The Midōsuji Line (御堂筋線, Midōsuji-sen?) is a rapid transit line in Osaka, Japan, operated by the Osaka Municipal Subway. Constructed under Midōsuji, a major north-south street, it is the oldest line in the Osaka subway system and the second oldest in Japan, following the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line. Its official name is Rapid Electric Tramway Line No. 1 (高速電気軌道第1号線?), while the Osaka Municipal Transportation Bureau refers to it as Osaka City Rapid Railway Line No. 1 (大阪市高速鉄道第1号線?), and in MLIT publications it is referred to as Line No. 1 (Midōsuji Line) (1号線（御堂筋線）?). On line maps, stations on the Midōsuji Line are indicated with the letter M.
North of Nakatsu it runs above ground in the median of Shin-midōsuji, an elevated freeway.
The section between Senri-chūō and Esaka is owned and operated by Kita-Osaka Kyuko Railway (北大阪急行電鉄, Kita Osaka Dentetsu?), but is seamless to the passengers except with respect to fare calculations.
Famous quotes containing the word line:
“There’s something like a line of gold thread running through a man’s words when he talks to his daughter, and gradually over the years it gets to be long enough for you pick up in your hands and weave into a cloth that feels like love itself. It’s another thing, though, to hold up that cloth for inspection.”
—John Gregory Brown (20th century)