View source for Osaka Loop Line

{{Short description|Railway line in Osaka, Japan}}
{{Infobox rail line
| box_width                       = 
| name                            = Osaka Loop Line
| native_name                     = 大阪環状線
| native_name_lang                = ja
| color                           = e80000
| logo                            = JRW kinki-O.svg
| logo_width                      = 50
| logo_alt                        = 
| image                           = Series323-LS05.jpg
| image_width                     = 300px
| image_alt                       = 
| caption                         = A 323 series train on the Osaka Loop Line in September 2017
| type                            = [[Heavy rail]]
| system                          = [[Commuter rail|Urban network]]
| status                          = 
| locale                          = [[Osaka]], Japan
| start                           = {{STN|Tennōji}}
| end                             = {{STN|Shin-Imamiya}}
| stations                        = 19
| routes                          = 
| daily_ridership                 = 984,395 (FY2015)<ref name="jrwest2014data">{{cite web|url= http://www.mlit.go.jp/common/001179750.pdf|script-title= ja: 平成27年 大都市交通センサス 近畿圈報告書 }}</ref>
| open                            = April 5, 1898 (first section)<br />April 25, 1961 (entire line)
| owner                           = [[JR West]]
| operator                        = JR West<br>[[JR Freight]]
| character                       = 
| depot                           = Morinomiya
| stock                           = [[323 series]]<br />[[221 series]]<br />[[223 series#223-0, 223-2500 series|223-0 series]]<br />[[223 series#223-0, 223-2500 series|223-2500 series]]<br />[[223 series#223-5000 series|225-5000 series]]<br />[[271 series]]<br />[[281 series]]<br />[[283 series]]<br />[[287 series]]<br />[[289 series]]
| linelength_km                   = 21.7
| tracks                          = 3 (Fukushima — Nishikujo)<br>[[Double-track railway|2]] (other sections)
| gauge                           = {{RailGauge|1067mm|lk=on}}
| minradius                       = 
| racksystem                      = 
| routenumber                     = 
| electrification                 = {{1,500 V DC}} ([[overhead line]])
| trainprotection                 = ATS-P
| signalling                      = [[Automatic block signaling|Automatic block signalling]]
| speed_km/h                      = 100
| website                         = 
| map                             = [[File:JRwest-Osaka-Loop-Line-MAP.jpg|320px]]
| map_state                       = 
}}
The {{Nihongo|'''Osaka Loop Line'''|大阪環状線|Ōsaka kanjō-sen}} is a railway [[Circle route|loop line]] in Japan operated by the [[West Japan Railway Company]] (JR West). It encircles central [[Osaka]].

Part of a second, outer loop line, the [[Osaka Higashi Line]], from [[Hanaten Station|Hanaten]] to [[Kyuhoji Station|Kyuhoji]] was opened on March 15, 2008, and the line from [[Shigino Station|Shigino]] to [[Shin-Ōsaka Station|Shin-Ōsaka]] opened in March 2019. This entry covers the original central loop line.

==Outline==
The loop line consists of two tracks around the heart of metropolitan Osaka. All train services consist of eight cars, with distinctive orange color with white [[Japan Railways|JR]] graphics on the front, rear and sides. The train schedule varies, but on average, two trains leave [[Tennōji Station]] and [[Ōsaka Station]] every five minutes, in opposite directions.

==Operation==
{{routemap
|title =Osaka Loop Line trains
|title bg    =#e80000
|map1-title=Osaka Loop Line trains
|map1 =
\exSTRl\exHSTq\exSTRr\
xABZg+l\STRq\HSTq\STRq\STR+r~~{{STN|Osaka}}
STR\\KBHFaq\STR+r\STR
STR\\\HST\HST~~{{STN|Kyōbashi|Osaka}}
HST\\\STR\STR~~{{STN|Nishikujō}}
STR\\KBHFaq\STRr\STR
ABZlxr\eABZql\HSTq\STRq\xABZqr+xr~~{{STN|Tennōji}}

|map2-title =JR Yumesaki Line through trains
|map2 =
\xABZg+l\STRq\HSTq\STR+r~~{{STN|Osaka}}
\STR\\\BHF~~{{STN|Kyōbashi|Osaka}}
\HST\\\STR~~{{STN|Nishikujō}}
KBHFaq\xABZgr\\\STR~~{{STN|Sakurajima}}
\exSTRl\exABZql\KBHFxaq\xABZqr+xr~~{{STN|Tennōji}}

|map3-title=Yamatoji Rapid, Regional Rapid
|map3 =
xABZg+l\HSTq\STRq\STR+r\~~{{STN|Osaka}}
STR\\\HST\~~{{STN|Kyōbashi|Osaka}}
HST\\\STR\~~{{STN|Nishikujō}}
eABZgr\\KBHFaq\STRr\~~{{STN|Tennōji}}
STRl\eABZql\HSTq\eABZq+r\STR+r
\\\\BHF~~{{STN|Nara}}
\\\\KBHFe~~{{STN|Kamo|Kyoto}}

