Katamachi Line

The nihongo|Katamachi Line|片町線|Katamachi-sen, nicknamed officially the nihongo|Gakkentoshi Line|学研都市線|Gakkentoshi-sen, is one of commuter rail lines and services in Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto Metropolitan Area, 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 general public.

History

The line was originally built and operated by Nihongo|Naniwa Railway|浪速鉄道|Naniwa Tetsudō 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 Namba) 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. 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.

Route and Operaton

The line is connected via the JR Tōzai Line 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.;Nihongo|Local|普通|Futsū (Lo):Operated all day, most trains between Matsuiyamate and Nishi-Akashi on Sanyō Main (JR Kobe) Line. Some in busy hours to Fukuchiyama Line (JR Takarazuka Line), some terminate at Kyōbashi.;Nihongo|Regional Rapid|区間快速|Kukan Kaisoku (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.;Nihongo|Rapid|快速|Kaisoku (Ra):Mostly through to Shin-Sanda or Sasayamaguchi on Fukuchiyama (JR Takarazuka) Line. One per 15 minutes per direction.;Nihongo|Direct Rapid|直通快速|Chokutsū Kaisoku (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.

tations

For distances and transfers, see the route diagram.