Kita Ôsaka Kyûkô 北大阪急行

4448 Kita Ôsaka Kyûkô train 9004 at the new terminus at Minoo Kayano, bearing a plate commemorating the opening of the new section from Senri Chûô. As this picture was taken exactly on the opening day of the new section (23 March 2024), lots of photographers are on the platform.

KITA ÔSAKA KYÛKÔ  -  North Ôsaka Express (Line)

This line forms the continuation of the Ôsaka Metro Midôsuji-sen from Ôsaka City into the Cities of Suita, Toyonaka and Minoo, situated in the north of Ôsaka and extending into the northern mountain range. From north to south, Kita Ôsaka Kyûkô trains operate on their own section between Minoo Kayano and Esaka and – after a change of staff – continue over the entire Ôsaka Metro Midôsuji-sen via the important interchange station with the Shinkansen, Shin Ôsaka, and then through Ôsaka City to Nakamozu in the City of Sakai, south of Ôsaka. Vice versa, Midôsuji-sen underground trains operate over the whole Kita Ôsaka Kyûkô up to Minoo Kayano. The railway has 1435 mm gauge track and third-rail current collection (750 V DC). It runs basically on an elevated structure in the centre of the important north-south highway. Kita Ôsaka Kyûkô trains are often referred to as “Kitakyû”.

During the 1960s the City of Ôsaka was reluctant to extend its underground lines outside the city boundary, but when huge housing complexes began to take shape north of Ôsaka and the Japan World Exhibition in Ôsaka (1970) drew closer, to be held in the Senri hills in this area, it was decided to build the Kita Ôsaka Kyûkô (5, 8 km long from Esaka northwards) and a branch line to the gates of the World Exhibition. Financing came to a large extent from the Prefecture of Ôsaka and other large private railways in the Ôsaka area (mainly the Hankyû).

The Kita Ôsaka Kyûkô opened to traffic on 24 February 1970. The branch line (3, 6 km) closed at the end of the exhibition, which was held from 15 March to 13 September 1970. The definite terminus of the Kita Ôsaka Kyûkô line was now, and for many years to come, Senri Chûô (Central Senri), i.e. the centre of Senri Newtown, which spreads across the Cities of Toyonaka and Suita.

On 23 March 2024 a prolongation of the Kita Ôsaka Kyûkô could be opened, linking Senri Chûô with the fast-developing housing complexes in the Minoo hills and the new terminus at Minoo Kayano (2, 5 km).

 

7609 Kita Ôsaka Kyûkô Unit 8005, coming from Senri Chûô, enters Shin Ôsaka station. On the left a Midôsuji-sen train no. 1814 is setting back to await return to Naka Mozu. (2017)

Unit 8005 is one of 7 trains named "Polestar" (as they work to the north) built from 1986 onward, first as 8-car trains, and by 1996 having become 10-car trains. Withdrawals started in 2015, and today (2024) 3 trains remain.

1954 The brand-new unit 9006 (end car 9906) has just exchanged staff at Esaka and is now on the Midôsuji underground railway line, operated by Metro staff. (2024)

Unit 9006 is of 7 trains of class 9000, the first 4 having been built 2014-2017, with 3 more added in view of the extension to Minoo Kayano in 2023.

4464 Travelling in Kita Ôsaka Kyûkô unit 9002. (2024)

7559 Kita Ôsaka Kyûkô unit 9001 closing doors at Daikokuchô in the city of Ôsaka on the Midôsuji-sen of the Ôsaka underground railway (today Ôsaka Metro). (2016)

1962 The new unit 9007 on its way from Ryokuchi Kôen to Esaka. (2024)

1974 At Momoyamadai we see a large poster on the platform door, informing passengers about the extension of the line (to be opened two days after this picture was taken). (2024)

1984 At Momoyamadai, looking towards Senri Chûô, from where an Osaka Metro Midôsuji-sen train (unit 21618, end car 21918) is arriving. (2024).

0822 Approaching Senri Chûô, the terminus of the line at that time. In the distance an on-coming Ôsaka underground Midôsuji-sen train. (2013)

1973 Seen from the rear of a train heading south, Ôsaka Metro Midôsuji-sen unit 21618 (rear car 21918) is about the enter Senri Chûô station. (2024)

0829 "Polestar" unit 8004 waiting at the former terminus Senri Chûô, ready to depart for Naka Mozu, the southern terminus of the Ôsaka underground Midôsuji-sen. (2013)

0836 A view of the platform with unit 8004 (coach 8104) at Senri Chûô, at that time the terminus of the line. (2013)

4441 On the new section, opened on 23 March 2024, the train continues underground until after Minoo Senba Handai-mae, seen in this picture. (2024) ("Handai" refers to the University of Ôsaka)

4453 The new terminus Minoo Kayano, opened that day (23 March 2024). Standing in the platform is Ôsaka Metro Midôsuji-sen train 31604.

4461 The new terminus Minoo Kayano, opened that day (23 March 2024). Standing in the platform is Kita Ôsaka Kyûkô train 9002.