|map4-title=Kansai Airport Rapid,<br />
Kishūji Rapid, Direct Rapid
|map4 =
\xABZg+l\HSTq\STRq\STR+r\~~{{STN|Osaka}}
\STR\\\BHF\~~{{STN|Kyōbashi|Osaka}}
\HST\\\STR\~~{{STN|Nishikujō}}
\eABZgr\\KBHFaq\STRr\~~{{STN|Tennōji}}
STRl\eABZql\HSTq\xABZqxr+r
\\\STR
\FLUG\KBHFaq\ABZgr~~{{STN|Kansai Airport}}
\\\KBHFe~~{{STN|Wakayama}}

|map5-title=Haruka
|map5 =
\\KHSTa~~{{STN|Yasu|Shiga}}
\\BHF~~{{STN|Kyoto}}
\\BHF~~{{STN|Shin-Ōsaka}}
STR+l\STRq\xABZgr
eKRZu\exHSTq\exSTRr
\eABZg+l\exHSTq\exSTRq\exSTR+r
\STR\\\exHST
\ABZlxr\eABZql\BHFq\xABZqxr+r~~{{STN|Tennōji}}
\\\\STR
\\FLUG\KBHFaq\xABZgr~~{{STN|Kansai Airport}}

|map6-title=Kuroshio
|map6 =
\\KBHFa~~{{STN|Kyoto}}
\\BHF~~{{STN|Shin-Ōsaka}}
STR+l\STRq\xABZgr
eKRZu\exHSTq\exSTRr
\eABZg+l\exHSTq\exSTRq\exSTR+r
\STR\\\exHST
\HST\\\exSTR~~ ~~ ~~{{STN|Nishikujō}}
\ABZlxr\eABZql\BHFq\xABZqxr+r~~{{STN|Tennōji}}
\\\\STR
\\\\eABZgr
\\\\HST~~ ~~ ~~{{STN|Wakayama}}
\\\\KBHFe~~{{STN|Shingū}}
}}

On this line, JR West operates several types of trains. The line serves as a link between Ōsaka Station in northern Osaka (actually the Umeda district), and Tennōji in southern central Osaka. Some [[Limited Express]] trains linking north and south of the [[Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto|Osaka–Kobe–Kyoto]] area use the line as a bypass between the [[Tōkaidō Main Line]] in the north and the [[Hanwa Line]] in the south. Traffic is heavier in the eastern half, Osaka–Kyōbashi–Tennōji, than in the western half via Nishi-Kujō.

===Direction===
The completely loop shaped Osaka Loop Line is unable to use the {{Nihongo|"up"|上り|Nobori}} and {{Nihongo|"down"|下り|Kudari}} [[Rail directions|rail direction]] convention usually applied to JR lines. Instead, the words {{Nihongo|"outer loop" (running clockwise)|外回り|Soto mawari}} and the {{Nihongo|"inner loop" (running counter-clockwise)|内回り|Uchi mawari}} are used to refer to the direction of the train, similar to the [[Yamanote Line|Yamanote line]] in [[Tokyo]].

For purposes of rail registration of the line at the [[Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism]],<ref>[[Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (Japan)|Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport]] (2001) {{Nihongo|''Railway directory: FY [[Heisei]] 13th ed.''|鉄道要覧平成13年度版|Tetsudō Yōran Heisei 13 nendo-ban}}, Tokyo: {{Nihongo||鉄道図書刊行会 or 電気車研究会|Tetsudō Tosho Kankōkai or Denkisha Kenkyūkai}} {{ISBN|4-88548-099-X}}</ref> the inner loop is considered "down".

===Local===
Local trains are operated all day. Some operate over the complete loop, while some serve the eastern half between Osaka and Tennōji via Kyōbashi.

Eight-car EMUs of [[323 series]] are used. 221 series, 223 series and 225 series are used only for morning rush.

===Sakurajima Line trains===
Trains of the [[Sakurajima Line|Sakurajima Line (JR Yumesaki Line)]] are now operated through to the loop line to/from Kyōbashi and Tennoji.

Eight-car [[323 series]] EMUs are used.

===Rapids of Kansai Main Line===
Through trains to the [[Kansai Main Line]] ([[Yamatoji Line]]) began operated in 1973. {{Nihongo|"Yamatoji Rapid"|大和路快速|Yamatoji Kaisoku}} and {{Nihongo|"Regional Rapid"|区間快速|Kukan Kaisoku}} trains originate at Tennōji on the loop, passing the loop as "inner" via Osaka, and after stopping at Tennōji after a complete circuit, exit the loop onto the Kansai Main Line and terminate at {{STN|Kamo|Kyoto}}, {{STN|Nara}} or {{STN|Ōji|Nara}}. In the loop, Yamatoji Rapids pass some stations while Regional Rapids stop all.

For "Yamatoji Rapid" and "Regional Rapid", usually 8-car and 4+4 car [[221 series]] EMUs are used.

===Rapids of Hanwa Line===
Trains to the [[Hanwa Line]], {{Nihongo|"Kansai Airport Rapid"|関空快速|Kankū Kaisoku}} for {{STN|Kansai Airport}} and {{Nihongo|Kishūji Rapid|紀州路快速|Kishūji Kaisoku}} for {{STN|Wakayama}} originate at either Tennoji or Kyobashi, and together with other types of rapid trains, operate on the inner loop via Osaka, pausing at Tennoji and then exiting from the loop. This pattern commenced in 1989, but increased significantly in 1994 on the opening of [[Kansai Airport]].

