Chiba Urban Monorail

Chiba Urban Monorail
Location	Chiba, Chiba
Type	suspended
Builder	Mitsubishi
Length	15.5 kilometres
Inaugration	1988
Lines	1
Stations	15
Daily ridership	40,000
Operator	Chiba Urban Monorail Co., Ltd

The Chiba Urban Monorail (千葉都市モノレール, Chiba Toshi Monorēru^?) is a third-sector two-line transportation system. Established March 20, 1979, the system is operated by Chiba Urban Monorail Co., Ltd (千葉都市モノレール株式会社, Chiba Toshi Monorēru Kabushiki-gaisha^?), headquartered in Chiba. Investors include Chiba Prefecture and the city of Chiba.

The track totals 15.2 km, giving it the world record for the longest suspended monorail system.

Routes

Line 1

Line 1 connects Chiba Minato Station and Kencho-mae Station with a 3.2 km multiple-track route. Operating at 1500 VDC, trains make four intermediate stops between the terminals.

Stations

• Chiba Minato Station (Transfer to JR East Keiyo Line)
• Shiyakusho-mae Station
• Chiba Station (Transfer to JR East Sobu Main Line, Sotobo Line, Line 2)
• Sakae-cho Station
• Yoshikawa-koen Station
• Kencho-mae Station

Extension plans

Various extensions of Line 1 have been proposed, notably a five-station, 3.4-km extension of the line from Kencho-mae to Shiritsu-byoin-mae. However, in 2004 an evaluation committee found that there was no need for the extension, and to the contrary, proposed terminating service on the underused segment from Chiba Station to Kencho-mae. An alternative 2-km extension to Chiba University is currently under consideration.

Line 2

Line 2 connects Chiba Station and Chishiro-dai Station. Operating at 1500 VDC, trains make 11 intermediate stops on the 12.0 km multiple-track route between the terminals. Nearly all trains enter Line 1 and continue to Chiba Minato Station.

Stations

• Chiba Station (Transfer to JR East Sobu Main Line, Sotobo Line, Line 1)
• Chiba-koen Station
• Sakusabe Station
• Tendai Station
• Anagawa Station
• Sports Center Station
• Dobutsu-koen Station
• Mitsuwa-dai Station
• Tsuga Station
• Sakuragi Station
• Ogura-dai Station
• Chishiro-dai Kita Station
• Chishiro-dai Station

See also

• Monorails in Japan
• List of rapid transit systems

External links

• Company website (in Japanese)