Chiba Urban Monorail

Chiba Urban Monorail 千葉都市モノレール
Background
Locale	Chiba, Chiba Prefecture
Transit type	Monorail (suspended)
Number of lines	2
Number of stations	18
Daily ridership	45,430 daily boardings (2008)
Chief executive	Kazuaki Okada
Headquarters	199-1 Hagidai-chō, Inage-ku, Chiba, Chiba Prefecture
Operation
Began operation	1988
Operator(s)	Chiba Urban Monorail Co., Ltd.
Number of vehicles	1000 series
Technical
System length	15.2 km (9.44 mi)
Minimum radius of curvature	0 feet 0 inches (0 mm)
Electrification	1500V DC
Average speed	0 mph (0 km/h)
Top speed	0 mph (0 km/h)

Chiba Monorail Map

Legend Line 1 Chiba-Minato Line 1 Shiyakusho-Mae Highway 357 Highway 14 Line 1&2 transfer Chiba Station Line 1 Sakaecho Highway 14 Line 1 Yoshikawa-koen Line 1 Kencho-mae Line 2 Chiba-Koen Line 2 Sakusabe Line 2 Tendai Line 2 Anagawa Highway 16 Line 2 Sports Center Line 2 Zoo Line 2 Mitsuwadai Highway 64 Line 2 Tsuga Highway 51 Line 2 Sakuragi Line 2 Oguraidai Line 2 North Chishirodai Line 2 Chishirodai

The Chiba Urban Monorail (千葉都市モノレール, Chiba Toshi Monorēru) is a two-line suspended monorail system located in Chiba, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. It is owned and operated by Chiba Urban Monorail Co., Ltd (千葉都市モノレール株式会社, Chiba toshi monorēru kabushikigaisha), a so-called "third-sector" company established on March 20, 1979. Investors include Chiba Prefecture and the city of Chiba.

The first segment (Line 2 from Sports Center Station to Chishirodai Station) began service on March 28, 1988, with the remainder of the system following 11 years later on March 24, 1999. Customers can use the PASMO contactless smart card to purchase fares.

The Chiba Urban Monorail holds the world record for the longest suspended monorail system at 15.2 km in total track length. The Chongqing Monorail holds the record for all monorail systems.

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.

Station list

Station	Japanese	Distance (km)	Transfers
Chiba-Minato	千葉みなと	-	JR East: Keiyo Line
Shiyakusho-Mae	市役所前	0.7
Chiba	千葉	1.5	JR East: Sōbu Line, Sotobō Line, Uchibō Line, Narita Line Chiba Urban Monorail Line 2
Sakaechō	栄町	2.0
Yoshikawa-Kōen	葭川公園	2.5
Kenchō-Mae	県庁前駅	3.2

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.

Station list

Station	Japanese	Distance (km)	Transfers
Chiba	千葉	0.0	JR East: Sōbu Line, Sotobō Line, Uchibō Line, Narita Line Chiba Urban Monorail Line 1
Chiba-Kōen	千葉公園	1.1
Sakusabe	作草部	1.8
Tendai	天台	2.5
Anagawa	穴川	3.4
Sports Center	スポーツセンター	4.0
Dōbutsu-Kōen	動物公園	5.2
Mitsuwadai	みつわ台	6.2
Tsuga	都賀	7.7	JR East: Sōbu Line
Sakuragi	桜木	9.0
Oguradai	小倉台	10.2
Chishirodai-Kita	千城台北	11.2
Chishirodai	千城台	12.0

Extension Plans

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

Special Tickets

Holiday Free Pass (ホリデーフリーきっぷ)

• Available: Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.
• Cost: Adults 600 yen, Children 300 yen
• Valid: All day on the day of purchase.

2-Day Free Pass (2-DAYフリーきっぷ)

• Available: Two consecutive days. Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.
• Cost: Adults 1000 yen, Children 300 yen
• Valid: All day on the day of purchase.

Lunchtime Free Pass (お昼のお出かけフリーきっぷ)

• Available: From 10AM on weekdays.
• Cost: Adults 600 yen, Children 300 yen
• Valid: From 10AM to 6PM on weekday purchased.
• Note: This ticket can be used at 120 locations for special discounts and services on the day of purchase.

See also

• Monorails in Japan
• List of rapid transit systems
• Skybus Metro

External links

• Company website (in Japanese)