The Osaka Higashi Line (おおさか東線, Ōsaka-Higashi-sen) (Literally: Osaka East Line) is a railway line in Osaka, Japan, operated by the West Japan Railway Company (JR-West). The line connects Ōsaka Station in northern Osaka with Kyūhōji Station in Yao, forming an arc around the northern and eastern suburbs of the city. Before being named on August 23, 2007, the line was constructed with the tentative name "Osaka Outer Loop Line (大阪外環状線, Ōsaka-soto-kanjōsen)".

Osaka Higashi Line
A 221 series EMU on a Local service in March 2022
Overview
Native nameおおさか東線
OwnerOsaka Soto-Kanjo Railway Co., Ltd.
LocaleOsaka Prefecture
Termini
  • Ōsaka
  • Kyūhōji
Stations15
Service
TypeHeavy rail
SystemUrban Network
Operator(s)JR-West
JR Freight
Depot(s)Aboshi
Rolling stock221 series EMU
History
Opened
  • 15 March 1929 (as Katamachi Freight Branch Line)
  • 15 March 2008 (as Osaka Higashi Line)
Technical
Line length20.2 km (12.6 mi)
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification1,500 V DC (overhead lines)
Operating speed120 km/h (75 mph)
Route map

Umeda Freight Line
Umeda Signal Box (formerly JR Freight Umeda Freight Terminal)
–2023
 JR-F01  Ōsaka
old Umeda Freight Line
–2023
Tōkaidō Main Line (JR Kyoto Line)
Old Tōkaidō Line
Spur track to Miyahara Depot
0.0
 JR-F02  Shin-Ōsaka
Hoppō Freight Line
Osaka Metro: Midōsuji Line
Kanzaki River
 JR-F03  Minami-Suita
LeftJōtō Freight Line
Kanzakigawa Signal Box
10.3
Senri Signal Box
–1982
10.7
Suita
Suita Freight Terminal
Kanzaki River
Tōkaidō Shinkansen
Hankyu Kyoto Line
 JR-F04  JR-Awaji
Akagawa Bridge
Yodogawa River
5.7
Miyakojima Signal Box
–1982
 JR-F05  Shirokitakōendōri
 JR-F06  JR-Noe
Yodogawa Freight Line and Sakuranomiya Line
2.9
Tatsumi Signal Box
−1982
UpJōtō Freight Line
Katamachi Line (Gakkentoshi Line)
Neya River
 JR-F07  Shigino
Osaka Metro: Imazatosuji Line
11.1
0.0
 JR-F08  Hanaten
Katamachi Line (Gakkentoshi Line)
Daini Neya River
Aboshi Depot Hanaten Branch
12.8
1.7
 JR-F09  Takaida-Chūō
Osaka Metro: Chūō Line (Takaida)
14.4
3.3
 JR-F10  JR Kawachi-Eiwa
15.0
3.9
 JR-F11  JR Shuntokumichi
Shuntokumichi Signal Box
2007–2008
16.0
4.9
 JR-F12  JR Nagase
Hagusa Signal Box
–2003
 JR-F13  Kizuri-Kamikita
Shōgakuji Signal Box
South Jōtō Freight Line
(see inset below)
Old Jōtō Freight Line
(see inset below)
18.7
7.6
 JR-F14  Shin-Kami
LeftHanwa Freight Line
20.3
9.2
 JR-F15  Kyūhōji
Ryūge Signal Box
–1997
10.4
Yao

Old Jōtō Freight Line
0.0
Shōgakuji Signal Box
Osaka Higashi Line
Kansai Main Line (Yamatoji Line)
Jōtō Freight–Yamatoji connection
Kutara No. 1 Signal Box
1.5
Hirano
Jōtō Freight–Yamatoji connexion
Kudara Freight Terminal
Kudarashijō –1984

The line is constructed and owned by the Osaka Soto-Kanjo Railway Co., Ltd. (大阪外環状鉄道株式会社, Ōsaka Sotokanjō Tetsudō Kabushiki Kaisha) as a Category-3 railway business under the Railway Business Act of Japan. JR-West and JR Freight operate trains as Category-2 railway business.[citation needed] The Kita-Umeda extension opened on March 18, 2023, replacing the above-ground Umeda Freight Line.

History

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Conceived in the 1950s during Japan's explosive postwar economic growth, it was planned as a grand "outer loop" of the city, using existing freight lines to link Amagasaki with Shin-Osaka, Suita, Awaji, Hanaten, Kami, Uriwari and Sugimotochō, with a newly constructed segment into Osaka's (then primarily industrial) Nankō Port Town. However, with JNR's financial situation deteriorating catastrophically (culminating in its privatization) and continuing issues surrounding land acquisition and squatting by local residents on railway property, the plan was cut back to Shin-Osaka and Kami, terminating at Kyūhōji in the south.[citation needed] (The Hanwa Freight Line, which would have carried the southern segment from Kami to Sugimotochō, was officially abandoned by JR Freight in 2009.) The line connects Shin-Osaka Station in northern Osaka with Kyūhōji Station in Yao, forming an arc around the northern and eastern suburbs of the city.

