Nankai Kōya Line
The Kōya Line (高野線, Kōya-sen?) of Nankai Electric Railway is a railway line in Osaka Prefecture and Wakayama Prefecture, Japan. It connects Osaka and Koyasan, the capital of Japanese Buddhist sect Shingon, via suburbs of Osaka, such as Sakai, Osakasayama, Tondabayashi and Kawachinagano in Osaka Prefecture and Hashimoto and Kōya in Wakayama Prefecture.
From historical reason formally the line begins at Shiomibashi Station in Osaka and crosses the Nankai Main Line, the other main line of the company, at Kishinosato-Tamade Station, though operationally it starts at Namba Station together with Nankai Main Line, diverges at Kishinosato-Tamade Station and goes to Gokurakubashi Station, to have a connection to Koyasan through Nankai Cable Line.
The section from Shiomibashi to Kishinosato-Tamade, called "the Shiomibashi Line (汐見橋線?)", has trains operated only in between.
The section from Namba to Hashimoto of the line was formally nicknamed "the Rinkan Sun Line (りんかんサンライン?)", which few know. The name became not in use at the diagram revision in 2008.
Kōya Line is indicated, to distinguish from Nankai Lines, with pictograms of coniferous-like trees which infer Mount Koya, or with the line colour, green.
Rapid service
- Local (各駅停車, Kakueki Teisha?) (Lo)
- Between Namba and Sakaihigashi, Kitanoda, Kongō, Chiyoda, Kawachinagano, Miikkaichichō, Rinkanden-entoshi or Hashimoto, and between Hashimoto and Kōyashita or Gokurakubashi.
- Semi-Express (準急, Junkyū?) (SE)
- All the down (southbound) trains are operated from Namba to Kōmyōike or Izumi-Chūō on the Semboku Rapid Railway Line. In the morning on weekdays, up (northbound) trains for Namba are operated from Mikkaichicho, Kawachinagano and Chiyoda in addition to the through trains from the Semboku Rapid Railway Line.
- Sub Express (区間急行, Kukan Kyūkō?) (SbE)
- Trains are operated between Namba and Kawachinagano, Miikkaichichō or Rinkanden-entoshi. Through trains from the Semboku Rapid Railway Line to Namba are available in the morning on weekdays.
- Express (急行, Kyūkō?) (Ex)
- Trains are operated mainly between Namba and Miikkaichichō, Rinkanden-entoshi or Hashimoto. Several trains are operated between Namba and Kōyashita or Gokurakubashi.
- Rapid Express (快速急行, Kaisoku Kyūkō?) (RE)
- All trains are operated between Namba and Gokurakubashi, and requires the special car, generally called "ZOOMCAR".
- Limited Express (特急, Tokkyū?) (LE)
- The "Kōya (こうや?)" is operated between Namba and Gokurakubashi, and the "Rinkan (りんかん?)" between Namba and Hashimoto. All seats of both trains are reserved.
- Sightseeing train "Tenku" (観光列車「天空」?) (Tk)
- Started on July 3, 2009, trains are operated between Hashimoto and Gokurakubashi every day except Wednesdays and Thursdays from March until November, and on Saturdays, Sundays and National Holidays from December until February. They stop at Kamuro and Kudoyama.
- For fare calculation, the distance between Tengachaya and Tezukayama is defined as 1.8 km
Stations
Namba - Kishinosato-Tamade - Gokurakubashi
Shiomibashi - Kishinosato-Tamade
- The section is known as "the Shiomibashi Line (汐見橋線?)".
Rail Statistics
- Distance between Shiomibashi and Gokurakubashi: 64.5 km
- Electrification: 1500 V DC
- Gauge: 1067 mm
- Track: dual excluiding in Kishinosato-Tamade Station of Shiomibashi Line section