JR West has announced the construction of a futuristic eco-friendly railway station close to Osaka Station
An artist’s impression of the new Umekita (Osaka) Underground Station building
The new station is being built to serve the Limited Express Haruka which runs to Kansai International Airport, but which currently does not stop at Osaka Station. This will provide improved access between the airport, Osaka Station and Osaka’s shinkansen terminal, Shin-Osaka Station. Another limited express service, the Kuroshio, will also stop here, providing improved access to Wakayama.
The Umekita station concourse
Above the underground building there will be a three-story building which will be planted with greenery on both the roof and walls. To make transfers easy the new station will be directly connected to Osaka Station by a passageway inside the ticket gates. There will also be a 50-meter-long deck that will connect the North Gate Building of Osaka Station to the new station’s second floor.
Energy-saving equipment will include the use of natural lighting and localized heating and cooling. Solar panels will be installed on the station’s outer surfaces and renewable energy will be used for electric power. As a result, this will be the first JR West station to achieve virtually zero carbon dioxide emissions.
Platforms fitted with “full-screen” platform gates
JR West also plans to introduce new technologies in the station such as face recognition ticket gates and digital signage that gives personalized guidance. Station platforms will be fitted with an innovative safety device: “full-screen” platform gates that can adapt to different train door positions.
The new station is scheduled to open in spring 2023.
Article by Michael Lambe. Images courtesy of JR West. All rights reserved.