8-car [[223 series]] and [[225 series]] EMUs in 4+4 formations are used for Kansai Airport and Kishūji rapids. [[113 series]] 4-car units were used for rapids of Shin-Ōsaka - {{STN|Kii-Tanabe}} in early morning and late night. They were withdrawn in 2010.

===Limited express===
Charged Limited Express services such as ''[[Haruka (train)|Haruka]]'' for [[Kansai International Airport]], and south bound [[Kuroshio (train)|''Kuroshio'']] on the [[Hanwa Line]] and [[Kisei Main Line|Kisei Main Line (Kinokuni Line)]] heading for the scenic southern [[Wakayama Prefecture]] utilize the Osaka Loop Line to bypass the Tōkaidō Main Line and reach the Hanwa Line. On the loop, aside from Tennōji, limited numbers of trains stop only at Nishi-Kujō.

Between the Tōkaidō Main Line and the Osaka Loop Line, trains utilize the {{Ill|Umeda Freight Line|ja|梅田貨物線}} via a new underground route through Ōsaka Station, until it merges the main line at Shin-Ōsaka. This route was introduced in 1989 on the completion of a bypass track from the Hanwa Line to platforms of the Kansai Main Line at Tennōji. Until then no through operations were possible from the Hanwa Line.

[[281 series]] and [[271 series]] EMUs are used for ''Haruka'', [[283 series]] EMUs, [[287 series]] EMUs and [[289 series]] EMUs for ''Kuroshio''.

===Freight trains===
After the abandonment of the Naniwa freight terminal, freight trains on the line operate only between Fukushima and Nishikujō, from the "Umeda Freight Line" to {{STN|Ajikawaguchi}} on the Sakurajima Line (JR Yumesaki Line).

