A monorail is a railway system in which the track consists of a single elevated rail, beam or track with the trains either supported or suspended. The term is also used to describe the beam of the system, or the vehicles traveling on such a beam or track. Many monorail systems run through crowded areas that would otherwise require expensive tunneling or dangerous level crossings. Aside from mass transit and people mover systems, a large number of smaller monorails have been built in amusement parks and at zoos.
These are lists of operating monorails that are open to the public. Only true monorails (vehicle wider than track) are included; see people mover for a list of monorail-like systems. There are also other monorail type systems used for human transportation not included, such as slope cars, mining monorails and farm monorails.
Systems used primarily for passenger transportation, characterised by enclosed cars, multiple stations and open on a regular basis. Ordered by system length (click headings to re-sort). Monorails associated with amusement parks that have enclosed cabins and multiple stations are generally included here.
Location | Country | Name | Opened | Stations | Length | Type | Construction type | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chongqing | China | Line 2 & Line 3, Chongqing Rail Transit | 2005 | 70 | 96.5km (60miles) | Urban | Straddle-beam Hitachi Large | |
Bangkok | Thailand | Yellow Line & Pink Line | 2023 | 53 | 64.9km (40.3miles) | Urban | Straddle-beam Innovia Monorail 300 | |
Wuhu | China | Wuhu Rail Transit | 2021 | 36 | 46.2km (28.7miles) | Urban | Straddle-beam Innovia Monorail 300 | |
Shanghai | China | Shanghai maglev train | 2002 | 2 | 30.5km (19miles) | High speed | Maglev Transrapid | |
Osaka Prefecture | Osaka Monorail (2 lines) | 1990 | 18 | 28km (17miles) | Urban | Straddle-beam Hitachi Large | ||
Daegu | Daegu Metro Line 3 | 2015 | 30 | 23.9km (14.9miles) | Urban | Straddle-beam Hitachi Large | ||
Bay Lake, Florida | Walt Disney World Monorail (3 lines) | 1971 | 6 | 23.66km (14.7miles) | Amusement park | Straddle-beam Bombardier M-VI | ||
Mumbai | Mumbai Monorail | 2014 | 17 | 19.54km (12.14miles) | Urban | Straddle-beam SCOMI Rail Medium | ||
Changsha | China | Changsha Maglev Express | 2016 | 3 | 18.6km (11.6miles) | Urban | Maglev | |
Tokyo | Tokyo Monorail | 1964 | 11 | 17.8km (11.1miles) | Urban | Straddle-beam Hitachi Medium | ||
Naha | Okinawa Urban Monorail | 2003 | 19 | 17km (11miles) | Urban | Straddle-beam Hitachi Medium | ||
Western Tokyo | Tama Toshi Monorail Line | 1998 | 19 | 16km (10miles) | Urban | Straddle-beam Hitachi Large | ||
Chiba | Chiba Urban Monorail (2 lines) | 1988 | 18 | 15.2km (09.4miles) | Urban | Suspended SAFEGE | ||
São Paulo | Line 15 (São Paulo Metro) | 2014 | 11 | 14.6km (09.1miles)[1] | Urban | Straddle-beam Innovia Monorail 300 | ||
Wuppertal | Schwebebahn | 1901 | 20 | 13.3km (08.3miles) | Urban | Suspended Double-flanged | ||
Wuhan | China | Optics Valley Suspended Monorail Line | 2023 | 6 | 10.5km (06.5miles) | People mover (tourist-type) | Suspended SAFEGE | |
Beijing | China | Line S1 (Beijing Subway) | 2017 | 8 | 10km (10miles) | Urban | Maglev | |
