Kitakyushu monorail

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Kitakyushu Monorail
Locale Kitakyushu, Japan
Transit type straddle-beam monorail
Began operation January 9, 1985
System length 8.8 kilometres
Number of lines 1
Number of stations 13
Daily ridership 31,700
Operator(s) Kitakyushu Urban Monorail Co. Ltd.
Kitakyushu monorail in party mood at New Year, 2005
Kitakyushu monorail in party mood at New Year, 2005

The Kitakyushu monorail is a monorail in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, Japan, run by the Kitakyushu Urban Monorail Co. Ltd. (北九州高速鉄道株式会社, Kitakyushu Kosoku Kabushiki gaisha, literally "Kitakyushu High Speed Railway Co. Ltd.").

The Kitakyushu High Speed Kokura Line (北九州高速鉄道小倉線, Kitakyushu Kosoku 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.

[edit] Stations

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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