Yotsubashi Line

It was the second line of the Osaka subway to open, after the Midōsuji Line. Its first stretch, a single-track segment between Daikokuchō and Hanazonochō, opened on 10 May 1942. At first it was worked by single cars and operated as a branch of the Midōsuji Line from Daikokuchō. Construction stopped during the Second World War, and the short line was not extended for more than a decade.

The segment was double-tracked on 3 April 1948, and the line was then lengthened southward in stages: from Hanazonochō to Kishinosato on 1 June 1956 (1.1 km) and from Kishinosato to Tamade on 31 May 1958 (1.3 km). Two-car operation began on 1 September 1959.

The line's character changed decisively on 1 October 1965, when the long northern extension from Daikokuchō to Nishi-Umeda (4.9 km) opened, giving the line a northern terminus with an interchange to the Midōsuji Line's Umeda station. Four-car operation began on the same day. The new section ran beneath Yotsubashi-suji, the street from which the line takes its name, and turned what had been a branch of the Midōsuji Line into what was in effect a separate line and a bypass for it. The name "Yotsubashi Line" was chosen on 6 December 1969.

The line reached its present extent on 9 November 1972, when the final segment from Tamade to Suminoekōen (2.8 km) opened, completing the route from Nishi-Umeda to Suminoekōen. Five-car operation began with this extension, automatic train control and centralised traffic control were introduced, and the Midorigichō depot was opened to serve the line. From this point the Yotsubashi Line ran its full 11.4-kilometre length with 11 stations, the configuration it retains today.

Through the later twentieth century the line lengthened its trains and renewed its rolling stock. The 23 series cars were introduced from 1 June 1990, gradually replacing the earlier 30 series semi-stainless-steel cars, which were withdrawn in November 1996. Six-car operation began on 26 October 1996 and was extended to all trains by 29 March 1997. For most of its history the line was run by the Osaka Municipal Transportation Bureau, but on 1 April 2018 the Osaka municipal subway was corporatised and the Yotsubashi Line, along with the rest of the network, passed to the newly formed Osaka Metro Co., Ltd. (大阪市高速電気軌道).

The line connects with the Midōsuji Line at Nishi-Umeda, Hommachi and Namba, among other stations, and links the city centre with Nishinari and Suminoe wards in the south-west of Osaka. Its trains are 23 series sets in six-car formations.

11 stations tracked on the map, listed alphabetically. Select any to read its page.

• Daikokucho大国町
• Hanazonocho花園町
• Higobashi肥後橋
• Hommachi本町
• Kishinosato岸里
• Kitakagaya北加賀屋
• Namba (Osaka Metro)難波
• Nishi-Umeda西梅田
• Suminoekoen住之江公園
• Tamade (Osaka)玉出
• Yotsubashi四ツ橋

• 194210 May: the line opens as a single-track segment between Daikokuchō and Hanazonochō (1.3 km), worked by single cars.
• 19483 April: the Daikokuchō–Hanazonochō segment is double-tracked.
• 19561 June: the line is extended from Hanazonochō to Kishinosato (1.1 km).
• 195831 May: the line is extended from Kishinosato to Tamade (1.3 km).
• 19591 September: two-car operation begins.
• 19651 October: the northern extension from Daikokuchō to Nishi-Umeda (4.9 km) opens, carrying the line into the Umeda district; four-car operation begins.
• 19696 December: the name 'Yotsubashi Line' is chosen for the route.
• 19729 November: the final segment from Tamade to Suminoekōen (2.8 km) opens, completing the line end to end; five-car operation begins and ATC/CTC are introduced, with the Midorigichō depot opened.
• 19901 June: the 23 series cars are introduced, gradually replacing the earlier 30 series semi-stainless-steel cars.
• 199626 October: six-car operation begins; the 30 series semi-stainless-steel cars are withdrawn in November.
• 199729 March: all trains are converted to six-car formations.
• 20181 April: the Osaka municipal subway is corporatised; the Yotsubashi Line passes to the newly formed Osaka Metro Co., Ltd. (大阪市高速電気軌道).