Hankai Tramway Update

[bill937ca]

In a change from several years ago, almost all of the service on the Hankai Tramway now operates to Tennoji-Ekimae. Since February 2, 2013 Tennoji-Ekimae has been the only station from which trams all the way to Hamadera-Ekimae in Sakai.

 

The Hankai Line to Ebisucho from Sumyoshi is down to 3 trips per hour, 5 trips during 0700 and 1800.  The Uemachi line to Tennoji-Ekimae from Sumyoshi has 17 trips at 0700 and 11 trips 1800. Through the day there are 10 trips per hour to Tennoji-Ekimae.

 

All Hankai line trips end at Abikomichi and about half of the Uemachi line trips also terminate at Abikomichi, where the tram depot is located.

 

Sumyoshi up timetable.

 

Sumyoshi down timetable

 

 

New Years operations on the Hankai Tramway which has a special timetable.

 

Edited May 5, 2014 by bill937ca

[bikkuri bahn]

I'm not particularly a streetcar fan, but the Hankai is good, really good- maybe the only tram system I would go out of my way to see without even riding other railways.  I was pleasantly surprised to see 502 in the old Toden colors, on a visit last year.

 

*while I'm on the subject, when I was on a 501 series, I was surprised by the pleasant cushiness of the ride.  Later, a web inquiry revealed that this series had the first installation of air cushion suspension on streetcars in Japan, and that the motors/drive system was direct drive, cardan shaft type. It is known as a "semi-pcc" type or "Japanese-style pcc car".

Edited May 5, 2014 by bikkuri bahn