Sakurajima Line
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The Sakurajima Line (桜島線 Sakurajima-sen?) is a railway line of the West Japan Railway Company (JR West) running from Nishikujo Station to Sakurajima Station, and the line is also called the JR Yumesaki Line (JRゆめ咲線?). The entire line lies within Konohana Ward, Osaka, Japan. It connects the Osaka Loop Line to Universal Studios Japan. The nickname of 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.
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[edit] Route data
- West Japan Railway Company
- Total Distance: 4.1 km (Nishi-Kujō — Sakurajima)
- West Japan Railway Company (primary railway operator)
- 4.1 km (Nishi-Kujō — Sakurajima)
- Japan Freight Railway Company (secondary railway operator)
- 2.4km (Nishi-Kujō — Ajikawaguchi)
- West Japan Railway Company (primary railway operator)
- Gauge: 1,067 mm
- Stations: 4
- Tracks: Entire line dual-track
- Electrification: All (Direct Current 1,500 V)
- Block System: Automatic
- Protection System: ATS-P
- Operation Control Center: Shin-Osaka General Control Center
[edit] Service
In addition to trains that run only within the Sakurajima Line itself, there is also direct service from Tennoji, Kyobashi, and Osaka stations that alternates during non-peak times. Also, during peak travel seasons, special trains from Hokuriku and Nara (such as the "Universal Express") will run on the line. In recent years, as the number of visitors to USJ has been on the decline, however, 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 Nishi-kujo 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 Station and then switch directions there.
[edit] Trains
103 series 201 series
Because the Sakurajima Line is the access route for USJ, 103 series trains (6-car configuration) have been wrapped with USJ advertisements. As of now, 201 series trains are not being wrapped.
[edit] History
Originally the Nishi-Kujō to Sakurajima section was not an independent line, but part of the Nishinari Line, which was originally the private Nishinari Railway (purchased by JNR under the Railway Nationalization Act). A portion of the Nishinari Line became a part of the Osaka Loop Line 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.
- April 5, 1898: Nishinari Railway from Osaka to Ajikawaguchi (5.79 km) opened
- December 1, 1904: Leased by Railway Operation Bureau
- April 1, 1905: The line from Ajikawaguchi to Tenpōzan (now demolished) (1.61 km) opened; leased at same time
- December 1, 1906: Nationalized by JNR
- October 12, 1909: Line named "Nishinari Line" by JNR
- April 15, 1910: Sakurajima Station opened. The line from Sakurajima to Tenpozan demolished
- May 1, 1934: Gasoline multiple unit service began
- January 29, 1940: Gasoline MU derailment and fire at Ajikawaguchi station killed 189 and injured 69
- May 1, 1941: Electrification of the line from Osaka to Sakurajima (1,500 V DC)
- November 21, 1943: Freight branch line established between Ajikawaguchi and Osaka
- April 25, 1961: Osaka Loop Line service begins. Section from Nishi-kujo to Sakurajima separated and renamed the "Sakurajima Line"
- March 1, 1966: Sakurajima Station relocated (0.5 km)
- 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: The route from Ajikawaguchi to Sakurajima change. Sakurajima station moved (0.1 km)
- May 9, 1999: Direct operation with Osaka Loop Line stopped
- March 1, 2001: Universal City Station was opened and "the JR Yumesaki Line" became used for the common name of the Sakurajima Line.
- March 3, 2001: Direct Operation with Osaka Loop Line begins again
- December 16, 2005: 201 series trains enter service on line
[edit] Stations
| Station | Length | Transfers |
|---|---|---|
| Nishikujō | 0.0 km | Osaka Loop Line, Hanshin Nishi-Osaka Line |
| Ajikawaguchi | 2.4 km | |
| Universal City | 3.2 km | |
| Sakurajima | 4.1 km |
[edit] Other
- From the end of operations on the Katsuki Line on April 1, 1985 until the beginning of service on the Miyazaki Airport 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 Shin Minato Line.)
- Before the move of Sakurajima Station in April 1, 1999, along the Ajikawaguchi to Sakurajima segment there was a movable bridge over the Shourenji 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's original role has been unused.
- At Nishikujo Station, regardless of the train type, direct operation Osaka Loop Line (Tennoji, Kyobashi, and Osaka-bound trains) and Sakurajima Line trains arrive and depart from center platforms 2 and 3 (there are two platforms on either side of a single central track). Also, some Osaka-bound trains depart from the Loop Line clockwise-bound platform and some Sakurajima-bound trains from the Loop Line counterclockwise platform.
- 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 Nishi-Kujō and Ajikawaguchi stations. However, not enough demand was forecast and plans were shelved.
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