Type Heavy rail Line length 179.6 km (111.6 mi) Stations 52 | Opened 1889 Track gauge 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) Terminis Nagoya, JR Namba Station | |
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Electrification 1,500 V DC, overhead line
(Nagoya–Kameyama, Kamo–JR Namba) Operating speed Owners Central Japan Railway Company, West Japan Railway Company Locale Aichi Prefecture, Mie Prefecture, Kyoto Prefecture, Nara Prefecture, Osaka Prefecture | ||
221 jr kansai main line kizu station 2015 2
The Kansai Main Line (関西本線, Kansai-honsen, also called the "Kansai Line") is a railway line in Japan, which connects Nagoya Station with JR Namba Station in Osaka. It is jointly run by the Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central) and West Japan Railway Company (JR West), with the boundary between both companies being located at Kameyama Station in Kameyama, Mie.
Contents
- 221 jr kansai main line kizu station 2015 2
- Forward view kansai main line from shin imamiya to jr namba
- History
- Duplication
- Electrification
- Other matters of note
- Former connecting lines
- JR Central Nagoya Kameyama
- JR West Kameyama Kamo
- JR West Kamo JR Namba
- EMU
- DMU
- Former
- References
The section from Kamo Station west to JR Namba Station is electrified and a part of the JR West "Urban Network", and is nicknamed the Yamatoji Line. The JR Central section from Nagoya to Kameyama is also electrified.
Despite its name, for much of its length it is a very local line with mainly single track sections and no regular express services. The line was originally built in the 1890s by Kansai Railway (later under the Japanese Government Railways and Japanese National Railways) as an alternate route from south Osaka to Nara and Nagoya, but competition from the Kintetsu lines and declining ridership forced the line to become two commuter lines to Osaka and Nagoya respectively, with a less-used section in the middle.
Formerly a Kasuga limited express train went the whole of the Kansai Main Line, but this service was discontinued in March 2006.
Forward view kansai main line from shin imamiya to jr namba
History
The Osaka Railway Co. opened the Minato-Machi (now Namba) - Nara section between 1889 and 1892. The company merged with the Kansai Railway Co. in 1900.
The Nara Railway Co. opened the Nara - Kizu section in 1896. It merged with the Kansai Railway Co. in 1905.
The Kansai Railway Co. opened the Nagoya - Kizu section between 1890 and 1897, completing the line. The company was nationalised in 1907.
Duplication
The Minato-Machi - Tennoji section was duplicated in 1903 and extended to Kashiwabara in 1908. The Nara - Kizu section was duplicated in 1914, and the Kashiwabara - Nara section between 1923 and 1926. In 1944 the Oji - Nara section was returned to single track and the materials recycled for the Japanese war effort. The section was re-duplicated in 1961.
The Tomita - Kuwana section (except for the bridge over the Inabegawa) was duplicated in 1973, and the Kuwana - Yatomi section between 1977 and 1980. The Yokkaichi - Tomidahama section was duplicated in 1993.
Electrification
The Minato-Machi - Nara section was electrified in 1973, and extended to Kizu in 1984, and Kamo in 1988.
The Nagoya - Hatta section was electrified in 1979, and extended to Kameyama in 1982.
Other matters of note
CTC signalling was commissioned between Kizu and Kameyama in 1983, and extended to Nagoya in 2001.
Freight services ceased in 1987, and in 1994 Minato-Machi station was renamed JR Namba to coincide with the opening of the JR line to Kansai Airport. In 1996 Namba station and the approach line were relocated underground to eliminate a number of level crossings. Plans to extend the line from Namba to Osaka station have not eventuated as yet.
Former connecting lines
JR Central (Nagoya - Kameyama)
JR West (Kameyama - Kamo)
All stations between Kameyama and Kamo featured passing double tracks.