Gakkentoshi Line
Encyclopedia
The , nicknamed officially the , is one of commuter rail lines and services in Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto Metropolitan Area
, Japan
, owned and operated by West Japan Railway Company
. The line originates Kizu Station
in Kyoto Prefecture
through Kyōbashi Station
in Osaka.
The common name "Gakkentoshi Line", literally "Research City Line", comes from the Kansai Science City
, which is located along the line around the border of Osaka and Nara prefectures. Unlike other "Urban Network" lines, the proper name is not commonly known among the general public.
) in downtown Osaka, shifted the main line from ex-Naniwa Railway line. Afterwards, the subject line has been a branch of the railway network of Osaka.
Though in 1932 the section between Katamachi and Shijōnawate became the first electrified then Japan Governmental Railways line in Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto area and later in 1950 extended to Nagao, the improvement of facility and service was long forgotten. Only after privatization of the then Japanese National Railways
, here the network was succeeded to West Japan Railway Company
(JR West), electrification in 1989 and gradual operational advancement have been made.
In 1997 JR Tōzai Line
was opened and connected to Katamachi Line at Kyōbashi, and Katamachi Station was abandoned (with Ōsakajō-kitazume Station
being a replacement for ridership). Most trains began operated through to Fukuchiyama Line
(JR Takarazuka Line).
Conversion from a freight branch of the line to a passenger route, Osaka Higashi Line began service in 2008. Trains from Nara via Kansai Main
(Yamatoji
) Line are operated to Amagasaki Station.
in downtown Osaka, at Amagasaki
, to the Tōkaidō Main Line
(JR Kobe Line
) and Fukuchiyama Line
(JR Takarazuka Line). This link enables trains operated from Nara to the west, as Kobe, Himeji
, and Sanda
.
Rapid services of several types of stops, with no surcharge, are alsp provided. Abbreviations are tentative for this article.
(Lo)
(RR)
(Ra)
(DR)
All trains are based at Hanaten Depot (shared with Osaka Higashi Line).
factory located between Kōnoikeshinden Station
and Tokuan Station
used for manufacturing rolling stock
. In addition, two weapons storage areas used during the early 20th century are accessible by spurs located between Fujisaka
and Tsuda Station
s (where two explosions occurred in 1909 and 1939), and between Kawachi-Iwafune
and Hoshida Station
s.
Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto
is a Japanese metropolitan region encompassing the metropolitan areas of the cities of Osaka in Osaka prefecture, Kobe in Hyōgo Prefecture, and Kyoto in Kyoto prefecture. The entire region has a population of 18,644,000 over an area of 11,170 km²...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, owned and 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:...
. The line originates Kizu Station
Kizu Station (Kyoto)
is a railway station located in Kizugawa, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. Operated by West Japan Railway Company . It is the junction point between the Yamatoji Line , the Nara Line and the Gakkentoshi Line...
in Kyoto Prefecture
Kyoto Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region of the island of Honshu. The capital is the city of Kyoto.- History :Until the Meiji Restoration, the area of Kyoto prefecture was known as Yamashiro....
through Kyōbashi Station
Kyobashi Station (Osaka)
Kyobashi Station is a train station in the Kyōbashi district of Jōtō-ku and Miyakojima-ku Osaka, Japan.-Lines:*JR West**Osaka Loop Line**Gakkentoshi Line **JR Tōzai Line...
in Osaka.
The common name "Gakkentoshi Line", literally "Research City Line", comes from the Kansai Science City
Kansai Science City
is an unincorporated city located in the , a border region between Kyoto, Osaka, and Nara Prefectures of Japan. The name is commonly shortened to or...
, which is located along the line around the border of Osaka and Nara prefectures. Unlike other "Urban Network" lines, the proper name is not commonly known among the general public.
