Sakurajima Line
Encyclopedia
The is a railway line in Osaka
, Japan, operated by West Japan Railway Company
(JR West) running from Nishikujō Station
to Sakurajima Station
. It is also referred to as the . The entire line lies within Konohana-ku, Osaka
, and it connects the Osaka Loop Line
to Universal Studios Japan
.
The nickname "Yumesaki Line" was determined in a public poll upon the opening of Universal Studios Japan and the Universal City station. While it was not the number one choice, its pleasant sound together with the vision of the area around the Sakurajima Line and USJ being a place where Osaka's dreams were continuing to be born made it the perfect choice.
The line is used primarily by a mix of factory workers and tourists. There is also freight traffic running between Suita and Ajikawaguchi.
. However, as the number of visitors to USJ has been on the decline in recent years, those special trains are only rarely used.
In order to transport riders from USJ smoothly in the event of an accident, trains can be run on a single track along the section from Nishikujō to Universal City. In other words, in the event of an accident on the outbound track, the inbound track can be used for service in both directions. Because of that there are signals mounted in both directions at each station.
In addition, while Universal Express trains make their final stop at Universal City, there is no way for them to switch directions at that station. They must proceed to Sakurajima and then switch directions there.
when it was completed in 1961, with the rest becoming the Sakurajima Line. With the purpose of providing a commuter route for workers in factories along the line as well as for freight, off-peak daytime hours were quiet along the line. This continued until the construction of USJ, which made tourists the main users of the line.
From the end of operations on the Katsuki Line on April 1, 1985 until the beginning of service on the Miyazaki Kūkō Line
on July 18, 1996, the Sakurajima Line was the shortest passenger line among the JR Group companies. (Including freight lines, the shortest at the time was the Shinminato Line
in Toyama Prefecture
.)
Before the move of Sakurajima Station on April 1, 1999, along the Ajikawaguchi to Sakurajima segment there was a movable bridge over the Hokkō Canal. Although there were few instances when the bridge was flooded and service had to be halted, the canal was filled in the 1990s and the bridge has been unused.
When service began at Universal City Station, there were some protests by local residents and business owners to open a new station ("Haruhinode Station") between Nishikujō and Ajikawaguchi stations. However, not enough demand was forecast and plans were shelved.
Because the Sakurajima Line is the main access route for USJ, 103 series 6-car trains are decorated with USJ advertisements.
and EF210
.
Governor
Tōru Hashimoto
announced that he is examining a 4 km extension of the Sakurajima Line from to on the Nankō Port Town Line (New Tram). This would to improve access to the World Trade Center (WTC) in Suminoe-ku
, to which the governor is considering moving the prefectural government offices. Traveling from Osaka Station to the WTC requires at least 30 minutes, and this inconvenience is considered a major obstacle to any move. Although the prefecture is willing to foot at least part of the estimated construction cost of 100 billion yen, there has been no discussion yet of the effect on travel patterns with existing transit agencies/companies.
Of the estimated 4 km length of the extension, approximately 3 km would be underground. Travel times between Osaka and the WTC are expected to drop to 20 minutes if completed.
Osaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
, Japan, operated by West Japan Railway Company
West Japan Railway Company
, also referred to as , is one of the Japan Railways Group companies and operates in western Honshū. It has its headquarters in Kita-ku, Osaka.-History:...
(JR West) running from Nishikujō Station
Nishikujo Station
is a railway station located in Konohana-ku, Osaka, Japan. It is served by the Osaka Loop Line and the Sakurajima Line owned by West Japan Railway Company as well as the Hanshin Namba Line owned by Hanshin Electric Railway.-JR West:...
to Sakurajima Station
Sakurajima Station
is a train station on the West Japan Railway Company Sakurajima Line in Konohana-ku, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture, Japan.-Layout:The station has an islsnd platform serving 2 tracks.-Adjacent stations:...
