Yotsubashi Line

 ( Osaka Metro ) 

The Yotsubashi-sen is an underground rapid transit line in Osaka, Japan, operated by Osaka Metro. The line connects Umeda, Hommachi, Yotsubashi, Namba, Daikokuchō and Suminoe, and runs parallel to the Midōsuji Line from Daikokuchō to Nishi-Umeda.

Despite being the system's second line to open, its official name is 高速電気軌道第3号線, while the Osaka Municipal Transportation Bureau refers to it as 大阪市高速鉄道第3号線, and in Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport publications, it is written as 3号線（四つ橋線）. Station numbers are indicated by the letter Y.

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Overview The Yotsubashi Line runs in a north and south direction. connecting the Osaka Metro Nankō Port Town Line at Suminoekōen Station. At first, it was a branch of the Osaka Metro Midōsuji Line, branching off at Daikokuchō Station but was extended north to Nishi-Umeda Station and made a separate line. This new section of the Yotsubashi Line takes a more direct routing to Nishi-Umeda running only west of the Midosuji Line.

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History

• 10 May 1942 – Daikokuchō – Hanazonochō (opening)
• Construction stopped during World War II.
• 1 June 1956 – Hanazonochō – Kishinosato (opening)
• 31 May 1958 – Kishinosato – Tamade (opening)
• 1 October 1965 – Daikokuchō – Nishi-Umeda (opening)
• 9 November 1972 – Tamade – Suminoekōen (opening)

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Future plans A to Jūsō Station (with optional extension to Shin-Ōsaka Station) has been proposed since 1989.

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Operations Most trains are operated between Nishi-Umeda station and Suminoe-Koen Station, with 2–3 minute interval during the morning rush hour, 6–7½ minute interval during the day, 3–4 minute intervals at the afternoon, 5–10 minute interval at night, and 10 minute interval in the early morning and late night. During the morning and evening (afternoon on weekends only), there are trains that only run between Kita-Kagaya station and Nishi Umeda Station, as Kita-Kagaya is connected to the Yotsubashi Line depot at Midorigi.

In addition, on the day of the Suminoe boat race at night (excluding Sundays), one special train operates between 9pm and 10pm.

It is connected with the New-Tram at Suminoe-Koen station.

On 23 March 2013, the Osaka Bureau of Transport revised the timetable for the Yotsubashi Line. By using the train that was a going to a depot without any passengers, the final train became 0:20am for the northbound and 0:10am (for Suminoe-Koen) and 0:36am (for Kita-Kagaya) for the southbound. And because of passenger demand, for weekdays between 10am and 12pm was changed from 5 minute to 6 minute interval and for weekends and on holidays between 10am and 3pm was changed from 5-6 minute interval to 7-7½ minute interval.

Since 2016, the regular inspection of the trains used on the third rail lines of Osaka Metro has been consolidated at Midorigi Depot, therefore trains of the Midosuji Line, Tanimachi Line, Chuo Line, and the Sennichimae Line may run on the Yotsubashi Line.

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Stations All stations are in Osaka.

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Rolling stock

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Current

• 23 series (since 1990)

All trains are based at Midorigi Depot. Since 1996, all trains are 6 cars long but subway platforms are long enough to accommodate trains up to 8 cars long.

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Former

• 400 series (1942–1969)
• 1000 series (1956–1971)
• 1100 series (1958–1979)
• 1200 series (1958–1980)
• 50 series (1960–1980)
• 30 series (1972–1996)

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See also

• List of railway electrification systems in Japan

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