History
The line was originally built and operated by between Katamachi and Shijōnawate in 1895. Two years later Kansai Railway bought the line in order to have its own trunk line to Osaka from Nagoya, together with constructing by itself between Shijōnawate and Kizu. Katamachi was inextendably narrow, thus Amijima terminus was made. But Kansai Railway bought the Osaka Railway (I, ja) line from Nara via Ōji to Minatomachi (present JR NambaJR Namba Station
is a train station in Namba, Naniwa Ward, Osaka, Japan, adjacent to Namba Station and Osaka Namba Station operated by the West Japan Railway Company....
) in downtown Osaka, shifted the main line from ex-Naniwa Railway line. Afterwards, the subject line has been a branch of the railway network of Osaka.
Though in 1932 the section between Katamachi and Shijōnawate became the first electrified then Japan Governmental Railways line in Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto area and later in 1950 extended to Nagao, the improvement of facility and service was long forgotten. Only after privatization of the then Japanese National Railways
Japanese National Railways
, abbreviated or "JNR", was the national railway network of Japan from 1949 to 1987.-History:The term Kokuyū Tetsudō "state-owned railway" originally referred to a network of railway lines operated by nationalized companies under the control of the Railway Institute following the nationalization...
, here the network was succeeded to 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), electrification in 1989 and gradual operational advancement have been made.
In 1997 JR Tōzai Line
JR Tozai Line
is one of several Metro / commuter rail lines and services in Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto Metropolitan Area, operated by West Japan Railway Company. The line, whose name literally means "east-west", runs underground through central Osaka and connects the Gakkentoshi Line at Kyobashi Station in Osaka and the...
was opened and connected to Katamachi Line at Kyōbashi, and Katamachi Station was abandoned (with Ōsakajō-kitazume Station
Osakajo-kitazume Station
is a train station on the West Japan Railway Company JR Tōzai Line in Amijimacho, Miyakojima-ku, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture, Japan.The station took over the ridership of the former Katamachi Station, which was the original terminal for the Gakkentoshi Line, now starting at Kyobashi Station...
being a replacement for ridership). Most trains began operated through to Fukuchiyama Line
Fukuchiyama Line
The is a railway line of West Japan Railway between Osaka and Fukuchiyama, Japan. Within JR West's "Urban Network" covering the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan region, the line from Osaka to Sasayamaguchi is also called the JR Takarazuka Line...
(JR Takarazuka Line).
Conversion from a freight branch of the line to a passenger route, Osaka Higashi Line began service in 2008. Trains from Nara via Kansai Main
Kansai Main Line
The is a Japanese railway line which connects Nagoya Station with JR Namba Station in Osaka. It is jointly run by the Central Japan Railway Company and the West Japan Railway Company with the boundary between both companies being located at Kameyama Station in Kameyama, Mie Prefecture.The section...
(Yamatoji
Yamatoji Line
The is the common name of the western portion of the Kansai Main Line, and the name has been used since March 13, 1988. The electrified portion is one of commuter rail lines and services in Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto Metropolitan Area, owned and operated by West Japan Railway Company...
) Line are operated to Amagasaki Station.
Route and Operation
The line is connected via the JR Tōzai LineJR Tozai Line
is one of several Metro / commuter rail lines and services in Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto Metropolitan Area, operated by West Japan Railway Company. The line, whose name literally means "east-west", runs underground through central Osaka and connects the Gakkentoshi Line at Kyobashi Station in Osaka and the...
in downtown Osaka, at Amagasaki
Amagasaki Station (JR West)
is a train station on the Tōkaidō Main Line , Fukuchiyama Line and JR Tōzai Line of JR West, located in Amagasaki, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan, opened in 1874. Until 1997, Amagasaki was only a local stop, but it has since become a major junction with the opening of the JR Tōzai Line...
, to the Tōkaidō Main Line
Tokaido Main Line
The is the busiest trunk line of the Japan Railways Group , connecting Tōkyō and Kōbe stations. It is long, not counting its many freight feeder lines around the major cities...
(JR Kobe Line
JR Kobe Line
The is the nickname of portions of the Tōkaidō Main Line and the Sanyō Main Line, between Osaka Station in Osaka, Osaka Prefecture and Himeji Station in Himeji, Hyōgo Prefecture...
