Chiba Urban Monorail

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 the city of Chiba.

Chiba Urban Monorail
千葉都市モノレール
Overview
LocaleChiba, Chiba Prefecture
Transit typeSuspension railway
Number of lines2
Number of stations18
Daily ridership45,430 daily boardings (2008)
Headquarters199-1 Hagidai-chō, Inage-ku, Chiba, Chiba Prefecture
Websitechiba-monorail.co.jp
Operation
Began operationMarch 28, 1988 (1988-03-28)
Operator(s)Chiba Urban Monorail Co., Ltd.
Rolling stock1000 series, 0 series (since 2012)
Technical
System length15.2 km (9.44 mi)
Electrification1,500 V DC
Chiba Monorail
 Chibaminato 1 2
 Shiyakushomae (City Hall)
Japanese National Route Sign 0357.svg National Route 357
Japanese National Route Sign 0014.svg National Route 14
Chibakōen
Chiba
Sakusabe
Sakaecho
Tendai
Japanese National Route Sign 0014.svg National Route 14
Anagawa
Yoshikawakōen
Japanese National Route Sign 0016.svg National Route 16
Kenchōmae (Pref.Office) 1
Sports Center
Dōbutsukōen (Zoological Park)
Mitsuwadai
Pref Route Sign 64 jct.svg Prefecture Route 64
Tsuga
Japanese National Route Sign 0051.svg National Route 51
Sakuragi
Oguradai
Chishirodaikita
2 Chishirodai
Chiba Urban Monorail Co., Ltd
Native name
千葉都市モノレール株式会社
Chiba toshi monorēru kabushikigaisha
TypePrivate KK
IndustryTransportation
FoundedMarch 20, 1979 (1979-03-20)
Headquarters
Chiba
,
Japan
Key people
Hirokazu Koike (Chief Executive)
OwnersGovernment of Chiba City (92.97%)
JFE Steel (1.57%)
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (1.12%)
Chiba Bank (1.00%)
TEPCO Power Grid (0.63%)
Number of employees
160
Websitechiba-monorail.co.jp
Route Map

The first segment (Line 2 from Sports Center Station to Chishirodai Station) opened on March 28, 1988, also the rest by March 24, 1999. The PASMO contactless smart card can be used to purchase fares.

It is the world's longest suspended monorail system with a track length of 15.2 kilometres (9.4 mi).[1]

Routes

Line 1

Line 1 connects Chiba-Minato Station and Kenchō-mae Station by a 3.2 kilometres (2.0 mi) multiple-track route. Operating at 1,500 V DC, trains make four intermediate stops.

Station list
No. Station Japanese Distance Transfers
CM01 Chiba-Minato 千葉みなと 0.0 km (0 mi) JR East: Keiyo Line
CM02 Shiyakusho-mae 市役所前 0.7 km (0.43 mi)
CM03 Chiba 千葉 1.5 km (0.93 mi) JR East: Sōbu Line, Sotobō Line, Uchibō Line, Narita Line
Chiba Urban Monorail Line 2
Keisei Electric Railway : Keisei Chiba Line, Keisei Chihara Line (Keisei Chiba Station)
CM16 Sakaechō 栄町 2.0 km (1.2 mi)
CM17 Yoshikawakōen 葭川公園 2.5 km (1.6 mi)
CM18 Kenchō-mae 県庁前 3.2 km (2.0 mi)

Line 2

Line 2 connects Chiba-Minato Station and Chishiro-dai Station. Operating at 1,500 V DC, trains make 13 intermediate stops on the 13.5 kilometres (8.4 mi) multiple-track route.