The southern part opened on 15 March 2008.[1][clarification needed] But because of problems with the illegal occupation of a site, construction of the northern part was delayed.[2] Construction of the northern segment started in 2011 and the section between Shin-Osaka and Hanaten has opened on 16 March 2019.[3][4]

Incorporated into the second phase of the Osaka Higashi Line project is the construction of underground platforms at Osaka Station (known as Umekita).[5] The project provides the basis for the future Naniwasuji Line while also providing a small shortcut on current services on the Haruka and Kuroshio limited express trains.

In February 2023, track switching work took place between the 11th and 13th of that month.[6] The underground platforms began operation later in the year on 18 March.[7]

Stations

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  • ● : Direct Rapid service stops here
  • | : Direct Rapid service does not stop here

Local trains stop at all stations. For limited express Mahoroba, please see their respective article.

No. Station Japanese Distance (km) Direct Rapid Transfers Location
Between Stations Total
 JR-F01  Ōsaka 大阪 3.8 3.8

  JR Kōbe Line (JR-A47)

  JR Takarazuka Line (JR-G47)

  Osaka Loop Line (JR-O11)

From Osaka-umeda Station:

From Osaka-Umeda Station:

From Umeda Station:

From Higashi-Umeda Station:

From Nishi-Umeda Station:

From Kitashinchi Station:

Kita-ku, Osaka
 JR-F02  Shin-Ōsaka 新大阪 - 0.0   JR Kyoto Line (JR-A46)

   TokaidoSanyo Shinkansen

  Osaka Metro Midōsuji Line (M13)

Yodogawa-ku, Osaka
 JR-F03  Minami-Suita 南吹田 2.0 2.0 |   Suita
 JR-F04  JR-Awaji JR淡路 1.3 3.3 From Awaji Station: Higashiyodogawa-ku, Osaka
 JR-F05  Shirokitakōendōri 城北公園通 2.1 5.4 |   Miyakojima-ku, Osaka
 JR-F06  JR-Noe JR野江 2.2 7.6 | From Noe Station:

  Keihan Main Line (KH-05)

From Noe-Uchindai Station:

  Osaka Metro Tanimachi Line (T16)

Joto-ku, Osaka
 JR-F07  Shigino 鴫野 1.8 9.4 |   Katamachi Line (Gakkentoshi Line, JR-H40)

  Osaka Metro Imazatosuji Line

 JR-F08  Hanaten 放出 1.6 11.0   Katamachi Line (Gakkentoshi Line, JR-H39) Tsurumi-ku, Osaka
 JR-F09  Takaida-Chūō 高井田中央 1.7 12.7 From Takaida Station:

  Osaka Metro Chuo Line (C22)

Higashiosaka, Osaka
 JR-F10  JR Kawachi-Eiwa JR河内永和 1.6 14.3 From Kawachi-Eiwa Station

 A  Kintetsu Nara Line (A07)

 JR-F11  JR Shuntokumichi JR俊徳道 0.6 14.9 | From Shuntokumichi Station:

 D  Osaka Line (D07)

 JR-F12  JR Nagase JR長瀬 1.0 15.9 |  
 JR-F13  Kizuri-Kamikita 衣摺加美北 1.3 17.2 |  
 JR-F14  Shin-Kami 新加美 1.4 18.6 |   Hirano-ku, Osaka
 JR-F15  Kyūhōji 久宝寺 1.6 20.2   Yamatoji Line (Kansai Main Line) Yao, Osaka
Direct Rapid service through to Nara via the Yamatoji Line
Notes

Rolling stock

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Passenger

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  • 221 series (used for Local services from 12 March 2022 and Direct Rapid services from 18 March 2023)[8][9]

Former

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The 103 and 201 series trains are based at Nara Depot, the 207 series trains are based at Aboshi Depot, while the 223-6000 series trains were based at Miyahara Depot.

Freight

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Locomotives seen hauling freight trains include the DD51, DE10, EF66, EF81 and EF210.[citation needed]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "おおさか東線が開業" [Osaka Higashi Line opens for service]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). March 17, 2008. Archived from the original on November 29, 2023. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  2. ^ "JRおおさか東線、北ヤード乗り入れ、18年度までに開業、150億円追加投資。" (in Japanese). Nihon Keizai Shimbun. January 31, 2009. Retrieved January 31, 2009.[dead link]
  3. ^ "2019年 春ダイヤ改正について" (Press release). 西日本旅客鉄道. December 14, 2018. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
  4. ^ "直結!おおさか東線". jr-odekake.net. March 16, 2019. Archived from the original on March 4, 2019. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
  5. ^ "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. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 22, 2021. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
  6. ^ "「はるか」地下へ切り替え 東海道線、ホーム開業控え工事" [Work Continues at Osaka Umekita as the Haruka Limited Express Is Rerouted Underground]. Yomiuri Shimbun (in Japanese). February 14, 2023. Archived from the original on February 14, 2023. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  7. ^ "梅田貨物線「地下化」来年2月に「うめきた地下ホーム」使用開始に先行" [Umeda Freight Line "Underground ahead of the start of use of "Umekita Underground Platform in February next year]. news.railway-pressnet.com. December 9, 2022. Archived from the original on December 9, 2022. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  8. ^ a b "おおさか東線で221系の運用開始" [221 series starts operation on the Osaka Higashi Line]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. March 12, 2022. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
  9. ^ a b c "おおさか東線の直通快速が221系に" [The direct rapid service on the Osaka Higashi Line becomes the 221 series.]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Koyusha Co., Ltd. March 19, 2023. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
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