Fenghuang | China | Fenghuang Maglev | 2022 | 4 | 9.121km (05.668miles) | People mover (tourist-type) | Maglev | |
Aichi Prefecture | Linimo | 2005 | 9 | 8.9km (05.5miles) | Urban | Maglev | ||
Kitakyushu | Kitakyushu Monorail | 1985 | 13 | 8.8km (05.5miles) | Urban | Straddle-beam Hitachi Large | ||
Kuala Lumpur | Kuala Lumpur Monorail | 2003 | 11 | 8.6km (05.3miles) | Urban | Straddle-beam Hitachi Medium | ||
Kanagawa Prefecture | Shonan Monorail | 1970 | 8 | 6.6km (04.1miles) | Urban | Suspended SAFEGE | ||
Las Vegas | Las Vegas Monorail | 2004 | 7 | 6.3km (03.9miles) | Urban | Straddle-beam Bombardier M-VI | ||
Incheon | Incheon Airport Maglev | 2016 | 6 | 6.1km (03.8miles) | Urban | Maglev | ||
Wolmido | Wolmi Sea Train | 2019 | 4 | 6.1km (03.8miles) | People mover (tourist-type) | Straddle three-line rail (originally Inverted T "Urbanaut") | ||
Yinchuan | Yinchuan SkyRail Line 1[2] | 2018 | 8 | 5.67km (03.52miles)[3] | Other | Straddle-beam | ||
Dubai | Palm Jumeirah Monorail | 2009 | 4 | 5.45km (03.39miles) | Urban | Straddle-beam Hitachi Medium | ||
Ashgabat | Ashgabat Monorail | 2016[4] | 3 | 5.2km (03.2miles) | People mover | Straddle steel box beam Intamin | ||
Bologna | Marconi Express Monorail | 2020 | 3 | 5.1km (03.2miles) | People mover | Straddle steel box beam Intamin | ||
Urayasu | Disney Resort Line | 2001 | 4 | 5km (03miles) | Amusement park | Straddle-beam Hitachi Medium | ||
Newark, New Jersey | United States | AirTrain Newark | 1996 | 6 | 4.8km (03miles) | Airport | Straddle steel box beam Von Roll/Adtranz | |
Moscow | Moscow Monorail | 2004 | 6 | 4.7km (02.9miles) | Urban | Straddle steel box beam Intamin | ||
Anaheim, California | Disneyland Monorail System | 1959 | 2 | 4km (02miles) | Amusement park | Straddle-beam Disneyland-ALWEG | ||
Jacksonville, Florida | Jacksonville Skyway | 1989 | 8 | 4km (02miles) | Urban | Straddle-beam | ||
Dortmund | H-Bahn Monorail | 1984 | 4 | 3.16km (01.96miles) | People mover | Suspended SIEPEM | ||
Düsseldorf | Germany | Düsseldorf SkyTrain Düsseldorf Airport | 2002 | 4 | 2.5km (01.6miles) | Airport | Suspended SIEPEM | |
Rust | Germany | "E.P. Express" Europa-Park | 1995 | 4 | 2.5km (01.6miles) | Amusement park | Straddle steel box beam Von Roll/Adtranz | |
Singapore | Sentosa Express | 2007 | 4 | 2.1km (01.3miles) | People Mover | Straddle-beam Hitachi Small | ||
Seattle | Seattle Center Monorail | 1962 | 2 | 1.54km (00.96miles) | Urban | Straddle-beam ALWEG Large | ||
Alton Towers | Alton Towers Monorail | 1987 | 2 | 1.4km (00.9miles) | Amusement park | Straddle steel box beam Von Roll/Adtranz | ||
Zaragoza | Plaza Imperial Monorail[5] | 2008 | 2 | 0.6km (00.4miles) | People mover | Straddle steel box beam Von Roll/Adtranz | ||
Aiea, Hawaii | United States | Pearlridge Skycab | 1977 | 2 | 0.3km (00.2miles)[6] | People mover | Straddle Inverted T | |
Dresden | Dresden Suspension Railway | 1901 | 2 | 0.27km (00.17miles) | People mover | Suspended Double-flanged |
Systems characterised by one station and/or open cabins and that are not primarily for point-to-point transportation. Ordered by country (click headings to re-sort).