. It is also referred to as the . The entire line lies within Konohana-ku, Osaka
Konohana-ku, Osaka
is one of 24 wards of Osaka city, Japan.-External links:*...
, and it connects the Osaka Loop Line
Osaka Loop Line
The is a railway line in Japan operated by West Japan Railway Company . It encircles central Osaka.The second loop line, the Osaka Higashi Line, from Hanaten to Kyuhoji was opened on March 15, 2008, and the line from Shigino to Shin-Ōsaka is planned to open in 2020.-Outline:This loop line consists...
to Universal Studios Japan
Universal Studios Japan
, located in Osaka, is one of four Universal Studios theme parks, owned and operated by USJ Co., Ltd. . The park is similar to Universal Orlando Resort, since it contains many of the same rides. Most visitors are Japanese tourists or tourists from other Asian countries such as Taiwan, Hong Kong,...
.
The nickname "Yumesaki Line" was determined in a public poll upon the opening of Universal Studios Japan and the Universal City station. While it was not the number one choice, its pleasant sound together with the vision of the area around the Sakurajima Line and USJ being a place where Osaka's dreams were continuing to be born made it the perfect choice.
The line is used primarily by a mix of factory workers and tourists. There is also freight traffic running between Suita and Ajikawaguchi.
Route data
- West Japan Railway CompanyWest Japan Railway Company, also referred to as , is one of the Japan Railways Group companies and operates in western Honshū. It has its headquarters in Kita-ku, Osaka.-History:...
- Total Distance: 4.1 km (Nishikujō – Sakurajima)
- West Japan Railway Company (services and tracks)
- 4.1 km (Nishikujō – Sakurajima)
- Japan Freight Railway Company (services only)
- 2.4 km (Nishikujō – Ajikawaguchi)
- West Japan Railway Company (services and tracks)
- Railway signallingRailway signallingRailway signalling is a system used to control railway traffic safely, essentially to prevent trains from colliding. Being guided by fixed rails, trains are uniquely susceptible to collision; furthermore, trains cannot stop quickly, and frequently operate at speeds that do not enable them to stop...
: ATS-PsAutomatic Train StopAn automatic train stop is a system on a train that will automatically stop a train if certain situations happened to prevent accidents from happening.... - CTCCentralized traffic controlCentralized traffic control is a form of railway signalling that originated in North America and centralizes train routing decisions that were previously carried out by local signal operators or the train crews themselves. The system consists of a centralized train dispatcher's office that...
center: Shin-Osaka General Control Center
Stations
| Station | Japanese | Distance (km) | Transfers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 西九条 | 0.0 | Osaka Loop Line Osaka Loop Line The is a railway line in Japan operated by West Japan Railway Company . It encircles central Osaka.The second loop line, the Osaka Higashi Line, from Hanaten to Kyuhoji was opened on March 15, 2008, and the line from Shigino to Shin-Ōsaka is planned to open in 2020.-Outline:This loop line consists... , Hanshin Namba Line |
|
| 安治川口 | 2.4 | ||
| ユニバーサルシティ | 3.2 | ||
| 桜島 | 4.1 |
Service
In addition to trains that run only within the Sakurajima Line itself, there is also direct service from , , and stations that alternates during non-peak times. Also, during peak travel seasons, seasonal trains (such as the Universal Express limited express service) will run through to/from the Hokuriku Main LineHokuriku Main Line
The is a 358.3 kilometer line of the West Japan Railway Company from Maibara Station in Maibara, Shiga to Naoetsu Station in Jōetsu, Niigata. It serves the Hokuriku region on the northern central coast of Honshū, the largest island of Japan, as well as offering connections to the regions of...
. However, as the number of visitors to USJ has been on the decline in recent years, those special trains are only rarely used.
In order to transport riders from USJ smoothly in the event of an accident, trains can be run on a single track along the section from Nishikujō to Universal City. In other words, in the event of an accident on the outbound track, the inbound track can be used for service in both directions. Because of that there are signals mounted in both directions at each station.