==Stations==
Listed counterclockwise: All stations are in the city of [[Osaka]], [[Osaka Prefecture]].
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! No.
! colspan="2" | Station
! Distance (km)
! Transfers
! Location
|-
| colspan="6" style="text-align:center"|'''↑ Loop line towards [[Shin-Imamiya Station|Shin-Imamiya]] ↑'''
|-
|{{RouteBox|JR-O01|Osaka Loop Line|#e80000}}
| {{STN|Tennōji}} 
|天王寺|| align="right" | 11.0 || 
{{plainlist|
*[[File:JRW kinki-Q.svg|20px]] Kansai Main Line (Yamatoji Line) ({{RouteBox|Q20||#00a497}})
*[[File:JRW kinki-R.svg|20px]] [[Hanwa Line]] ({{RouteBox|R20||#ff6600|Black}})
*Osaka Metro: 
**{{rint|osaka|midosuji|size=20}} Midōsuji Line (M23)
**{{rint|osaka|tanimachi|size=20}} Tanimachi Line (T27)
*[[Kintetsu Railway|Kintetsu]]
**[[File:KT number-F.svg|20px|F]] [[Minami Osaka Line]] (F01: [[Osaka Abenobashi Station]])
*[[file:Number prefix Hankai Tramway line.svg|20px]] [[Hankai Uemachi Line]] (HN01: [[Tennoji-ekimae Station]])
*(Nankai Main Line [[Tennoji Branch]] - closed 1993)
|}}
| rowspan="5"| [[Tennōji-ku, Osaka|Tennōji]]
|-
|{{RouteBox|JR-O02|Osaka Loop Line|#e80000}}
| {{STN|Teradachō}} 
|寺田町|| align="right" | 12.0 || &nbsp;
|-
|{{RouteBox|JR-O03|Osaka Loop Line|#e80000}}
| {{STN|Momodani}} 
|桃谷|| align="right" | 13.2 || &nbsp;
|-
|{{RouteBox|JR-O04|Osaka Loop Line|#e80000}}
| {{STN|Tsuruhashi}} 
|鶴橋|| align="right" | 14.0 || [[File:KT number-A.svg|20px|A]] [[Kintetsu Nara Line]] (A04),  [[File:KT number-D.svg|20px|D]] [[Osaka Line]] (D04)<br />Osaka Metro: {{rint|osaka|sennichimae|size=20}} Sennichimae Line (S19)
|-
|{{RouteBox|JR-O05|Osaka Loop Line|#e80000}}
| {{STN|Tamatsukuri}} 
|玉造|| align="right" | 14.9 || Osaka Metro: {{rint|osaka|nagahori|size=20}} Nagahori Tsurumi-ryokuchi Line (N19)
|-
|{{RouteBox|JR-O06|Osaka Loop Line|#e80000}}
| {{STN|Morinomiya}} 
|森ノ宮|| align="right" | 15.8 || Osaka Metro: {{rint|osaka|chuo|size=20}} Chūō Line (C19), {{rint|osaka|nagahori|size=20}} Nagahori Tsurumi-ryokuchi Line (N20) || [[Chūō-ku, Osaka|Chūō]]
|-
|{{RouteBox|JR-O07|Osaka Loop Line|#e80000}}
| {{STN|Osakajō-kōen}} 
|大阪城公園|| align="right" | 16.7 || &nbsp; || rowspan=2| [[Jōtō-ku, Osaka|Jōtō]]
|-
|{{RouteBox|JR-O08|Osaka Loop Line|#e80000}}
| {{STN|Kyōbashi|Osaka}} 
|京橋|| align="right" | 17.5 || [[File:JRW kinki-H.svg|20px]] [[Katamachi Line|Katamachi Line (Gakkentoshi Line)]]/[[File:JRW kinki-H.svg|20px]][[JR Tōzai Line]] ({{RouteBox|H41||#ff1493}})<br />[[file:Number prefix Keihan lines.svg|20px]] [[Keihan Main Line]] (KH03)<br />Osaka Metro: {{rint|osaka|nagahori|size=20}} Nagahori Tsurumi-ryokuchi Line (N22)
|-
|{{RouteBox|JR-O09|Osaka Loop Line|#e80000}}
| {{STN|Sakuranomiya}} 
|桜ノ宮|| align="right" | 19.3 || &nbsp; || [[Miyakojima-ku, Osaka|Miyakojima]]
|-
|{{RouteBox|JR-O10|Osaka Loop Line|#e80000}}
| {{STN|Temma}} 
|天満|| align="right" | 20.1 || Osaka Metro: {{rint|osaka|sakaisuji|size=20}} [[Sakaisuji Line]] (K12: [[Ōgimachi Station (Osaka)|Ōgimachi Station]]) || Kita
|-
|{{RouteBox|JR-O11|Osaka Loop Line|#e80000}}
| {{STN|Ōsaka}} 
