Tokyo Monorail

Infobox Public transit
name=Tokyo Monorail

---

imagesize=250px
locale=Tokyo
transit_type = Straddle-beam monorail
began_operation=1964
lines=1
stations=10
ridership=
operator=Tokyo Monorail Co., Ltd.|Nihongo|Tokyo Monorail|東京モノレール|Tōkyō Monorēru is a monorail system connecting Haneda Airport in Ōta, Tokyo, Japan to Hamamatsuchō Station in Minato, Tokyo. The trains operate along an elevated line that follows the coast of Tokyo Bay. The trip from the airport to Hamamatsuchō costs ¥470 each way.

History

The line opened in 1964 to coincide with the 1964 Summer Olympics. Built by Hitachi Monorail, the first cars were made in Japan from the German ALWEG design (also used in the Seattle and the original Disneyland Monorail), and were replaced by newer models in 1969, 1977, 1982, and 1989.

Originally, the monorail only served Hamamatsuchō and the airport. The first station added in between was the Ōi Race Track in 1965, followed by Seibijō in 1967.

When the monorail began operation, the passenger terminal at Haneda Airport was located on the west side of the airfield, south of Seibijō, and this was the southern terminus of the monorail. Upon the opening of the new passenger terminal (now Terminal 1) in 1993, the monorail was extended to a new platform, and the former passenger terminal was razed to make room for an extension of Runway B. The now-unused monorail tunnel leading to the old station was leased from the Transport Ministry and therefore had to be restored to its original state prior to its handover. Although the rails were removed from the tunnel and its entrance walled off, the tunnel remains otherwise intact today below the extension of Runway B. [Naoki Kuwayama, [http://www.ne.jp/asahi/mulberry/mt/ginzasen/story21.htm 丸の内線・都営浅草線・そしてモノレールの謎] ]

Currently, the Tokyo Monorail serves nine stations and handles about 127,000 passengers per day, operating from 5:30 AM to midnight with over 500 trains. A 1-station, 0.9-km extension to Haneda's new Terminal 2 opened on December 1, 2004, and a new station to serve the upcoming International Terminal is scheduled to open in 2009. A possible extension to Shimbashi Station is being studied.

Often cited as the busiest and most profitable monorail line in the world (it carried its 1.5 billionth passenger on January 24, 2007 [cite news | last = | first = | coauthors = | title = 1.5 billionth rides monorail to Haneda | work = | pages = | language = | publisher = Japan Times | date = 2007-01-24 | url = http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nb20070125a2.html | accessdate = 2007-01-24] ), it has recently become somewhat less popular through competition from the Keikyū Airport Line.

The line is operated by the Nihongo|Tokyo Monorail Co., Ltd.|東京モノレール株式会社|Tōkyō Monorēru Kabushiki-gaisha. JR East purchased stock in the company in 2002, currently owning 70%; the remainder being divided between Hitachi, Ltd. (12%), Japan Airlines (9%) and All Nippon Airways (9%).

Features

The six-car (2000 Series) trains run at speeds of up to 80 km/h (50 mph), although, counting stops, they average around 45 km/h (30 mph). Each car has a combination of aisle-facing bench seats, forward and rear-facing seats, and seats in the center of the aisle. The trains also feature extra space for hand luggage, as a convenience for air travelers.

Tokyo Monorail was originally one of the only "private" railways to use JR East's Suica fare card system. The Monorail is now fully integrated with both Suica and the new PASMO fare card.

topping Patterns

"Key:
● Stops at this station
― Does not stop at this station"

¹Haneda Express trains make the nonstop run between Hamamatsuchō and Haneda Airport in 16 minutes.

²The station for the international building is estimated to open in December 2009.

Airport access

Passengers using the monorail to travel to the airport can take advantage of check-in facilities at Hamamatsuchō. Japan's domestic airlines (JAL, ANA, Skymark Airlines, and Air Do) all have check-in counters and ticket machines right at the station. Tokyo Monorail tickets can also be purchased on the lower level of Kansai International Airport in Osaka, Itami Airport (also in Osaka), as well as Naha Airport in Okinawa and departure gate area at Hiroshima Airport.

An alternative to the monorail is the Keihin Kyuko Railway's Airport Line between the airport and Shinagawa Station. Both railways compete with the bus services.

See also

*Monorails in Japan
*List of rapid transit systems

References

External links

* [http://www.tokyo-monorail.co.jp/english/ Official site]