Station list
No. Station Japanese Distance
(km)		 Transfers
CM01 Chiba-Minato 千葉 0.0 km (0 mi) JR East: Keiyo Line
CM02 Shiyakusho-mae 市役所前 0.7 km (0.43 mi)
CM03 Chiba 千葉 1.5 km (0.93 mi) JR East: Sōbu Line, Sotobō Line, Uchibō Line, Narita Line
Chiba Urban Monorail Line 1
Keisei Electric Railway Keisei Chiba Line, Keisei Chihara Line (Keisei Chiba Station)
CM04 Chibakōen 千葉公園 2.6 km (1.6 mi)
CM05 Sakusabe 作草部 3.3 km (2.1 mi)
CM06 Tendai 天台 4.0 km (2.5 mi)
CM07 Anagawa 穴川 4.9 km (3.0 mi)
CM08 Sports Center スポーツセンター 5.5 km (3.4 mi)
CM09 Dōbutsukōen 動物公園 6.7 km (4.2 mi)
CM10 Mitsuwadai みつわ台 7.7 km (4.8 mi)
CM11 Tsuga 都賀 9.2 km (5.7 mi) JR East: Sōbu Line, Narita Line
CM12 Sakuragi 桜木 10.5 km (6.5 mi)
CM13 Oguradai 小倉台 11.7 km (7.3 mi)
CM14 Chishirodai-Kita 千城台北 12.7 km (7.9 mi)
CM15 Chishirodai 千城台 13.5 km (8.4 mi)

Extension plans

Extensions of Line 1 had been proposed, notably a five-station, 3.4-kilometre (2.1 mi) extension 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 proposed closing the underused segment from Chiba Station to Kencho-mae Station. There was also a plan to extend the line from Anagawa Station to Inage and Inage-kaigan Station.

On 4 September 2019, Chiba City announced that it had decided to discontinue plans to extend the monorail hospital route, and not to introduce a monorail on the Inage route.[1]

History
  • 1979/03/20 – The company was established.[2]
  • 1988/03/28 – Line 2 between Sports Center Station and Chishirodai Station opened.[2]
  • 1990/09/18 – The total number of passengers reached 10 million.
  • 1991/06/12 – Line 2 opened between Chiba Station and Sports Center Station.[2]
  • 1994/03/07 – The total number of passengers reached 50 million.
  • 1995/08/01 – Line 1 between Chiba Minato Station and Chiba Station opened.
  • 1997/06/17 – The total number of passengers reached 100 million.
  • 1999/03/24 – Line 1 between Chiba Station and Kencho-mae Station opened. At the same time, the running time for Line 2 was shortened by about 10%, and automatic ticket machines were installed at all stations.
  • 2006 – Chiba Prefecture pulls out from funding the monorail due to unsatisfactory ridership numbers.[1]
  • 2006/06/21 – A train collided with the arm of a crane truck working on a sewer line between Sakusabe Station and Chiba-Koen Station on Line 2.
  • 2007/03/19 – The four-car trains that had been in service were discontinued.
  • 2009/03/14 – PASMO introduced.[2]
  • 2012/07/08 – The new trains "Urban Flyer 0-type" began operating.
  • 2019/02/20 – Announced the introduction of station numbering at all stations in anticipation of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.[3]
  • 2020/09/09 – A fire broke out when a contractor accidentally cut a cable during substation renewal work, temporarily disrupting service on all lines.
  • 2021/05/31 – The total number of passengers reached 500 million.[1]

Special tickets
  • Holiday Free Pass (ホリデーフリーきっぷ)
    • Available: Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.
    • Cost: Adults 630 yen, children 320 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 1050 yen, children 530 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 to 6PM on weekdays.
    • Cost: Adults 620 yen, children 310 yen
    • Valid: From 10AM to 6PM on day purchased.

See also

References
  1. "千葉都市モノレール５億人達成 開業から３３年" [Chiba Urban Monorail reaches 500 million people 33 years after opening]. sankei.com (in Japanese). 5 June 2021. Archived from the original on 2021-06-05. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  2. 曽根, 悟 (2011). 歴史でめぐる鉄道全路線 公営鉄道・私鉄 [All railway lines in history Public railway, private railway] (in Japanese). Vol. 30. Tokyo: Asahi Shimbun.
  3. "駅ナンバリングを導入します 2019.02.20" [Introducing station numbering 2019.02.20]. chiba-monorail.co.jp. 20 February 2019. Archived from the original on 23 February 2019. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
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