|大阪|| align="right" | 0.0 || [[Tōkaidō Main Line]] ( [[File:JRW kinki-A.svg|20px]] [[JR Kyoto Line]] ({{RouteBox|A47||#0072bc}}), [[File:JRW kinki-A.svg|20px]] [[JR Kobe Line]] ({{RouteBox|A47||#0072bc}}), [[File:JRW kinki-G.svg|20px]] [[JR Takarazuka Line]] ({{RouteBox|G47||#ffcc00|Black}})), [[File:JRW kinki-F.svg|20px]] [[Osaka Higashi Line]] ({{RouteBox|F01||#335099}}), [[File:JRW kinki-H.svg|20px]] [[JR Tōzai Line]] ({{RouteBox|H44|Kitashinchi Station|#ff1493}}:[[Kitashinchi Station]])<br />[[Osaka Metro]]: {{rint|osaka|tanimachi|size=20}} [[Tanimachi Line]] (T20: [[Higashi-Umeda Station]]), {{rint|osaka|yotsubashi|size=20}}[[Yotsubashi Line]] (Y11: [[Nishi-Umeda Station]]), {{rint|osaka|midosuji|size=20}} [[Midōsuji Line]] (M16: [[Umeda Station]])<br />[[Hankyu Railway|Hankyu]]: [[file:Number prefix Hankyu Kōbe line.svg|20px]] [[Hankyū Kōbe Line|Kōbe Line]], [[file:Number prefix Hankyu Kyōto line.svg|20px]] [[Hankyu Kyoto Line|Kyoto Line]], [[file:Number prefix Hankyu Takarazuka line.svg|20px]] [[Hankyu Takarazuka Line|Takarazuka Line]] (HK-01:Osaka-umeda Station)<br />[[file:Number prefix Hanshin line.svg|20px]] [[Hanshin Main Line]] (HS 01:Osaka-umeda Station)   || [[Kita-ku, Osaka|Kita]]
|-
|{{RouteBox|JR-O12|Osaka Loop Line|#e80000}}
| [[Fukushima Station (Osaka)|Fukushima]]
|福島|| align="right" | 1.0 || [[File:JRW kinki-H.svg|20px]] JR Tōzai Line ({{RouteBox|H45||#ff1493}}:[[Shin-Fukushima Station]])<br />[[file:Number prefix Hanshin line.svg|20px]] Hanshin Main Line (HS 02)<br />[[file:Number prefix Keihan lines.svg|20px]] [[Keihan Nakanoshima Line]] (KH54:[[Nakanoshima Station (Osaka)|Nakanoshima Station]])|| rowspan=2| [[Fukushima-ku, Osaka|Fukushima]]
|-
|{{RouteBox|JR-O13|Osaka Loop Line|#e80000}}
| {{STN|Noda|JR West}} 
|野田|| align="right" | 2.4 || Osaka Metro: {{rint|osaka|sennichimae|size=20}} [[Sennichimae Line]] (S12: [[Tamagawa Station (Osaka)|Tamagawa Station]])
|-
|{{RouteBox|JR-O14|Osaka Loop Line|#e80000}}
| {{STN|Nishikujō}} 
|西九条|| align="right" | 3.6 || [[File:JRW kinki-P.svg|20px]] [[Sakurajima Line|Sakurajima Line (JR Yumesaki Line)]] ({{RouteBox|P14||#414fa3}})<br />[[file:Number prefix Hanshin line.svg|20px]] [[Hanshin Namba Line]] (HS 45) || [[Konohana-ku, Osaka|Konohana]]
|-
|{{RouteBox|JR-O15|Osaka Loop Line|#e80000}}
| {{STN|Bentenchō}} 
|弁天町|| align="right" | 5.2 || Osaka Metro: {{rint|osaka|chuo|size=20}} [[Chūō Line (Osaka)|Chūō Line]] (C13) || [[Minato-ku, Osaka|Minato]]
|-
|{{RouteBox|JR-O16|Osaka Loop Line|#e80000}}
| {{STN|Taishō|Osaka}} 
|大正|| align="right" | 7.0 || Osaka Metro: {{rint|osaka|nagahori|size=20}} [[Nagahori Tsurumi-ryokuchi Line]] (N11) || [[Taisho-ku, Osaka|Taishō]]
|-
|{{RouteBox|JR-O17|Osaka Loop Line|#e80000}}
| {{STN|Ashiharabashi}} 
|芦原橋|| align="right" | 8.2 || || rowspan=3| [[Naniwa-ku, Osaka|Naniwa]]
|-
|{{RouteBox|JR-O18|Osaka Loop Line|#e80000}}
| {{STN|Imamiya}} 
|今宮|| align="right" | 8.8 || [[File:JRW kinki-Q.svg|20px]] [[Kansai Main Line]] ([[Yamatoji Line]]) {{RouteBox|Q18||#00a497}}
|-
|{{RouteBox|JR-O19|Osaka Loop Line|#e80000}}
| {{STN|Shin-Imamiya}} 
|新今宮|| align="right" | 10.0 || [[File:JRW kinki-Q.svg|20px]] Kansai Main Line (Yamatoji Line) {{RouteBox|Q19||#00a497}}<br />[[Nankai Electric Railway|Nankai]] (NK03): [[file:Nankai mainline symbol.svg|20px]] [[Nankai Main Line]], [[file:Nankai koya line simbole.svg|20px]] [[Nankai Kōya Line|Kōya Line]]<br />Osaka Metro: {{rint|osaka|midosuji|size=20}} Midōsuji Line (M22: [[Dōbutsuen-mae Station]]), {{rint|osaka|sakaisuji|size=20}} [[Sakaisuji Line]] (K19: Dōbutsuen-mae Station)<br />[[file:Number prefix Hankai Tramway line.svg|20px]] [[Hankai Line]] (HN52: [[Minami-Kasumichō Station]])
|-
| colspan="6" style="text-align:center"| '''↓ Loop line towards {{STN|Tennōji}} ↓''' 
|}