Location | Country | Name | Opened | Stations | Length | Type |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lichtaart | Bobbejaanland Monorail[7] | 1961 | 3 | 1.85km (01.15miles) | Amusement park | |
Gramado | Brazil | Aldeia do Papai Noel Monorail[8] | 2009 | 2 | Amusement Park | |
Granby | Granby Zoo monorail | 1980 | 1 | 2.1km (01.3miles) | Zoo | |
Vaughan | 1998 | 1 | Other | |||
Shenzhen | Window of the World Monorail | 1993 | 3 | 1.7km (01.1miles) | Amusement park | |
Shenzhen | Happy Line | 1998 | 7 | 3.88km (02.41miles) | Other | |
Liupanshui | China | Yeyuhai Monorail | 2019 | 2 | 5.5km (03.4miles)[9] | Other |
Ningbo | China | Romon U-Park monorail | 2015[10] | 2[11] | 1.1km (00.7miles)[12] | Amusement Park |
Zhangjiajie | Zhangjiajie National Park monorail[13] [14] | 2 | Other | |||
Xi'an | Xi'an Qujiang Sightseeing Monorail | 2015 | 11 | 9.6km (06miles) | Other | |
Xishui | Xishui Forest Train | 2020 | 5 | 11.5km (07.1miles)[15] | Other | |
Shanghai | "Ocean Shinkansen" (海洋新干线), Happy Valley Shanghai | 1 | Amusement park | |||
Shanghai | Jinjiang Action Park (two rides) | 1 (x two) | Amusement park | |||
Lingshui | "Flying to the Sea", Hainan Ocean Paradise[16] | 2020 | 3 | 1.5km (00.9miles) | Amusement park | |
Fenggang | China | [17] | Other | |||
Billund | Legoland Billund monorail | 1 | Amusement park | |||
Helsinki | Linnanmäki Monorail (Maisemajuna) | 1979 | 1 | 0.5km (00.3miles) | Amusement park | |
Rang-du-Fliers | Parc Bagatelle Monorail | 1983 | 1 | Amusement park | ||
Sélestat | Walygator Parc monorail[18] | 1989 | 1 | Amusement park | ||
Saint-Pourçain-sur-Besbre | Voyage over the World, Le Pal | 1996 | 1 | Amusement park | ||
Dolancourt | Dragons Volants, Nigloland | 1996 | 1 | Amusement park | ||
Plailly | Espions de César, Parc Astérix | 1998 | 1 | Amusement park | ||
Les Avenières | Monorail, Walibi Rhône-Alpes | 2017 | 1[19] | Amusement park | ||
Dennebroeucq | Xotic, Dennlys Parc | 2020 | 1 | Amusement park | ||
Lower Saxony | Germany | "Einschienenbahn", Rasti-Land | 1978 | 1 | Amusement park | |
Soltau | Germany | Heide Park | 1985 | 1 | 1.6km (01miles) | Amusement park |
Rust | monorail, Europa-Park | 1990 | 2 | Amusement park | ||
Heroldsbach | Germany | "Suspension Railway", Thurn Castle Adventure Park | 1[20] | Amusement park | ||
Brühl | Würmling Express, Phantasialand | 2010 | 1 | Amusement park | ||
Rust | Volo da Vinci, Europa-Park | 2011 | 1 | Amusement park | ||
Indramayu Regency | Indonesia | Indramayu Monorail | 2018 | 1 | Amusement park | |
Listowel | Lartigue Monorail, (Lartigue restoration) | 2003 | 1 | 1km (01miles) | Other | |
Ravenna | Mirabilandia Monorail | 1992 | 1 | 1.5km (00.9miles) | Amusement park | |
Lazise | Panorama Tram, Movieland park | 2006 | 1 | Amusement park | ||
Iya Valley | Oku Iya Valley Tourist Monorail | 2006 | 1 | 4.6km (02.9miles)[21] | Other | |
Malacca City, Malacca | Melaka Monorail | 2010 | 1 (2 closed) | 2.5km (01.6miles) | Other | |
The Hague | Drievliet Amusement Park Monorail | 1968[22] | 1 | 0.2km (00.1miles) | Amusement park | |
Hellendoorn | Hellendoorn Amusement Park | 1977 | 1 | Amusement park | ||
Rhenen | Ouwehands Zoo | 1978[23] | 1 | Zoo | ||
Kaatsheuvel | The People of Laaf Monorail | 1990 | 1 | 0.45km (00.28miles) | Amusement park | |
Hardenberg | Slagharen Amusement Park | 1978 | 1 | Amusement park | ||
Zator | Poland | Dragon Adventure, Energylandia | 2019 | 1 | Amusement Park | |
Zator | Poland | Magic Flying, Energylandia | 2017 | 1 | Amusement Park | |
Zator | Poland | Planes, Energylandia | 2014 | 1 | Amusement Park | |
