Midōsuji Line

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. 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).

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

• Construction stopped during World War II.
• December 20, 1951, Tennōji, Shōwachō (opening)
• October 5, 1952, Shōwachō, Nishitanabe (opening)
• August 1, 1953, Trains started running in 4-car formation.
• April 1, 1957, Trains started running in 5-car formation.
• May 1, 1958, Trains started running in 6-car formation.
• July 1, 1960, Nishitanabe, Abiko (opening)
• June 1, 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.
• September 1, 1964, Umeda, Shin-Osaka (opening)
• August 29, 1968, 30 series EMUs began operation.
• February 24, 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.
• April 1, 1971, Centralized traffic control introduced.
• February 16, 1976, 10 series EMUs begin operation.
• April 18, 1987, Abiko, Nakamozu (opening). Refurbishment of stations to accommodate 9-car trainsets began.
• August 24, 1987, Refurbishment of stations complete, hence all trains were regrouped into 9-car formation.
• May 14, 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.
• December 9, 1995, Refurbishment of stations to accommodate 10-car trainsets began.
• September 1, 1996, Refurbishment of stations completed, hence all trains were regrouped into 10-car formation.
• November 11, 2002, Women-only cars were introduced.
• December 2011, 30000 series EMUs entered service.
• February 14, 2015, First half-height platform screen doors installed at Tennōji Station.
• March 27, 2020, First three sets of 30000 series EMUs equipped with on-board Wi-Fi.
• 2021, TASC implemented on the Midōsuji Line.
• March 5, 2022, Platform screen doors retrofit work completed on the Midōsuji Line.
• July 4, 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)
• Stations equipped with platform screen doors: all

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. Passengers also have the added option of using IC e-cards.

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.

Reference:

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 December 10, 2011)
• Kita-Osaka Kyuko 8000 series (since 1987)
• Kita-Osaka Kyuko 9000 series (since April 28, 2014)

Former

• 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)

Women-only passenger cars

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