) and Fukuchiyama Line
Fukuchiyama Line
The is a railway line of West Japan Railway between Osaka and Fukuchiyama, Japan. Within JR West's "Urban Network" covering the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan region, the line from Osaka to Sasayamaguchi is also called the JR Takarazuka Line...
(JR Takarazuka Line). This link enables trains operated from Nara to the west, as Kobe, Himeji
Himeji, Hyogo
is a city located in Hyōgo Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan. As of April 1, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 535,945, with 206,409 households. The total area is 534.43 km².- History :...
, and Sanda
Sanda, Hyogo
is a city located in Hyōgo, Japan.As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 113,585 and the density of 540 persons per km². The total area is 210.22 km².The city was founded on July 1, 1958.-History:...
.
Rapid services of several types of stops, with no surcharge, are alsp provided. Abbreviations are tentative for this article.
(Lo)
- Operated all day, most trains between Matsuiyamate and Nishi-Akashi on Sanyō Main (JR KobeJR Kobe LineThe is the nickname of portions of the Tōkaidō Main Line and the Sanyō Main Line, between Osaka Station in Osaka, Osaka Prefecture and Himeji Station in Himeji, Hyōgo Prefecture...
) Line. Some in busy hours to Fukuchiyama Line (JR Takarazuka Line), some terminate at Kyōbashi.
(RR)
- Operated in early morning, late night, and busy hours only. Some from/to Nara, most from/to Dōshishamae or Kyōtanabe. Through to Nishiakashi or Shin-Sanda.
(Ra)
- Mostly through to Shin-Sanda or Sasayamaguchi on Fukuchiyama (JR Takarazuka) Line. One per 15 minutes per direction.
(DR)
- Through trains from Osaka Higashi Line, only between Hanaten and Kyōbashi in this line. Four trains to Amagasaki from Nara in the morning, 4 vice versa in the evening.
Stations
For distances and transfers, see the route diagram.| Station | Stops | Location | |
|---|---|---|---|
| RR Ra | Kizugawa Kizugawa, Kyoto is a city in southern Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. The city was founded on March 12, 2007 by the merger of the towns of Kamo, Kizu and Yamashiro, all from Sōraku District. It is the southernmost city in the prefecture... |
Kyoto Kyoto Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region of the island of Honshu. The capital is the city of Kyoto.- History :Until the Meiji Restoration, the area of Kyoto prefecture was known as Yamashiro.... |
|
| RR Ra | |||
| RR Ra | Seika Seika, Kyoto is a town located in Sōraku District, Kyoto, Japan.As of 2008, the town has a population which exceeds 35,797. The total area is 25.66 km². Seika, although largely agriculturally based, has in recent years become the center of a national project of the Kansai Science City and has been referred to... , Sōraku Soraku District, Kyoto Soraku is a district in Kyoto, Japan.As of 2007, the district had an estimated population of 44,982 and a density of 252.27 persons per km². The total area is 178.31 km².-Towns and villages:*Kasagi*Minamiyamashiro*Seika*Wazuka... |
||
| RR Ra | |||
| RR Ra | Kyōtanabe Kyotanabe, Kyoto is a city located in the southern tip of Kyoto, Japan.As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 65,274. The total area is 42.94 km².The city was founded on April 1, 1997, after the town of Tanabe was reorganized into the city of Kyōtanabe. The Kyō- was added to distinguish it from the... |
||
| RR Ra | |||
| RR Ra | |||
| RR Ra | |||
| RR Ra | |||
| RR Ra | Hirakata Hirakata, Osaka is a city located in north-eastern Osaka, Japan, near the prefectural borders of Nara and Kyoto. It is renowned for its chrysanthemum doll exhibition, as well as Hirakata Park — an amusement park featuring five roller coasters.... |
Osaka Osaka 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 :... |
|
| RR | |||
