花見友紀の「鉄道のある日常」

天神橋筋六丁目駅にて谷町線22系の到着・発車 Arrival and departure of 22 Series on Tanimachi Line at Tenjimbashisuji-6chome Station



西梅田駅を発車する四つ橋線23系 23 Series on Yotsubashi Line departing from Nishi-umeda Station

今回の旅は、夢洲駅や400系、「e METRO MOBILITY TOWN」といった最新のOsaka Metroを主に巡ってきたが、今度は機器更新や新型車両の導入によって数を減らしつつある、日立GTOを搭載した谷町線の22系電車と四つ橋線の23系電車の動画を撮影した。

平成初期の大阪市営地下鉄を象徴する車両と言えた新20系シリーズは、第三軌条集電の各路線に投入された。

しかし近年、御堂筋線の21系、千日前線の25系は機器更新により2021（令和3）年までに聴けなくなり、中央線の24系は谷町線への転属、22系への改番によって姿を消した。残るは谷町線の22系と四つ橋線の23系だが、このうち23系は2025（令和7）年4月に未更新車が全車休車となり、全編成が機器更新によって日立GTOではなくなることがほぼ確定した。一方、谷町線の22系は在籍両数の約半数が未更新で残っているが、こちらも大阪・関西万博閉幕後に中央線から転属してくる30000A系によって置き換えられることが発表されているため、引退が予想される。

日立GTOは僕が鉄道ファンになる大きなきっかけとなった音であるだけに、ぜひとも聴けるうちに聴いておきたい思っていた。今回未更新で残る22系にも23系にも遭遇できたことから、もう悔いはない。


This time, my travel mainly revolved around the latest Osaka Metro topics, for example, Yumeshima Station, 400 Series, and "e METRO MOBILITY TOWN." However, I also took the time to capture videos of the Tanimachi Line's 22 series and the Yotsubashi Line's 23 series trains installing variable frequency drive with Hitachi gate turn-off thyristor (GTO) technology, which are gradually becoming less common due to equipment updates or 30000A Series' transferring from Chuo Line after EXPO 2025.

The new 20 series trains, which were sometimes regarded as a symbol of the 1990s and 2000s, the first Heisei period in Japan, for the Osaka Municipal Subway, were deployed across various lines, utilising the third rail for electric collection.

Recently, however, 21 Series on the Midosuji Line and 25 Series on the Sennichimae Line have undergone equipment updates, leading to their discontinuation by 2021. Meanwhile, 24 Series on the Chuo Line has been moved to the Tanimachi Line and renumbered to 22 Series, effectively disappearing from service. These days, only the Tanimachi Line's 22 series and the Yotsubashi Line's 23 series remain. However, all unrefurbished carriages of the 23 series had already been taken out of service by April 2025. All sets must be upgraded, replacing Hitachi GTO technology with a newer drive.

On the other hand, while about half of the Tanimachi Line's 22 series trains remain unupdated, they are also expected to be replaced by A series trains transferring from the Chuo Line after the conclusion of the EXPO 2025. Consequently, the retirement of the 22 series is on the horizon.

The sound of the variable frequency drive with Hitachi GTO was a significant factor in my becoming a railfan, so I wanted to see it and listen to its sound while I still could. Having encountered the unrefurbished 22 Series and 23 Series during this trip, I now feel a sense of closure and no regrets.