rcr;"|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Green	align="center"	Line 4	Chūō Line	Yumeshima	Sakurajima	(TBD)
Morinomiya				Morinomiya Depot	Template:Convert
style="background:#Template:Rcr;"|Template:Ifsubst style="color:white">Pink	align="center"	Line 5	Sennichimae Line	Minami-Tatsumi	towards Mito	(TBD)
style="background:#Template:Rcr;"|Template:Ifsubst style="color:black">Lime Green	align="center"	Line 7	Nagahori Tsurumi-ryokuchi Line	Taishō	Tsurumachi Yonchōme (vicinity)	Template:Convert
style="background:#Template:Rcr;"|Template:Ifsubst style="color:black">Orange	align="center"	Line 8	Imazatosuji Line	Imazato	Yuzato Rokuchōme	Template:Convert
(TBD)	-	Line 9	Shikitsu–Nagayoshi Line (provisional)	Suminoekōen	Kire-Uriwari	Template:Convert

Technology and rolling stock

Osaka Municipal Subway rolling stock use two types of propulsion systems. The vast majority of lines use trains with conventional electric motors, but the two newest lines, the Nagahori Tsurumi-ryokuchi Line and Imazatosuji Line, use linear motor-powered trains, which allow them to use smaller trains and tunnels, reducing construction costs. These two lines have half-height automatic platform gates installed at all station platforms, as does the Sennichimae Line, the Midosuji Line, and the Sakaisuji Line.<ref name="Sennichimae Line doors">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Also, unlike most other rapid transit networks in Japan (but like the preceding Tokyo Metro Ginza Line [the only rapid transit line in Asia at the time], and the subsequent Marunouchi line, the early lines in Nagoya and the Blue line in Yokohama), most Osaka subway lines use a third rail electrification system for trains. Only three lines use overhead catenary: the Sakaisuji Line, to accommodate through services on Hankyu trackage; and the linear-motor Nagahori Tsurumi-ryokuchi and Imazatosuji Lines. Also unusually, all lines use standard gauge; there are no narrow gauge sections of track due to the network being almost entirely self-enclosed (although Kyoto and Kobe also have entirely standard gauge metros with through services to private railways).

Conventional motored

• 21 series ("New 20 series"): Midōsuji Line
• 22 series ("New 20 series"): Tanimachi Line
• 23 series ("New 20 series"): Yotsubashi Line
• 24 series ("New 20 series"): Chūō Line
• 25 series ("New 20 series"): Sennichimae Line
• 66 series: Sakaisuji Line
• 400 series: Chūō Line
• 30000 series: Tanimachi Line, Midōsuji Line, Chūō Line (30000A series)

Linear motored

• 70 series: Nagahori Tsurumi-ryokuchi Line
• 80 series: Imazatosuji Line, Nagahori Tsurumi-ryokuchi Line

Fares

File:Shinsaibashi Station 4.JPG

Ticket machines and fare maps at Shinsaibashi Station

Osaka Metro charges five types of fares for single rides, based on the distance traveled in each journey.<ref name="tickets">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Some discount fares exist.

Distance travelled	Rates (in yen)<ref name="tickets" />
	Adult	Child
1–3 km	¥190	Template:0¥100
4–7 km	¥240	¥120
8–13 km	¥290	¥150
14–19 km	¥340	¥170
20–25 km	¥390	¥200

Incidents

On April 8, 1970, a gas explosion occurred during an expansion of the Tanimachi Line at Tenjimbashisuji Rokuchōme Station, killing 79 people and injuring 420.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The gas leaked out from a detached joint and filled the tunnel and exploded when a service vehicle's engine sparked over leaking gas, creating a fire column over Template:Convert tall that burned around 30 buildings and damaged or destroyed a total of 495 buildings.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Trivia about Osaka metro

• The Osaka Metro has through service on certain lines, which means that trains from one railway operator directly run onto Osaka Metro tracks (and vice versa) without requiring passengers to change trains at the connecting station. Here are some examples: Midosuji Line, Chuo Line and Sakaisuji Line.
• The Midosuji Line primary utilizes 10-car train sets are essential to handle the consistently high passenger volume
• The Sakaisuji Line is unique in that the 8-car train sets used on the Osaka Metro line are very similar to those operated by the Hankyu Railway.
• The Nagahori Tsurumi-ryokuchi Line and the Imazatosuji Line were the first subway lines in Japan to utilize linear motor propulsion. This technology allows for more compact tunnels and smoother acceleration and deceleration, making them distinct from the other lines.
• The Nagahori Tsurumi-ryokuchi Line is named after 'Tsurumi-ryokuchi' Nagahori Tsurumi-ryokuchi Line comes from Tsurumi Ryokuchi Park, a large public park that was the site of the 1990 International Garden and Greenery Exposition.

See also

• Transport in Keihanshin
• List of Osaka Metro stations
• List of metro systems

References

Citations

• Template:Cite magazine

External links

• Osaka Metro official site (English)
• Osaka Metro route map (PDF) (Archived)