Nara Line (Kintetsu)

The Nara Line (奈良線, Nara sen) is a Japanese railway line owned by the Kintetsu Railway. The line connects Fuse Station in the eastern suburbs of Osaka to Kintetsu Nara Station in the historic city of Nara, though operationally, the line begins at Ōsaka Namba Station on the Namba Line.[1] Additionally, some trains run through-services starting at Kobe Sannomiya Station on the Hanshin Railway Main Line in Kobe.[1] Eastern satellite cities such as Higashiosaka and Ikoma are connected by the line.[1] This line is more direct than the JR line between Osaka and Nara.[2]

Nara Line
A Kintetsu 8000 series on the Nara Line
Overview
Native name奈良線
OwnerThe logo of the Kintetsu Railway Company. Kintetsu Railway
Line numberA
Locale
Termini
Stations19
Color on map     (#c22047)
Service
Type
SystemThe logo of the Kintetsu Railway Company. Kintetsu Railway
Operator(s)Kintetsu Railway
Depot(s)Higashi-Hanazono
Saidaiji
History
OpenedApril 30, 1914 (1914-04-30)
Technical
Track length26.7 km (16.6 mi)
Number of tracksDouble-track
Character
  • Heavy rail
  • Commuter rail
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge
Electrification1,500 V DC (Overhead lines)
Operating speed105 km/h (65 mph)
SignallingAutomatic closed block
Train protection systemKintetsu ATS
Maximum incline3.57%
Nara Line Route map

Lines of Kintetsu unless noted

JR Namba
Osaka Metro: Yotsubashi Line
6.1
0.0
A01 Ōsaka Namba
( Osaka Metro: Namba)
Osaka Metro: Midōsuji Line
Nankai: Nankai Main, Koya lines (Namba)
The logo of the Kintetsu Railway Company. A Kintetsu Namba Line
Osaka Metro: Sakaisuji Line
Nippombashi
5.3
0.8
A02 Kintetsu Nippombashi
Osaka Metro: Tanimachi Line
Tanimachi Kyūchōme
4.1
2.0
A03 Osaka Uehommachi
Down arrow D Osaka Line
3.0
3.1
A04 Tsuruhashi
1.3
4.8
A05 Imazato
0.0
6.1
A06 Fuse
Down arrow Nara Line
Left arrow D Osaka Line
JR Kawachi-Eiwa
0.8
6.9
A07 Kawachi-Eiwa
1.6
7.7
A08 Kawachi-Kosaka
2.4
8.5
A09 Yaenosato
Yaenosato Depot
abandoned in 1967
Kinki Expressway
Tamagawa Workshop
abandoned 1982
4.1
10.2
A10 Wakae-Iwata
5.0
11.1
A11 Kawachi-Hanazono
5.8
11.9
A12 Higashi-Hanazono
Higashi-Hanazono Inspection Depot
7.0
13.1
A13 Hyōtan-yama
8.3
14.4
A14 Hiraoka
9.0
15.1
A15 Nukata
10.1
16.2
A16 Ishikiri
10.6
16.7
Kusaezaka
abandoned in 1964
New Ikoma Tunnel (3,494m)
Ikoma Tunnel
Osaka
Nara
14.2
20.3
A17 Ikoma
15.4
21.5
A18 Higashi-Ikoma
Higashi-Ikoma Signal Box
Keihanna Line to Gakken Nara-Tomigaoka
Higashi-Hanazono Inspection Higashi-Ikoma Depot
New Ōtani Tunnel
17.7
23.8
A19 Tomio
19.1
25.2
A20 Gakuen-mae
20.1
26.2
A21 Ayameike
22.3
28.4
A26 Yamato-Saidaiji
Saidaiji Inspection Depot
(Extra) Camp Car
1947-1951
25.0
31.1
A27 Shin-Ōmiya
Logo of the West Railway Company (JR West) JR West: Q Yamatoji Line (V Kansai Main Line)
Logo of the West Railway Company (JR West) JR West: Kansai Main Line former route
25.9
32.0
Aburasaka
abandoned in 1969
26.7
32.8
A28 Kintetsu Nara

History

The line was opened by Osaka Electric Railway Company (大阪電気軌道, Osaka Denki Kidō) in 1914, dual track and electrified at 600 VDC.[2]

Whereas the JR West Yamatoji Line routes south of the Ikoma mountain range to connect Osaka and Nara, the Kintetsu Nara Line uses a 3.4 km (2.1 mi) tunnel through the Ikoma mountain range.[2] As a result, the Kintetsu route is more direct and has allowed municipalities along the line such as Ikoma to flourish as major commuter hubs. To respond to high demand, the railway operates services with up to ten cars long during the peak hours operating as rapid and limited express services.[2] Because of the direct routing, the Nara Line is highly regarded for being the most important commuter rail route in the Kinki region.[2] Higher demand over the years has gradually lead to a reduction of faster midday services as Kintetsu moved to a higher frequency of limited express trains during peak hours.[2]

In 1969 the voltage was increased to 1500 VDC, and in 1970 the Namba Line was opened, and the operational starting station of the Line moved to Kintetsu Namba Station, from Uehonmachi Station of Osaka Line.

