Kitakyūshū Monorail

Infobox Public transit
name=Kitakyushu Monorail


imagesize=250px
locale=Kitakyushu, Japan
transit_type=straddle-beam monorail
system_length=8.8 kilometres
began_operation=January 9, 1985
lines=1
stations=13
ridership=31,700
operator=Kitakyushu Urban Monorail Co. Ltd.|The Kitakyushu monorail is a monorail in Kitakyūshū, Fukuoka, Japan, run by the Kitakyushu Urban Monorail Co. Ltd. (北九州高速鉄道株式会社, "Kitakyūshū Kōsoku Tetsudō Kabushiki gaisha", literally "Kitakyūshū High Speed Railway Co. Ltd.").

The Kokura Line (小倉線 "Kokura sen") is currently the only line. It runs the 8.8 km (5.5 mi) between Kokura station and Kikugaoka station in Kokura Minami ward in about 18 minutes. It was opened on January 9, 1985 between the station now called Heiwadori and Kikugaoka, and extended about 300 metres (1000 ft) to Kokura station from Heiwadori on April 1, 1998.

The monorail is owned by the city of Kitakyushu, and did not begin to make a profit until the extension to Kokura station was completed. This had been resisted by the businesses in Uomachi shopping district who feared they would lose customers, but that did not happen.

Once a year there are beer parties and wine parties held on the monorail, bookings made in advance. Santa Claus boards the train on December 24.

There is apparently no plan to build a new line or extend the existing one at this time.

Stations

*Kokura Station - north terminus
*Heiwadori Station
*Tanga Station
*Kawaraguchi Mihagino Station
*Katano Station
*Jono Station
*Kitagata Station
*Keibajomae Station - for Kokura race course and the University of Kitakyushu
*Moritsune Station
*Tokuriki Kodanmae Station
*Tokuriki Arashiyamaguchi Station
*Shii Station
*Kikugaoka Station - south terminus

See also

*monorails in Japan
*Monorail
*New Kitakyushu Airport
*List of rapid transit systems

External links

* [http://www.kitakyushu-monorail.co.jp/ Kitakyushu monorail] (Official page in Japanese)