Chiba Urban Suspended Monorail
Chiba Urban Monorail (JLM)
Move above the urban flow
The Chiba Monorail is a very special urban transport system, with monorails suspended above the city. It's an impressive sight, but also a handy way to escape the daily traffic jams. A means of transport that's an attraction in itself!
Chiba's urban project
The idea of providing a fluid means of transport to relieve traffic congestion in the city center had been on the drawing board since the 1970s.
Engineers quickly came up with the idea of a suspended monorail, as urban space was saturated on the ground and the construction of a subway line was very costly for the city.
In 1988, the first section of the line was inaugurated between Chishirodai and Sport Center. In 1999, the line was extended to the center of Chiba, then to the port (Chiba Minato), followed by a second line from the Chiba Minato port to the town hall at Kencho-mae.
The total length of these two lines is 15.2km, making it the longest urban monorail in the world.
Chiba Urban Monorail, Chiba-Koen station (JLM)
A very special system from elsewhere
The first thing that strikes you is the suspended monorail system. The technology is originally French, with the SAFEGE suspended monorail on pneumatic tires, which has not been a success in France, or anywhere other than Japan. There's also the Shonan Monorail between Ofuna and Enoshima, near Kamakura.
It's true that, at the very beginning, some Chiba residents were afraid to travel aboard a machine suspended several meters above the ground, fearing the result of a possible earthquake. To date, there has never been a serious incident with this system, which is therefore as safe as a conventional train or streetcar.
Chiba Urban Monorail, Chiba station (JLM)
The entire network is double-tracked, to ensure frequent service. Stations are therefore all elevated, with access via escalators and elevators.
The first series of monorails, type 1000, with two carbodies comprising small articulated trains. Maximum speed is 65km/h.
In 2012, a new monorail called "Urban Flyer" entered service. With its modern design and concept, it really gives the sensation of gliding gently over the city. An initial project called for a glass floor, but in the face of user rejection, only two transparent panes remain on the floor in the driver's cab.
Chiba Urban Monorail, Sport Center station (JLM)
Thanks to the Chiba Monorail, you'll have access to a variety of sites, including the following:
- Downtown Chiba, with its 'Depato' department stores, especially the connection to JR (Sobu Narita and Sotobo lines, Narita Express train) and Keisei stations; Chiba station.
- Chiba City Park, with its large pond where beautiful lotus flowers bloom all summer long, and its quiet teahouses; Chiba-Koen station.
- Chiba Fine Arts Museum, the great Myoken-Hongu temple and superb views of the monorail line passing over the Yoshikawa canal; Yoshikawakoen station.
- The Sports Park, where the region's main sporting competitions (baseball, athletics) are held; Sport Center station.
- Chiba Zoo and Park; Dobutsu-koen station.
- Chiba's major hospital; Mitsuwadai station.
- Chiba harbor, with beach and large panoramic harbor tower, connection to JR Keiyo line; Chiba-Minato station.
- All administrative buildings and the Inohana garden with its castle; Kencho-mae station.
Fares vary according to the distance traveled, from 200 yen to a maximum of 52 0yen. You can buy a ticket from a machine at the station or use a contactless IC card (Suica, Pasmo, etc.).
Monorails run from 5.30 a.m. to midnight.