===Stopping patterns===

;Stations
*● : All trains stop.
*▲ : Stop, outer loop (Tennoji → Nishikujo → Osaka → Kyobashi → Tennoji)
*Number: Track (Platform) numbers to arrive at and depart from.
*<nowiki>|</nowiki> : All trains skip

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Station
!style="background-color:#ddd;width:2.4em;line-height:1.5em;border-bottom:solid 2px #e80000"|Local<br />普通
!style="background-color:#cdf;width:2.4em;line-height:1.5em;border-bottom:solid 2px #0A318E"|Local<br />普通
!style="background-color:#cfc;width:2.4em;line-height:1.5em;border-bottom:solid 2px #093"|Regional Rapid<br />区間快速
!style="background-color:#ada;width:2.4em;line-height:1.5em;border-bottom:solid 2px #093"|Yamatoji Rapid<br />大和路快速
!style="background-color:#feb;width:2.4em;line-height:1.5em;border-bottom:solid 2px #f60"|Direct Rapid<br />直通快速
!style="background-color:#feb;width:2.4em;line-height:1.5em;border-bottom:solid 2px #f60" |Rapid<br />快速
!style="background-color:#feb;width:2.4em;line-height:1.5em;border-bottom:solid 2px #f60" |Kishuji Rapid<br />紀州路快速
!style="background-color:#feb;width:2.4em;line-height:1.5em;border-bottom:solid 2px #f60" |Kansai Airport<br />Rapid<br />関空快速
|-
|style="width:5em;"|Tennoji
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#ddd;"|●<br />11-14
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#cdf;"|●<br />11-14
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#cfc;"|●<br />11-14
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#ada;"|●<br />11-14
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#feb;"|▲<br />13, 14
| style="text-align:center; background-color:#feb;" |●<br />11-14
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#feb;"|●<br />11-14
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#feb;"|●<br />11-14
|-
|style="width:5em;"|Teradacho
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#ddd;"|●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#cdf;"|●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#cfc;"|●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#ada;"|●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#feb;"|▲
| style="text-align:center; background-color:#feb;" |●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#feb;"|●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#feb;"|●
|-
|style="width:5em;"|Momodani
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#ddd;"|●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#cdf;"|●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#cfc;"|●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#ada;"|●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#feb;"|▲
| style="text-align:center; background-color:#feb;" |●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#feb;"|●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#feb;"|●
|-
|style="width:5em;"|Tsuruhashi
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#ddd;"|●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#cdf;"|●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#cfc;"|●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#ada;"|●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#feb;"|▲
| style="text-align:center; background-color:#feb;" |●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#feb;"|●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#feb;"|●
|-
|style="width:5em;"|Tamatsukuri
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#ddd;"|●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#cdf;"|●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#cfc;"|●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#ada;"|●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#feb;"|▲
| style="text-align:center; background-color:#feb;" |●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#feb;"|●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#feb;"|●
|-
|style="width:5em;"|Morinomiya
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#ddd;"|●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#cdf;"|●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#cfc;"|●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#ada;"|●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#feb;"|▲
| style="text-align:center; background-color:#feb;" |●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#feb;"|●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#feb;"|●
|-
|style="width:5em;"|Osakajokoen
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#ddd;"|●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#cdf;"|●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#cfc;"|●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#ada;"|●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#feb;"|▲
| style="text-align:center; background-color:#feb;" |●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#feb;"|●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#feb;"|●
|-
|style="width:5em;"|Kyobashi
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#ddd;"|●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#cdf;"|●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#cfc;"|●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#ada;"|●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#feb;"|▲
| style="text-align:center; background-color:#feb;" |●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#feb;"|●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#feb;"|●
|-
|style="width:5em;"|Sakuranomiya
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#ddd;"|●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#cdf;"|●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#cfc;"|●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#ada;"|●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#feb;"|▲
| style="text-align:center; background-color:#feb;" |●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#feb;"|●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#feb;"|●
|-
|style="width:5em;"|Temma
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#ddd;"|●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#cdf;"|●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#cfc;"|●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#ada;"|●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#feb;"|▲
| style="text-align:center; background-color:#feb;" |●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#feb;"|●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#feb;"|●
|-
|style="width:5em;"|Osaka
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#ddd;"|●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#cdf;"|●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#cfc;"|●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#ada;"|●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#feb;"|▲
| style="text-align:center; background-color:#feb;" |●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#feb;"|●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#feb;"|●
|-
|style="width:5em;"|Fukushima
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#ddd;"|●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#cdf;"|●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#cfc;"|●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#ada;"|●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#feb;"|▲
| style="text-align:center; background-color:#feb;" |●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#feb;"|●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#feb;"|●
|-
|style="width:5em;"|Noda
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#ddd;"|●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#cdf;"|●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#cfc;"|●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#ada;"|<nowiki>|</nowiki>
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#feb;"|▲
| style="text-align:center; background-color:#feb;" |<nowiki>|</nowiki>
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#feb;"|<nowiki>|</nowiki>
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#feb;"|<nowiki>|</nowiki>
|-
|style="width:5em;"|Nishikujo
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#ddd;"|●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#cdf;"|●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#cfc;"|●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#ada;"|●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#feb;"|▲
| style="text-align:center; background-color:#feb;" |●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#feb;"|●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#feb;"|●
|-
|style="width:5em;"|Bentencho 
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#ddd;"|●
| rowspan="6" style="width:5em;text-align:center;"|  
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#cfc;"|●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#ada;"|●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#feb;"|▲
| style="text-align:center; background-color:#feb;" |●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#feb;"|●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#feb;"|●
|-
|style="width:5em;"|Taisho
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#ddd;"|●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#cfc;"|●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#ada;"|●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#feb;"|▲
| style="text-align:center; background-color:#feb;" |●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#feb;"|●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#feb;"|●
|-
|style="width:5em;"|Ashiharabashi
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#ddd;"|●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#cfc;"|●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#ada;"|<nowiki>|</nowiki>
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#feb;"|▲
| style="text-align:center; background-color:#feb;" |<nowiki>|</nowiki>
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#feb;"|<nowiki>|</nowiki>
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#feb;"|<nowiki>|</nowiki>
|-
|style="width:5em;"|Imamiya
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#ddd;"|●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#cfc;"|●
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#ada;"|<nowiki>|</nowiki>
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#feb;"|▲
| style="text-align:center; background-color:#feb;" |<nowiki>|</nowiki>
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#feb;"|<nowiki>|</nowiki>
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#feb;"|<nowiki>|</nowiki>
|-
|style="width:5em;"|Shin-Imamiya
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#ddd;"|●<BR>1, 4
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#cfc;"|●<br />2, 3
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#ada;"|●<br />2-4
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#feb;"|▲<br />3, 4
| style="text-align:center; background-color:#feb;" |●<br />2-4
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#feb;"|●<br />2-4
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#feb;"|●<br />2-4
|-
|style="width:5em;"|Tennoji
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#ddd;"|●<BR>11, 14
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#cfc;"|●<br />15-18
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#ada;"|●<br />15-18
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#feb;"|▲<br />18
| style="text-align:center; background-color:#feb;" |●<br />15, 18
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#feb;"|●<br />15, 18
|style="text-align:center; background-color:#feb;"|●<br />15, 18
|-
!style="width:5em;"|Through to/from
!style="width:5em;text-align:center;"|''&nbsp;Loop service in Osaka Loop Line''
! style="width:5em;text-align:center;"|[[Sakurajima Line|JR Yumesaki Line]]
!style="width:15em;text-align:center;" colspan=2|[[Yamatoji Line]]
! colspan="3" style="width:25em;text-align:center;" |[[Hanwa Line]]
!Hanwa Line &<br />[[Kansai Airport Line]]
|}


