生駒駅に到着した400系と駅名標 400 Series stopping at Ikoma Station and a sign board
生駒駅に停車する400系 400 Series stopping at Ikoma Station
After watching Yumeshima Station, I started my travel on Osaka Metro 400 Series. I boarded a train for Ikoma operated by 406-11F set.
400 Series is the latest model on Osaka Metro Chuo Line, which debuted in 2023. It was designed by Ken Okuyama, former Osaka Metro's Chief Design Officer (2018 - 2023) and also known as the designer of JR East E235 Series on Yamanote and Yokosuka Lines and E001 Series "TRAIN SUITE SHIKISHIMA" cruise train.
Because of its unique design and accommodation reflecting passengers' voices, it was awarded the Laurel Prize in 2024 by Japan Railfan Club. It was the third time Osaka Metro (including the former Osaka Municipal Subway) carriage won the prize, following 60 Series on Sakaisuji Line in 1970 and 70 Series on Nagahori-tsurumiryokuchi Line in 1991.
The thousands place digit of conventional Osaka Metro carriages (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 66, and 30000 Series) with a 5-figure number meant the line; for example, "1" is for Midosuji Line, "2" for Tanimachi Line, "3" for Yotsubashi Line, "4" for Chuo Line, "5" for Sennichimae Line, and "6" for Sakaisuji Line. However, the digit of 400 Series is "0" because it was manufactured and is in service only for Chuo Line.
I watched the interior of the train before its departure. The five among a 6-carriage set accommodate longitudinal seats. The ones between the side doors are for five passengers, and those at the end are for three. The regular seats are green-coloured, and the priority seats are blue-coloured. USB charging ports are at the end of both front carriages.
The fourth carriage from Yumeshima (408-00) equips transverse seats. Facing the direction of Nagata, Ikoma, and Gakken-nara-tomigaoka, the right-side seats face forward, and the left-side do backwards.
I sat on a forward-facing transverse seat.
The time to depart came, and a departure sign jingle, newly composed for the opening of Yumeshima Station, rang over the platform.
The train entered the Yumesaki Tunnel under Osaka Bay between Yumeshima and Sakishima, where Cosmosquare Station is.
At the same time as the opening of Yumeshima Station, the train's maximum speed improved up to 95 km/59 mi per hour between Yumeshima Station and Osaka Port Station.
The train ran into Osaka Port Sakishima Tunnel from Cosmosquare Station and pulled out of the tunnel before arriving at Osaka Port Station.
Osaka Port Station was under refurbishment construction. The roof over the platform and the wall looked completed, but a semi-open-air observation deck at the Yumeshima end didn't open.
After leaving Osaka Port Station, I could see Tempozan Ohashi Bridge over Ajigawa River on my left.
The train runs up to 70 km/ 43.5 mi per hour from Osaka Port Station. The railway spread above Minato-dori Street or Chuo-odori Street. The line nickname "Chuo Line" came from Chuo-odori Street because most parts spread above or under the street.
Hanshin Expressway Route 16 Osaka Port Line also runs above the railway between Asashiobashi Station and Awaza Station. The railway goes up to almost the same level as the expressway, and the eastbound and westbound lanes of the expressway are separated into right and left around Bentencho Station and Kujo Station.
The train went underground again from Awaza Station. I saw some old-design signs in the Osaka Municipal Subway period remain on the station.
Many passengers got off at Hommachi Station because of the transfer station to Midosuji Line toward Shin-osaka, Umeda, Namba, and Tennoji Areas.
Sakaisuji-hommachi Station was also under refurbishment with wooden-pattern columns and a warm atmosphere. The opposite-bound platform is separated to keep away from the underground structure of Semba Center Building.
Tanimachi-4chome Station was also under refurbishment. The refurbished atmosphere creates traditional Japan because Osaka Castle and Osaka Museum of History are nearby. The refurbishment will finish in Summer 2025.
The train approached track 2 at Morinomiya Station, where passengers can transfer to Nagahori-tsurumiryokuchi Line and JR West Osaka Loop Line. Another set (406-15F) was stopping at track 1.
The train went eastside of Osaka Loop Line. It was my first time to travel further than Midoribashi Station.
Fukaebashi, Takaida, and Nagata Stations remained the signs in the Municipal Subway period and don't have refurbishing plans.
Though Nagata is the end point of Chuo Line, the train kept travelling to Kintetsu Keihanna Line to Ikoma Station. Almost all Chuo Line trains go through Keihanna Line.
It was also my first time travelling on Keihanna Line because I had a QR-code ticket valid on both lines.
Between Nagata and Aramoto is a partially roofless area under Hanshin Expressway Higashi-osaka Line.
The train went up on a lower layer of a double-layered viaduct with the expressway between Aramoto and Yoshita. Yoshita Station is located under the expressway, which has a unique atmosphere.
The overhead expressway was separated right and left and went underground between Yoshita and Shin-ishikiri. I could see Mt. Ikoma over the train window. Crossing the Onchi River, the train arrived at Shin-ishikiri Station.
From Shin-ishikiri Station, the train ran into the 4,737 m/15,541.3 ft-long Ikoma Tunnel under Mt. Ikoma. It takes about 6 minutes from the start to the end.
Soon after pulling out of the tunnel, the train approached Ikoma terminal.