New Trains For The Osaka Metro

Osaka Metro has introduced a new Class 400 with an unusual front design. Osaka Metro Company, the city-owned operator of Osaka's subway lines, has ordered 23 six-car EMUs for the Chuo (meaning central) line, identified in green. The line will be extended to the site of the Expo 2025 exhibition to be held in Osaka, and the Class 400 units are expected to be operational at that time.

The design of the front is intended to resemble the windows of a spaceship. With a sign indicating the terminal station on the shore of Osaka Bay named Cosmos square (コスモスクエア), it is an interesting association. The bodyshells produced by Kasado Hitachi are made of aluminium. The bodyshell surface is left in metal natural color, with only the entrance doors painted green, the colour of the line, with the exception of the doors leading to the multi-purpose compartments and to those with priority seating, which are being painted blue. Access is also made easier by lowering the height of the car floors by 40 mm.

The sliding doors are electrically driven (pneumatic is more common in Japan) with the grip detection. There are no hanging advertisements in the interior otherwise common in public transport. The cars are air-conditioned due to the Osaka's climate, in addition, air purifiers are fitted, filtering odours and particles up to PM 2.5 in size. Mobile phone chargers are available. An information system providing detailed information about the line or the position of the car in the station provides information in four languages (Japanese, English, Korean, Chinese).

The Class 400 EMU is designed for a 1,435 mm gauge with 750 V DC third rail power supply. The maximum speed on the Chuo line is 75 km/h. The line is currently 17.9 km long and trains can transfer to or from the Kintetsu private railway Keihanna line (18.8 km long, maximum speed 95 km/h). The prototype Class 400 unit will be tested until 2024.