Naniwasuji Line

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Naniwasuji Line
JR logo (west).svgNankai group logo.svg
Overview
Native nameなにわ筋線
OwnerKansai Rapid Railway (Type 3 operator)
LocaleOsaka Prefecture
TerminiŌsaka Station
JR Namba Station (JR West)
Shin-Imamiya Station (Nankai)
Service
Operator(s)JR West
Nankai Electric Railway Co., Ltd.
History
Planned opening2031 (tentative)
Technical
Line length7.2 km (4.5 mi)
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification1,500 V DC, overhead lines

The Naniwasuji Line (なにわ筋線, Naniwasuji-sen) is the tentative name for a planned underground heavy rail line, which will run north-south through Osaka City, primarily under the avenue Naniwa-suji.[1] It has long been pursued by West Japan Railway Company (JR West) and Nankai Railway in order to connect the Yamatoji Line (Kansai Main Line) and Nankai Main Line with Shin-Osaka Station, greatly enhancing both companies' connections to Kansai Airport and Wakayama Prefecture.[2] As of 2017, construction is expected to begin within the next few years and last until spring 2031.

Background[]

While both JR and Nankai operate trains to Wakayama (via the Hanwa Line and the Nankai Main Line, respectively) and to Kansai Airport (both via the Kansai Airport Line), neither route is ideal. For JR, trains must use the Osaka Loop Line past Tennoji Station, both creating and being affected by delays on that line, and bypassing JR Namba Station, the company's closest link to Osaka's commercial center. Additionally, express trains to Shin-Osaka and Kyoto must use the Umeda Freight Line, bypassing Osaka Station entirely. For Nankai, all trains go direct to its terminal in Namba, precluding links to points further north.

Plans were drawn up in the mid-2000s to alleviate the problems for both companies through the construction of a new underground line, primarily under the north-south thoroughfare Naniwa-suji (hence the name), branching at its south end to connect both the Yamatoji Line (Kansai Main Line) terminal at JR Namba, and a Nankai line, with Shin-Osaka via a new underground route through what was then the Umeda Freight Terminal.[3] The Umeda portion of this plan was eventually incorporated into Phase II of the Osaka Higashi Line, with provisions in place for eventual construction of the Naniwasuji Line itself.

Ridership on the line from the two companies is expected to reach approximately 240,000 people per day.[4]

JR West[]

The issue surrounding Osaka Station for JR is set to be alleviated in fiscal 2022 with the opening of the first section (incorporated into the Osaka Higashi Line project, although construction delays have pushed its opening back 4 years compared to the rest of Phase II), which will terminate at new underground platforms of Osaka Station on a route replacing the aboveground Umeda Freight Line. Without constructing an entirely new line through central Osaka, however, the other problems remain.

JR West is expected to be in charge of the section between Umeda Station and JR Namba Station.

Hankyu Railway[]

Hankyu Railway has also announced tentative plans to build a new underground line connecting the Naniwasuji Line to Juso and possibly a Shin-Osaka Station of its own.

Nankai Railway[]

Early plans for Nankai called for moving the Shiomibashi Line (the northern end of the Kōya Line) underground and connecting to the Naniwasuji Line via Shiomibashi Station (thus upgrading and increasing traffic on an otherwise lightly traveled, local route), but the company ultimately rejected this routing in favor of one via a new underground station at Namba.[5]

Current Plans[]

Current plans are to begin construction once the Osaka Higashi Line opens to Osaka Station, with completion anticipated in spring 2031.[6] Total construction costs, including provisions for the line at Kita-Umeda, are projected to total some 330 billion yen.[4] In the interim, JR passenger trains will use a single-track freight spur from Osaka Station to join the Osaka Loop Line at Nishi-Kujō, much as they do now.

On July 9, 2019, the railway business was approved by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transportation under the railway business act.[1] Construction of the project was approved in February 2020.[7]

Stations[]

Excluding the northern terminus at the new underground platforms of Osaka Station (opening in 2023 for the Osaka Higashi Line) and the existing JR Namba, three stations (all names tentative) are to be constructed: Nakanoshima (in the vicinity of the Keihan station), (likely near Chuo-Odori and Utsubo Park), and (underground in the vicinity of Nankai Namba, potentially underneath the "Carnival Mall" approach to the Namba Parks shopping mall). The line will also pass through the vicinity of Fukushima (Osaka Loop Line, Hanshin Main Line), Shin-Fukushima (JR Tozai Line) and Nishiōhashi (Osaka Metro Nagahori Tsurumi-ryokuchi Line), although no stations are currently planned for these locations.[4]

Gallery[]

  • Space at JR Namba Station reserved for the Naniwasuji Line

  • Underground platforms at Osaka Station under construction in 2019

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b "なにわ筋線「北梅田～ＪＲ難波・南海新今宮」の鉄道事業許可" [Railway business license for Naniwasuji Line "Kita Umeda-JR Namba / Nankai Shin-Imamiya"] (PDF). Japan Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport (MLIT) (in Japanese). July 9, 2019. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
  2. ^ "地下鉄なにわ筋線整備へ 橋下知事と金子国交相会談" [Governors Hashimoto and Kaneko Discuss Naniwasuji Line Construction]. 産経新聞 (in Japanese). February 21, 2009. Archived from the original on February 24, 2009. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
  3. ^ "運輸政策審議会 答申図（三大都市圏） - 大阪圏" [Transport Policy Council Report Map (Three Major Metropolitan Areas) - Osaka Area] (PDF). Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transportation (in Japanese). March 10, 2007. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b c "なにわ筋線事業計画に係る都市計画素案説明会（2019年3月）" [City Planning Briefing Session on Naniwasuji Line Construction (March 2019)] (PDF) (in Japanese). March 2019. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
  5. ^ "南海高野線の汐見橋-木津川間を地下化 なにわ筋線竣工時に" [Underground Between Kizugawa and Shiomibashi on the Nankai Koya Line - When the Naniwasuji Line is completed]. 朝日新聞 (The Asahi Shimbun) (in Japanese). August 17, 1990. p. 3.
  6. ^ 正樹, 佐藤 (July 9, 2019). "大阪の南北を結ぶ「なにわ筋線」の建設が正式にスタートへ…開業は2031年度春を予定" [Construction of "Naniwasuji Line" Connecting North and South of Osaka Officially Starts, Opening is Scheduled for Spring 2031]. response.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved February 7, 2020.
  7. ^ "なにわ筋線の工事施行認可を取得しました" [Approval Obtained for Construction of the Naniwasuji Line] (PDF). kr-railway.co.jp (in Japanese). February 28, 2020. Retrieved February 7, 2021.

External links[]

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