Osaka Higashi Line

The (Literally: Osaka East Line) is a railway line in Osaka, Japan, operated by the West Japan Railway Company (JR-West). 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. Before being named on August 23, 2007, the line was constructed with the tentative name "".

The line is constructed and owned by the 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. The Kita-Umeda extension will open in 2023, replacing the above-ground Umeda Freight Line.

History

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. (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. But because of problems with the illegal occupation of a site, construction of the northern part was delayed. Construction of the northern segment started in 2011 and the section between Shin-Osaka and Hanaten has opened on 16 March 2019.

Future plans

Incorporated into the second phase of the Osaka Higashi Line project is the construction of underground platforms at Osaka Station (known as Ume-kita). 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.

As of December 2022, track switching work will take place between 11 February and 13 February 2023, with the underground platforms beginning operation later in the year. Once track switching is complete, trains will use the new underground tracks while bypassing the underground platforms.

Stations

*● : Direct Rapid service stops here
*, : Direct Rapid service does not stop here

;Notes:

Rolling stock

Passenger

* 207 series (used for Direct Rapid Services since March 12, 2011)
* 321 series (used for Direct Rapid Services)
* 221 series (from 12 March 2022)

Former

* 103 series (until 2018)
* 201 series (until 11 March 2022)
* 223-6000 series (used for Direct Rapid Services from March 15, 2008, until March 11, 2011)

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

Locomotives seen hauling freight trains include the DD51, DE10, EF66, EF81 and EF210.

File:JNR DD51 831 20011120.jpg, A DD51 locomotive on the Osaka Higashi Line in November 2001
File:EF81-627 Akagawa.jpg, An EF81 locomotive on the Akagawa Bridge in August 2013

See also

* Musashino Line, in the Tokyo area
* Aichi Loop Line

References

External links

Osaka Soto-Kanjo Railway Co., Ltd.

{{West Japan Railway Company Lines

Rail transport in Osaka Prefecture
Lines of West Japan Railway Company
Railway lines opened in 1929
1067 mm gauge railways in Japan