== Rolling stock ==

===Local===
* [[323 series]] (since 24 December 2016)

The first of a fleet of 21 new [[323 series]] eight-car EMU trains were introduced from 24 December 2016, scheduled to entirely replace the fleet of 23 103 and 201 series trains by 2018.<ref name="mynavi20161225">{{cite web |url= http://news.mynavi.jp/news/2016/12/25/146/|script-title=ja: 大阪環状線新型車両323系、日中3編成で活躍 - JRゆめ咲線(桜島線)も初運行 |trans-title= Three new Osaka Loop Line 323 series trains in service |first= Daisuke |last= Ueshin |date= 25 December 2016 |work= Mynavi News|publisher= Mynavi Corporation |location= Japan|language= ja|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161226025622/http://news.mynavi.jp/news/2016/12/25/146/ |archive-date= 26 December 2016 |url-status=live |access-date= 26 December 2016 }}</ref> As of December 2021, few of the remaining 103 series (from Nara Line) and 201 series (Osaka Higashi & Yamatoji Line) continue to be used on the Loop Line.

===Yamatoji Rapid, Regional Rapid===
* [[221 series]]

===Kansai Airport Rapid, Kishūji Rapid, Direct Rapid and Local===
* [[223 series]] (0 and 2500 subseries)
* [[225 series]] (5000 and 5100 subseries)

===Limited express===
* [[271 series]] (''[[Haruka (train)|Haruka]]'' service, from Spring 2020)
* [[281 series]] (''Haruka'' service)
* [[283 series]] (''[[Kuroshio (train)|Kuroshio]]'' service)
* [[287 series]] (''Kuroshio'' service)
* [[289 series]] (''Kuroshio'' service)

===Freight===
Locomotives seen hauling freight trains include the [[M250 series]], [[JNR Class EF65|EF65]], [[JNR Class EF66|EF66]], [[JNR Class EF81|EF81]], [[JR Freight Class EF210|EF210]] and [[JNR Class DE10|DE10]].

===Former===

====Passenger====
* [[72 series]]
* [[101 series]] (March 22, 1964 – April 28, 1991)
* [[103 series]] (1969 – 3 October 2017)<ref name="railfan20170905">{{cite web |url=http://railf.jp/news/2017/09/05/153000.html |script-title=ja: 大阪環状線の103系が10月3日をもって営業運転を終了 |trans-title=Osaka Loop Line 103 series to end operations on 3 October |date=5 September 2017|work=Japan Railfan Magazine Online|publisher=Koyusha Co., Ltd.|location=Japan|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170905234420/http://railf.jp/news/2017/09/05/153000.html |archive-date=5 September 2017|url-status=live |access-date=5 September 2017}}</ref>
* [[113 series]] (until December 10, 2011)
* [[381 series]] (''Kuroshio'' service, until October 30, 2015)
* [[201 series]] ( 2005 – 7 June 2019)<ref name="tetsudoch20190606">{{cite web |url=https://tetsudo-ch.com/7909302.html |script-title=ja: 明日6月7日、大阪環状線の201系が営業運転を終了します |trans-title=On June 7, the Osaka Loop Line 201 series will end the operation |date=6 June 2019|work=Tetsudo Channel Online |location=Japan|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190606170238/https://tetsudo-ch.com/7909302.html|archive-date=6 June 2019|url-status=live |access-date=7 June 2019}}</ref>

<gallery>
File:JRW-201 and 103 001JPN.JPG|103 series (left) and 201 series EMUs
</gallery>

====Freight====
* [[JNR Class DD51|DD51]]

==Fares==
A special discount rate is applied for travels within the Osaka Loop Line, the [[Sakurajima Line]] and the segment between [[JR Namba Station]] and Tennōji Station of the [[Kansai Main Line]] (collectively called the {{nihongo|Osaka Loop Zone|大阪環状線内|Ōsaka Kanjōsen-nai}}). The following table is the rate for adult single-ride tickets.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jr-odekake.net/railroad/ticket/guide/02.html#Yamanote|title=きっぷのルール|trans-title=Ticket Rules|author=West Japan Railway Company|language=ja|access-date=October 17, 2015}}</ref> (Note: Fractions of one kilometre are rounded up to the nearest full kilometre.)

{|class=wikitable
|-
!Kilometre!![[Yen]]
|-
|align=center|1–3||120
|-
|align=center|4–6||160
|-
|align=center|7–10||170
|-
|align=center|11–15||190
|-
|align=center|16–20||260
|}

For travel between a station within the zone and a station out of the zone or between two stations out of the zone, fares are calculated in accordance with a universal fare table and the discount rate as above is not applicable.