In addition, while Universal Express trains make their final stop at Universal City, there is no way for them to switch directions at that station. They must proceed to Sakurajima and then switch directions there.
History
Originally the Nishikujō – Sakurajima section was not an independent line, but part of the Nishinari Line, which was originally the private Nishinari Railway. A portion of the Nishinari Line became a part of the Osaka Loop LineOsaka Loop Line
The is a railway line in Japan operated by West Japan Railway Company . It encircles central Osaka.The second loop line, the Osaka Higashi Line, from Hanaten to Kyuhoji was opened on March 15, 2008, and the line from Shigino to Shin-Ōsaka is planned to open in 2020.-Outline:This loop line consists...
when it was completed in 1961, with the rest becoming the Sakurajima Line. With the purpose of providing a commuter route for workers in factories along the line as well as for freight, off-peak daytime hours were quiet along the line. This continued until the construction of USJ, which made tourists the main users of the line.
From the end of operations on the Katsuki Line on April 1, 1985 until the beginning of service on the Miyazaki Kūkō Line
Miyazaki Kuko Line
is a railway line in Japan. Part of the JR Kyushu, it connects Tayoshi Station in Miyazaki, Miyazaki Prefecture with Miyazaki Airport. Trains continue to Minami-Miyazaki Station and Miyazaki Station in the city center and further on the Nippō Main Line....
on July 18, 1996, the Sakurajima Line was the shortest passenger line among the JR Group companies. (Including freight lines, the shortest at the time was the Shinminato Line
Shinminato Line
is a rail line in Takaoka, Toyama, Japan. It is operated by Japan Freight Railway Company . It runs from Nōmachi Station to Takaoka Freight Terminal.- Route data :*Company: Japan Freight Railway Company...
in Toyama Prefecture
Toyama Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Hokuriku region on Honshū island. The capital is the city of Toyama.Toyama is the leading industrial prefecture on the Japan Sea coast, and has the industrial advantage of cheap electricity due to abundant water resources....
.)
Before the move of Sakurajima Station on April 1, 1999, along the Ajikawaguchi to Sakurajima segment there was a movable bridge over the Hokkō Canal. Although there were few instances when the bridge was flooded and service had to be halted, the canal was filled in the 1990s and the bridge has been unused.
When service began at Universal City Station, there were some protests by local residents and business owners to open a new station ("Haruhinode Station") between Nishikujō and Ajikawaguchi stations. However, not enough demand was forecast and plans were shelved.
Chronology
- April 5, 1898: Nishinari Railway from Osaka to Ajikawaguchi (5.79 km) opens
- December 1, 1904: Leased by Railway Operation Bureau
- April 1, 1905: Ajikawaguchi - Tenpōzan section (1.61 km) opens; leased at same time
- December 1, 1906: Nationalized by JGRJapanese Government RailwaysThe Japanese Government Railways was the national railway system directly operated by the central government of Japan until 1949. It is a predecessor of Japanese National Railways and the Japan Railways Group.- Name :...
- October 12, 1909: Line named "Nishinari Line" by JGR
- April 15, 1910: Sakurajima StationSakurajima Stationis a train station on the West Japan Railway Company Sakurajima Line in Konohana-ku, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture, Japan.-Layout:The station has an islsnd platform serving 2 tracks.-Adjacent stations:...
opens; Sakurajima - Tenpozan section demolished - May 1, 1934: Gasoline multiple unit (MU) service begins
- January 29, 1940: Gasoline MU derailment and fire at Ajikawaguchi station kills 189 and injures 69
- May 1, 1941: Osaka - Sakurajima section electrified (1,500 V DC).
