Kitakyushu Monorail
| Company type | Public transportation |
|---|---|
| Industry | Rail transport |
| Founded | January 9, 1985 |
| Headquarters | Kitakyushu , Japan |
Area served | Kitakyushu, Japan |
| Products | Monorail transport services |
| Owner | Municipal government of Kitakyushu |
| Website | www |
The Kitakyushu Monorail is a monorail network located in Kitakyushu, Japan, managed by , an entity fully owned by the municipal government of Kitakyushu.
This monorail consists of a single route stretching 8.8 km (5.5 mi) from Kokura station to Kikugaoka Station, with a travel time close to 18 minutes. Initially inaugurated on January 9, 1985, between Heiwadori (now renamed) and Kikugaoka, it was distinguished as the first monorail globally to feature elevated platforms and trains with floors positioned entirely above the bogies. This configuration enhanced usable floor area and set a precedent that influenced most remaining Japanese Alweg monorails to adopt similar designs without podiums for both trains and platforms. On April 1, 1998, the line was lengthened by around 300 meters to reach Kokura station.
Owned by Kitakyushu city, the monorail only became financially viable after extending service to Kokura station. Initially, merchants in the Uomachi shopping district opposed the project fearing a decline in customers; however, these concerns did not materialize.
Each year, the monorail organizes beer and wine tasting events available through prior reservation, and hosts a Santa Claus-themed occasion on December 24.
Stations
| No. | Station Name | Japanese | Distance (km) | Transfers | Location | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Between Station |
Total Distance | ||||||
| 01 | Template:STN | 小倉 | - | 0.0 | Kokurakita-ku Kitakyūshū |
Fukuoka Prefecture | |
| 02 | Template:STN | 平和通 | 0.4 | 0.4 | |||
| 03 | Template:STN | 旦過 | 0.3 | 0.7 | |||
| 04 | Template:STN | 香春口三萩野 | 0.9 | 1.6 | |||
| 05 | Template:STN | 片野 | 0.8 | 2.4 | |||
| 06 | Template:STN | 城野 | 0.8 | 3.2 | Kokuraminami-ku Kitakyūshū | ||
| 07 | Template:STN | 北方 | 1.0 | 4.2 | |||
| 08 | Template:STN |
競馬場前 (北九州市立大学前) |
0.7 | 4.9 | |||
| 09 | Template:STN | 守恒 | 0.8 | 5.7 | |||
| 10 | Template:STN | 徳力公団前 | 0.9 | 6.6 | |||
| 11 | Template:STN | 徳力嵐山口 | 0.7 | 7.3 | |||
| 12 | Template:STN | 志井 | 0.9 | 8.2 | |||
| 13 | Template:STN | 企救丘 | 0.6 | 8.8 | Template:JRKSN Hitahikosan Line (Template:STN) | ||
See also
External links
- Official Kitakyushu Monorail website (Japanese language)
- Kitakyushu Monorail route map