Midōsuji Line

The Midōsuji Line (御堂筋線, Midōsuji-sen) is a rapid transit line in Osaka, Japan, operated by Osaka Metro. Constructed under Midōsuji, a major north-south street, it is the oldest line in the Osaka subway system and the second oldest in Japan, following the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line. Its official name is Rapid Electric Tramway Line No. 1 (高速電気軌道第1号線), while the Osaka Municipal Transportation Bureau refers to it as Osaka City Rapid Railway Line No. 1 (大阪市高速鉄道第1号線), and in MLIT publications it is referred to as Line No. 1 (Midōsuji Line) (1号線（御堂筋線）). On line maps, stations on the Midōsuji Line are indicated with the letter "M".

North of Nakatsu it runs above ground in the median of Shin-midōsuji, an elevated freeway.

The section between Minoh-kayano and Esaka is owned and operated by Kita-Osaka Kyuko Railway (北大阪急行電鉄, Kita Osaka Dentetsu), but is seamless to the passengers except with respect to fare calculations.

In June 2018, the Midōsuji Line is the most congested railway line in the Kansai region of Japan,^[2] at its peak running at 151% capacity between Umeda and Yodoyabashi stations.

The Midōsuji Line was the first subway line in Osaka and the first government-operated subway line in Japan. Its construction was partly an effort to give work to the many unemployed people in Osaka during the early 1930s. The initial tunnel from Umeda to Shinsaibashi, as well as the Umeda depot, were constructed entirely by hand and opened in 1933 after being initially plagued by cave-ins and water leakage caused by the poor composition of the earth below northern Osaka and the equally poor engineering skills of the work crew.^[3] The first cars were hauled onto the line by manpower and pack animals from the Government Railway tracks near Umeda.

Although the line only operated with single cars at first, its stations were designed from the outset to handle trains of up to eight cars. The line was gradually extended over the next few decades, completing its current length in 1987, making it the second-longest subway line in Osaka after the Tanimachi Line (excluding the Kita-Osaka Kyūkō Railway extension of the Midōsuji Line).

• 20 May 1933 – Umeda (temporary station) – Shinsaibashi (opening).^[4] Trains started running in single car formation on a single track.
• 6 October 1935 – Umeda Station (present station) opened. Trains started running on two tracks.
• 30 October 1935 – Shinsaibashi – Namba (opening). Trains started running in 2-car formation.^[5]
• 21 April 1938 – Namba – Tennōji (opening). Trains started running in 3-car formation.

• Construction stopped during World War II.
• 20 December 1951 – Tennōji – Shōwachō (opening)
• 5 October 1952 – Shōwachō – Nishitanabe (opening)
• 1 August 1953 – Trains started running in 4-car formation.
• 1 April 1957 – Trains started running in 5-car formation.
• 1 May 1958 – Trains started running in 6-car formation.
• 1 July 1960 – Nishitanabe – Abiko (opening)^[6]
• 1 June 1963 – Trains started running in 8-car formation.
• 1963 – Highest-ever crush load capacity on the Midōsuji Line recorded at 264% on the Namba – Shinsaibashi section.
• 1 September 1964 – Umeda – Shin-Osaka (opening)
• 29 August 1968 – 30 series EMUs began operation.^[7]
• 24 February 1970 – Shin-Osaka – Esaka together with Kita-Osaka Kyuko Railway (Kitakyu) (opening). Automatic Train Control and cab signalling replaced the previous mechanical Automatic Train Stop train protection system.
• 1 April 1971 – Centralized traffic control introduced.
• 16 February 1976 – 10 series EMUs begin operation.
• 18 April 1987 – Abiko – Nakamozu (opening).^[8] Refurbishment of stations to accommodate 9-car trainsets began.^[9]
• 24 August 1987, Refurbishment of stations complete, hence all trains were regrouped into 9-car formation.
• 14 May 1991 – 21 series EMUs begin operation.
• 1993 – All trains on the Midōsuji Line are fully air-conditioned after the withdrawal of the 30 series and the Kitakyū 2000 series the same year.
• 9 December 1995 – Refurbishment of stations to accommodate 10-car trainsets began.
• 1 September 1996 – Refurbishment of stations completed, hence all trains were regrouped into 10-car formation.
• 11 November 2002 – Women-only cars were introduced.
• December 2011 – 30000 series EMUs entered service.
• 14 February 2015 – First half-height platform screen doors installed at Tennōji Station.^[10]
• 27 March 2020 – First three sets of 30000 series EMUs equipped with on-board Wi-Fi.^[11]
• 2021 – TASC implemented on the Midōsuji Line.
• 5 March 2022 – Platform screen doors retrofit work completed on the Midōsuji Line.^[12]
• 4 July 2022 – Last 10 series EMU retired from service.

• Above-ground section: north of Nakatsu to Esaka; Esaka to south of Senri-Chūō; (Kita-Osaka Kyuko Railway)
• Block signalling: Automatic
• Train protection system: WS-ATC
• Cars per train: 10 (1996 – present)^[13]
• Stations equipped with platform screen doors: all^[14]

All stations are located within Osaka Prefecture.

Fares vary according to travel distance, ranging from 190 to 390 yen for adults and from 100 to 200 yen for children. As the distance increases, the fare rises in stages.^[15] Passengers also have the added option of using IC e-cards.^[16]

Commuter passes come in the form of IC e-cards and can be purchased at Umeda station, Namba station, or Tennoji station at their respective sales counters or at the pink self-service machines in any station. Passes are available for 1-month, 3-month, and 6-month durations. Commuter pass prices vary depending on the duration and distance traveled in a designated route. Discounts are also available for students and children.^[17]

Reference: ^[18][19]

Since 1987, all Midōsuji Line rolling stock operated by Osaka Metro are stored and maintained at Nakamozu Depot, the first underground depot in the Osaka Metro system. The first depot for the Midōsuji Line was located near Umeda station, which was replaced by Abeno Depot in 1950, Nagai Depot in 1954 (now used mainly for maintenance-of-way vehicles), and Abiko Depot in 1960 (closed in 1987). Since 2016, it is also possible for Midōsuji Line rolling stock to access Midorigi Depot on the Yotsubashi Line via pointworks before Daikokuchō station, after heavier repairs and maintenance of all third-rail-powered Osaka Metro rolling stock were consolidated there.

• 21 series (since 1991)
• 30000 series (since 10 December 2011)^[20]
• Kita-Osaka Kyuko 8000 series (since 1987)
• Kita-Osaka Kyuko 9000 series (since 28 April 2014)^[21]

• Midōsuji Line 30000 series set 31904 in April 2018
• Kita-Osaka Kyuko 8000 series in April 2018
• Kita-Osaka Kyuko 9000 series in May 2014

• 100 series (1933–1969)
• 200 series (1935–1969)
• 300 series (1938–1969)
• 400 series (1943–1969)
• 500 series (1949–1969)
• 600 series (1951–1969)
• 1000 series (1953–1969)
• 1100 series (1957–1969)
• 1200 series (1958–1969)
• 50 series (1960–1969)
• 30 series (1968–1993)
• 10/10A series (1973–2022)
• Kitakyū 7000/8000 series (1969–1970)
• Kitakyū 2000 series (1969–1993)

• A preserved 100 series car, November 2006
• 30 series on the Midōsuji Line, c.1987
• Midōsuji Line 10A series EMU in April 2018

Women-only cars were introduced on the line from 11 November 2002. There is one such designated car in each train (Car No. 6), the use of which is restricted all day on weekdays.

• Media related to Midōsuji Line at Wikimedia Commons