- November 21, 1943: Freight branch line established between Ajikawaguchi and Osaka
- April 25, 1961: Osaka Loop Line service begins; Nishi-kujo - Sakurajima section separated and renamed the "Sakurajima Line"
- March 1, 1966: Sakurajima Station relocated 0.5 km east
- November 15, 1982: Freight branch line between Ajikawaguchi and Osaka Hokukou abolished
- April 1, 1987: With the privatization of JNR, Sakurajima Line becomes part of JR West
- April 1, 1999: Ajikawaguchi - Sakurajima section moved to avoid planned USJ theme park; Sakurajima Station moved 0.1 km west
- May 9, 1999: Through operation from Osaka Loop Line stopped due to construction of Universal City StationUniversal City Stationis a train station on the West Japan Railway Company Sakurajima Line in Konohana-ku, Osaka, Japan. The station was built on March 1, 2001 for the Universal Studios Japan...
- March 1, 2001: Universal City StationUniversal City Stationis a train station on the West Japan Railway Company Sakurajima Line in Konohana-ku, Osaka, Japan. The station was built on March 1, 2001 for the Universal Studios Japan...
opens; Sakurajima Line also referred to as "JR Yumesaki Line" by JR West - March 3, 2001: Through operation from Osaka Loop Line restarts
- December 16, 2005: 201 series trains enter service
- October 1, 2008: All station platforms become non-smoking; designated smoking areas on platforms are abolished (concourse smoking rooms were removed in October 2003)
Current
- 103 series103 seriesThe is a commuter electric multiple unit type introduced in 1964 by Japanese National Railways , and currently operated by West Japan Railway Company and Kyushu Railway Company . They were also operated by East Japan Railway Company and Central Japan Railway Company .-Prototype:Built in 1963...
(6-and 8-car formation) (since 1991) - 201 series201 seriesThe is a commuter electric multiple unit train type introduced in 1979 by Japanese National Railways , and currently operated by West Japan Railway Company , and formerly also operated by East Japan Railway Company ....
(8-car formation) (since 2005)
Because the Sakurajima Line is the main access route for USJ, 103 series 6-car trains are decorated with USJ advertisements.
Freight
Locomotives seen hauling freight trains include the M250 seriesM250 series
The M250 Series Super Rail Cargo is a freight electric multiple unit operated by JR Freight in Japan. It entered service in 2004 with the objective of reducing emissions and carrying general freight for small package forwarders . The M250 series is JR Freight's first container train with...
and EF210
JR Freight Class EF210
The EF210 class of electric locomotives are Bo-Bo-Bo wheel arrangement DC freight locomotives operated by JR Freight in Japan.The locomotives are built at the Kawasaki factory in Kobe...
.
Extension plans
On September 10, 2009, OsakaOsaka Prefecture
is a prefecture located in the Kansai region on Honshū, the main island of Japan. The capital is the city of Osaka. It is the center of Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto area.- History :...
Governor
Governor (Japan)
In Japan, the is the highest ranking executive of a prefecture.The governor is directly elected for a four-year term. Governors are subject to recall referenda. In case of death, disability, or resignation, the vice governor becomes either governor or acting governor....
Tōru Hashimoto
Toru Hashimoto
is a Japanese lawyer and commentator on legal matters. He was the 52nd Governor of Osaka Prefecture and is the president of the Osaka Restoration Association...
announced that he is examining a 4 km extension of the Sakurajima Line from to on the Nankō Port Town Line (New Tram). This would to improve access to the World Trade Center (WTC) in Suminoe-ku
Suminoe-ku, Osaka
is one of 24 wards of Osaka, Japan. Stretching along the south-west border of Osaka, it is adjacent to Minato-ku, Taisho-ku and Nishinari-ku to the north and Sumiyoshi-ku to the east...
, to which the governor is considering moving the prefectural government offices. Traveling from Osaka Station to the WTC requires at least 30 minutes, and this inconvenience is considered a major obstacle to any move. Although the prefecture is willing to foot at least part of the estimated construction cost of 100 billion yen, there has been no discussion yet of the effect on travel patterns with existing transit agencies/companies.
Of the estimated 4 km length of the extension, approximately 3 km would be underground. Travel times between Osaka and the WTC are expected to drop to 20 minutes if completed.