| RR | |||
| RR Ra | Katano Katano, Osaka is a city located in Osaka, Japan.As of 2010, the city has an estimated population of 77,680 and the density of 3,040 persons per km². The total area is 25.55 km².The city was founded on November 3, 1971.-Railways:*Keihan Electric Railway... |
||
| RR Ra | |||
| RR | Neyagawa Neyagawa, Osaka is a city located in Osaka, Japan.As of 2010, the city has an estimated population of 238,549 and the density of 9,650 persons per km². The total area is 24.73 km².The city was founded on May 3, 1951.... |
||
| RR | Shijōnawate Shijonawate, Osaka is a city located in Osaka, Japan.As of August 1, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 57,437 and the density of 3,065 persons per km². The total area is 18.74 km².The city was founded on July 1, 1970.-Railways:*West Japan Railway Company... |
||
| RR Ra | Daitō Daito, Osaka is a city located in Osaka, Japan.-Railways:*West Japan Railway Company**Katamachi Line Suminodo Station - Nozaki Station - Shijonawate Station-Education:... |
||
| RR Ra | |||
| Higashiosaka | |||
| RR Ra DR | Tsurumi Tsurumi-ku, Osaka is one of 24 wards of Osaka, Japan. It is best known for its large parkland, Tsurumi-Ryokuchi, the site of the 1990 International Garden Exposition.-External links:*... , Osaka |
||
| Jōtō Joto-ku, Osaka is one of 24 wards of Osaka, Japan.-External links:*... , Osaka |
|||
| RR Ra DR | |||
Rolling stock
- 207 series207 seriesThe is a commuter electric multiple unit train type operated by West Japan Railway Company in the Kansai Region of Japan since 1991.This EMU was introduced in 1991 to replace ageing 103 series EMUs operating on the Fukuchiyama Line and the Katamachi Line.This train bears no relation to the 207...
(from 1991) - 321 series321 seriesThe is a commuter electric multiple unit operated by West Japan Railway Company in the Kansai Region of Japan.-Overview:The 321 series was developed from the earlier 207 series to replace the ageing 201 series and 205 series trains on the Tōkaidō Main Line...
(from 2005)
All trains are based at Hanaten Depot (shared with Osaka Higashi Line).
Miscellaneous
There is a Kinki SharyoKinki Sharyo
is an Osaka, Japan-based manufacturer of railroad vehicles. It is an affiliate company of Kintetsu Corporation.In business since 1920 and renamed The Kinki Sharyo Co., Ltd in 1945...
factory located between Kōnoikeshinden Station
Konoikeshinden Station
is a train station in Higashiosaka, Osaka, Japan.-Lines:*West Japan Railway Company **Katamachi Line -Stations next to Kōnoikeshinden:...
and Tokuan Station
Tokuan Station
is a train station in Higashiosaka, Osaka, Japan.-Lines:* West Japan Railway Company ** Katamachi Line -Stations next to Tokuan:...
used for manufacturing rolling stock
Rolling stock
Rolling stock comprises all the vehicles that move on a railway. It usually includes both powered and unpowered vehicles, for example locomotives, railroad cars, coaches and wagons...
. In addition, two weapons storage areas used during the early 20th century are accessible by spurs located between Fujisaka
Fujisaka Station
is a train station in Hirakata, Osaka, Japan.-Lines:*West Japan Railway Company **Katamachi Line -Stations next to Fujisaka:...
and Tsuda Station
Tsuda Station
is a train station in Hirakata, Osaka, Japan.-Lines:*West Japan Railway Company **Katamachi Line -Stations next to Tsuda:...
s (where two explosions occurred in 1909 and 1939), and between Kawachi-Iwafune
Kawachi-Iwafune Station
Kawachi-Iwafune Station is a train station in Katano, Osaka, Japan.-Lines:*JR West**Gakkentoshi Line *Connecting to Kawachi-Mori Station on the Keihan Electric Railway Katano Line-Adjacent stations:West Japan Railway Company...
and Hoshida Station
Hoshida Station
is a train station in Katano, Osaka, Japan.-Lines:*West Japan Railway Company **Katamachi Line -Stations next to Hoshida:...
s.