The is a
monorail
A monorail is a Rail transport, railway in which the track consists of a single rail or beam. Colloquially, the term "monorail" is often used to describe any form of elevated rail or people mover. More accurately, the term refers to the style ...
system in the city of
Kitakyushu
is a Cities of Japan, city located in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. As of June 1, 2019, Kitakyushu has an estimated population of 940,978, making it the second-largest city in both Fukuoka Prefecture and the island of Kyushu after the city of Fuk ...
in
Fukuoka Prefecture
is a Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan located on the island of Kyūshū. Fukuoka Prefecture has a population of 5,109,323 (1 June 2019) and has a geographic area of 4,986 Square kilometre, km2 (1,925 sq mi). Fukuoka Prefecture borders ...
, Japan, operated by , which is wholly owned by the Kitakyushu municipal government.
The is 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 at the time was the first monorail in the world with high level platforms and trains with floors entirely above the bogies. This increased available floor space and now all but one of Japan's surviving
Alweg
Alweg was a transportation company based in Germany known for pioneering straddle-beam monorails.
History
Alweg was founded by Sweden, Swedish industrial magnate Dr. Axel Wenner-Gren, Axel Lennart Wenner-Gren in January 1953 as Alweg-Forsch ...
monorails have high level platforms and employ podium-free trains. This line was 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 and wine parties held on the monorail, with bookings made in advance.
Santa Claus
Santa Claus (also known as Saint Nicholas, Saint Nick, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle or Santa) is a legendary figure originating in Western Christian culture who is said to bring gifts during the late evening and overnight hours on Chris ...
boards the train on December 24.
Stations
See also
*
Monorails in Japan
Here is a list of monorails in Japan.
Currently operational
*Tokyo Monorail: Tokyo, 1964. One of the world's most commercially successful monorail lines, carrying around 100 million passengers yearly.
*Tama Toshi Monorail Line: Tokyo, 1998.
*Disne ...
*
Kitakyushu Airport
*
List of rapid transit systems
These lists of urban rail transit systems are sorted by the type of system:
* List of tram and light rail transit systems
* List of town tramway systems
* Medium-capacity rail system
* List of premetro systems
* List of metro systems
* List o ...
References
External links
Kitakyushu monorail(Official page in Japanese)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kitakyushu Monorail
Monorail lines
Alweg people movers
Railway lines opened in 1985
Monorails in Japan
Japanese third-sector railway lines
Transport in Kitakyushu
Companies based in Kitakyushu