Kitakyushu monorail in party mood at New Year, 2005 The Kitakyushu monorail is run by the 北九州高速鉄道株式会社, (Kitakyushu Kosoku Kabushiki gaisha) known in English as the Kitakyushu Urban Monorail Co. Ltd. (The English is not a direct translation. It should strictly be "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 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 to Kokura station from Heiwadori (about 300 metres) on April 1, 1998.
The monorail is owned by Kitakyushu city, 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 these fears have proved unfounded.
Once a year there are beer parties and wine parties held on the monorail, bookings 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.
Stations
- Kokura station - north terminus
- Heiwadori station
- Tanga station
- Kawaraguchi Mihagino station
- Katano station
- Jono station
- Kitagata station
- Keibajomae station - for Kokura race course and the University of Kitakyushu
- Moritsune station
- Tokuriki Kodanmae station
- Tokuriki Arashiyamaguchi station
- Shii station
- Kikugaoka station - south terminus
See also
External links
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