Sakurajima Line - History - Chronology

Chronology

  • April 5, 1898: Nishinari Railway from Osaka to Ajikawaguchi (5.79 km) opens
  • December 1, 1904: Leased by Railway Operation Bureau
  • April 1, 1905: Ajikawaguchi - Tenpōzan section (1.61 km) opens; leased at same time
  • December 1, 1906: Nationalized by JGR
  • October 12, 1909: Line named "Nishinari Line" by JGR
  • April 15, 1910: Sakurajima Station opens; Sakurajima - Tenpozan section demolished
  • May 1, 1934: Gasoline multiple unit (MU) service begins, using KiHa 42000 train cars
  • January 29, 1940: Gasoline MU derailment and fire at Ajikawaguchi station kills 189 and injures 69
  • May 1, 1941: Osaka - Sakurajima section electrified (1,500 V DC).
  • November 21, 1943: Freight branch line established between Ajikawaguchi and Osaka
  • April 25, 1961: Osaka Loop Line service begins; Nishi-kujo - Sakurajima section separated and renamed the "Sakurajima Line"
  • March 1, 1966: Sakurajima Station relocated 0.5 km east
  • November 15, 1982: Freight branch line between Ajikawaguchi and Osaka Hokukō abolished
  • April 1, 1987: With the privatization of JNR, Sakurajima Line becomes part of JR West
  • April 1, 1999: Ajikawaguchi - Sakurajima section moved to avoid planned USJ theme park; Sakurajima Station moved 0.1 km west
  • May 9, 1999: Through operation from Osaka Loop Line stopped due to construction of Universal City Station
  • March 1, 2001: Universal City Station opens; Sakurajima Line also referred to as "JR Yumesaki Line" by JR West
  • March 3, 2001: Through operation from Osaka Loop Line restarts
  • December 16, 2005: 201 series trains enter service
  • October 1, 2008: All station platforms become non-smoking; designated smoking areas on platforms are abolished (concourse smoking rooms were removed in October 2003)

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