Operation

Trains run to and from the Kintetsu Namba Line and the Hanshin Namba Line, and lead to Osaka Namba Station and Amagasaki Station, and Rapid Express trains also to Kobe Sannomiya Station on the Hanshin Main Line. Between Yamato-Saidaiji and Kintetsu Nara, through trains of the Kyoto Line also run.[3]

Local trains
Amagasaki (Hanshin) or Ōsaka Namba - Higashi-Hanazono or Yamato-Saidaiji (partly Kintetsu Nara)
in the morning and the evening:Amagasaki (Hanshin) or Ōsaka Namba - Hyotan-yama or Higashi-Ikoma
partly: Amagasaki (Hanshin) or Ōsaka Namba - Ishikiri
partly: Yamato-Saidaiji - Kintetsu Nara
only one train: Ikoma → Yamato-Saidaiji (as the last connection from the last limited express train from Osaka for Nara)
Suburban Semi-Express trains
Amagasaki (Hanshin) or Ōsaka Namba - Yamato-Saidaiji or Kintetsu Nara
Semi-Express trains
Amagasaki (Hanshin) or Ōsaka Namba - Yamato-Saidaiji or Kintetsu Nara
Express trains, Limited Express trains
Ōsaka Namba - Kintetsu Nara
Rapid Express trains
Kobe Sannomiya (Hanshin) or Amagasaki (Hanshin) or Ōsaka Namba - Kintetsu Nara

Stations

  • ●: Trains stop.
  • |: Trains pass.
  • ▲: Trains stop when the large events are held at Kintetsu Hanazono Rugby Stadium.
  • ※: One rapid express train for Nara stops at Ayameike on school days for Kinki University Elementary School and Kinki University Kindergarten.
  • Local trains (普通, Futsū or 各駅停車, Kakueki-teisha) stop at every station.
line name No. Station name Japanese Suburban Semi-Express Semi-Express Express Rapid Express Limited Express Transfers Location
Through service to Hanshin Namba Line:
from Ōsaka Namba
  • Local, Suburban Semi-Express, Semi-Express: to Amagasaki on the Hanshin Namba Line
  • Rapid Express: to Kobe Sannomiya via Amagasaki on the Hanshin Main Line (3 trains start from Shinkaichi on the Kobe Kosoku Line on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.)
Namba Line  A01  Ōsaka Namba 大阪難波 Chūō-ku,
Osaka
Osaka
Prefecture
 A02  Kintetsu Nippombashi 近鉄日本橋 | Osaka Metro (Nippombashi)
 A03  Ōsaka Uehommachi
(Kintetsu Department Store Uehommachi)
大阪上本町 Osaka Metro (Tanimachi Kyūchōme) Tennoji-ku,
Osaka
Osaka Line
 A04  Tsuruhashi 鶴橋 |
Ikuno-ku,
Osaka
 A05  Imazato 今里 | | | | |
 A06  Fuse 布施 | | D Osaka Line (D06) Higashi-Osaka
 A07  Kawachi-Eiwa 河内永和 | | | | | F Osaka Higashi Line (JR-F10: JR Kawachi-Eiwa)
 A08  Kawachi-Kosaka
(Osaka University of Commerce, Osaka Shoin Women's University)
河内小坂 | | |
 A09  Yaenosato 八戸ノ里 | | | | |
 A10 
Provisional
Uryūdō (Tentative, Planned) 瓜生堂(仮称) Osaka Monorail Main Line (proposed extension)
 A10  Wakae-Iwata 若江岩田 | | | | |
 A11  Kawachi-Hanazono 河内花園 | | | | |
 A12  Higashi-Hanazono
(Hanazono Rugby Stadium)
東花園 |
 A13  Hyōtan-yama 瓢箪山 | | | |
 A14  Hiraoka 枚岡 | | | |
 A15  Nukata 額田 | | | |
 A16  Ishikiri 石切 | |
 A17  Ikoma 生駒 Ikoma Nara
Prefecture
 A18  Higashi-Ikoma
(Tezukayama University Higashi-Ikoma Campus)
東生駒 | | |
 A19  Tomio 富雄 | | | Nara
 A20  Gakuen-mae
(Tezukayama Gakuen)
学園前
 A21  Ayameike 菖蒲池 | |
Through service to: From Yamato-Saidaiji:
Osaka Line  A26  Yamato-Saidaiji 大和西大寺 Nara Nara
Prefecture
 A27  Shin-Ōmiya 新大宮 |
 A28  Kintetsu Nara 近鉄奈良

Kintetsu Namba Line

Namba Line
Overview
Native name難波線
Line number A 
LocaleOsaka
Termini
  • Osaka Uehommachi
  • Ōsaka Namba
Stations3
Service
TypeHeavy rail
Operator(s)Kintetsu Railway
History
OpenedMarch 15, 1970 (1970-03-15)
Technical
Line length2.0 km (1.2 mi)
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in)
Electrification1,500 V DC, overhead lines
Operating speed80 km/h (50 mph)

The Namba Line (難波線, Nanba Sen) is an underground railway line owned by the Kintetsu Railway in Osaka, Japan, and opened in 1970. It is an extension of the Osaka Line and the Nara Line. The line is parallel to the Osaka Municipal Subway Sennichimae Line (Namba - Tanimachi Kyuchome). Along with the commuter trains of the Nara Line and the Hanshin Namba Line, some intercity trains including the "Urban Liner" connecting Osaka and Nagoya, also run on the line.

References

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