For the calculation of the fare for travel between two stations out of the zone that includes the segment between Ōsaka Station and Tennōji Station of the Osaka Loop Line, where two routes ({{convert|10.7|km|disp=or|abbr=on}} route via Temma and {{convert|11.0|km|disp=or|abbr=on}} route via Fukushima) are practical, the shorter route is always used irrespective of the actual travel route.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jr-odekake.net/guide/info_2b.html |script-title=ja:きっぷのルール |trans-title=Rules for tickets |language=ja |author=West Japan Railway Company |access-date=2008-02-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080124111732/http://www.jr-odekake.net/guide/info_2b.html |archive-date=2008-01-24}}</ref><ref>Section 69, West Japan Railway Company Terms and Conditions for Passenger Transport</ref>

==History==
The Ōsaka Loop Line consists of four segments, namely:
;Jōtō Line
:Eastern half of present line, Ōsaka – Tennōji via Kyōbashi
;Nishinari Line
:The northwestern quarter, Osaka – Nishi-Kujō
;Kansai Main Line freight line
:Southwestern portion, Tennōji – Sakaigawa Junction
;Purpose-built section
:The remainder to complete the loop, Nishi-Kujō – Sakaigawa Junction

===Jōtō Line===
The Ōsaka to Tennōji via Kyōbashi section (the eastern half of Osaka Loop Line) was opened by the {{Nihongo|Osaka Railway|大阪鉄道|Osaka Tetsudō}} (which also opened the present [[Minami Osaka Line]] network) to link it to the Japanese Government Railway ('''JGR''') network in 1895. The line was opened in 2 stages: Tennōji – Tamatsukuri (2&nbsp;mi. 28 [[chain (unit)|chain]], ca. 3.8&nbsp;km) on 28 May; and Tamatsukuri – Umeda (4&nbsp;mi. 29 chain, ca. 7.0&nbsp;km) on 17 October.

Earlier, in 1889, the company opened its main line from {{STN|Kashiwara}} – Tennōji – {{Nihongo|Minatomachi|湊町||present {{STN|JR Namba}} }} which includes a short section of the Osaka Loop Line, being Tennōji – {{STN|Imamiya}}; Imamiya station itself, located between Tennōji and Minatomachi, was opened in 1890.

The Osaka Railway merged with the {{Nihongo|Kansai Railway|関西鉄道|Kansai Tetsudō|also read as Kansei or Kwansai}} in 1900, creating a single entity for the line from Tennōji Station to [[Japanese Government Railways|JGR]] Ōsaka Station. The Kansai Railway was acquired by the national government in 1907 under the 1906 [[Railway Nationalization Act]]. In 1909 the line was named the {{Nihongo|"Jōtō Line"|城東線|Jōtō sen}}.

In 1930, distrances were changed to metric, thus the distance changed from 6.6&nbsp;miles. to 10.7&nbsp;km. Electrification of the Jōtō Line was commissioned in 1933.

===Nishinari Line===
The Osaka to Nishi-Kujō section (the northwestern quarter of the line) was built by the {{Nihongo|Nishinari Railway|西成鉄道|Nishinari Tetsudō}} to provide rail access to the Osaka Port. In 1898, the company opened the Osaka – {{STN|Ajikawaguchi}} line, which was leased to JGR in 1904. In 1906 the company was nationalized under the act of the same year. In 1909, the line was named the {{Nihongo|"Nishinari Line"|西成線|Nishinari sen}} which included the present-day [[Sakurajima Line]].

The Nishinari Line was electrified in 1941.

===Kansai Main Line Freight Line===
The Tennōji to Sakaigawa Signal Box (between Taishō and Bentenchō, closed in 2006 when the branch to the port closed) section (south-western portion of the loop) was constructed for freight traffic by the JGR to the port area in 1928, connecting to a freight branch line of the [[Kansai Main Line]], Imamiya – {{Nihongo|Naniwa|浪速}} – {{Nihongo|Osaka-minato|大阪港||apart from the present [[Ōsakakō Station]] on the [[Osaka Municipal Subway]] [[Chūō Line (Osaka)|Chūō Line]]}} with a distance of 5.2&nbsp;mi. (ca. 8.4&nbsp;km). In 1930 with the change to metric measurement, it became 8.2&nbsp;km. The former Osaka-Minato and Osaka-Tōkō stations were closed in 1984.

===Purpose-built loop line section===
To complete the Loop Line, new tracks were constructed between Nishi-Kujō and Sakaigawa Signal Box by the then [[Japanese National Railways]]. In 1961, this section opened and the new Osaka Loop Line was named for the entirety of the then Jōtō Line, Osaka – Nishi-Kujō section of the Nishinari Line (the rest, Nishi-Kujō – Sakurajima was named the [[Sakurajima Line]]) and the new Nishi-Kujō – Taishō – Tennōji section.

In 1964, operation as a complete Loop Line commenced with the opening of elevated double tracks around Nishi-Kujō. Until then the operation had been undertaken in the shape of a mirrored "6", Sakurajima – Nishi-Kujō – Osaka – Kyōbashi – Tennōji – Nishi-Kujō. The Tennōji – Shin-Imamiya section was quadrupled in 1968, to separate operations from the Kansai Main Line.

==See also==
*[[Yamanote Line]]
*[[Osaka Higashi Line]]

==References==
This article incorporates material from the corresponding article in the Japanese Wikipedia
{{Reflist}}

{{Osaka transit}}
{{West Japan Railway Company Lines}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Osaka Loop Line| ]]
[[Category:Railway loop lines]]
[[Category:Railway lines opened in 1898]]
[[Category:1067 mm gauge railways in Japan]]