St Petersburg | Around the World, Divo Ostro | 2016 | 1 | Amusement Park | ||
Yalta | / Ukraine | Dandelion Drift, Dreamwood | 2018 | 1 | Amusement Park | |
Salou & Vila-seca | Spain | Coco Piloto, Port Aventura | 2011 | 1 | Amusement Park | |
Seville | Spain | Zum-Zum: Las Abejitas, Isla Mágica | 2012 | 1 | Amusement Park | |
Johannesburg | South Africa | Johannesburg Exhibition Centre monorail[24] | 2010 | 1 | Other | |
Daejon | National Science Museum Maglev Train | 1993 | 1[25] | 1km (01miles)[26] | Other | |
Mudeungsan | Mudeungsan Monorail[27] | 2 | Other | |||
Guanxi | Flying Horse, Leofoo Village Theme Park | 1 | Amusement park | |||
Dashu District, Kaohsiung | E-DA Theme Park Monorail | 2010[28] | 2 | Amusement park | ||
Bangkok | Dream World Monorail | 1 | Amusement park | |||
Pattaya | Thailand | Pattaya Park Beach Resort Monorail | 1 | Amusement park | ||
Dubai | Adventure Time - The Ride of OOO, IMG Worlds of Adventure | 2016 | 1 | Amusement park | ||
Beaulieu, Hampshire | National Motor Museum Monorail | 1974 | 2 | 1.6km (01miles) | Amusement park | |
Flamingo Land | Flamingo Land Zoo Monorail[29] | 1984 | 1 | Zoo | ||
Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach | Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach Monorail | 1987[30] | 1 | Amusement park | ||
Flamingo Land | Flamingo Land People Moover[31] | 1990 | 2 | Amusement park | ||
Ingoldmells | Toucan Tours, Fantasy Island | 1995 | 1 | Amusement park | ||
Windsor, Berkshire | Sky Rider, Legoland Windsor Resort | 1996 | 1 | Amusement park | ||
Staffordshire | Get Set Go Tree Top Adventure, Alton Towers | 1996 | 1 | Amusement park | ||
Romsey | Queen's Flying Coach, Paultons Park | 2018 | 1 | Amusement park | ||
Fazeley | Winston's Whistle Stop Tour, Drayton Manor Theme Park | 2013 | 1 | Amusement park | ||
Dutch Wonderland[32] | 1966 | 1 | Amusement park | |||
Ocean City, New Jersey | Gillians Wonderland Pier MonoRail[33] | 1965 | 1 | Amusement park | ||
Sacramento, California | United States | Cal Expo Monorail | 1968 | 2 | 4km (02miles) | Amusement park |
Hershey, Pennsylvania | Hersheypark Monorail | 1969[34] | 1 | Amusement park | ||
New York, New York | United States | "Wild Asia Monorail" Bronx Zoo | 1977 | 1 | 2.6km (01.6miles) | Zoo |
Marshall, Wisconsin | Little Amerricka monorail | 1990s[35] | 1 | Amusement park | ||
Wildwood, New Jersey | United States | Flying Galleons, Morey's Piers | 1997 | 1 | Other | |
Gilroy, California | United States | "Sky Trail Monorail", Gilroy Gardens | 2001[36] | 1 | Amusement park | |
Jefferson, New Hampshire | United States | The Skyway Sleigh, Santa's Village | 1 | Amusement park | ||
Fairfield, Ohio | United States | Jungle Jim's International Market Monorail | 2014[37] | 2 | 0.55km (00.34miles) | Other |
Amarillo | United States | Sky Rider, Wonderland Park (Texas) | 1 | ~800feet[38] | Amusement park | |
Allentown, Pennsylvania | United States | Snoopy's Rocket Express, Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom | 2011 | 1 | Amusement park | |
Kansas City, Missouri | United States | Snoopy's Rocket Express, Worlds of Fun | 2011 | 1 | Amusement park | |
Shakopee | United States | Snoopy's Rocket Express, Valleyfair | 2011 | 1 | Amusement park | |
Doswell | United States | Snoopy's Rocket Express Kings Dominion | 2013 | 1 | Amusement park | |
Da Nang | "Sun World Monorail", Asia Park | 2016[39] | 1 | 1.8km (01.1miles) | Amusement Park | |
Ho Chi Minh City | Đầm Sen Park monorail | 1 | 2km (01miles) | Amusement Park | ||
Physical construction work has started on the following monorails (sorted by opening dates):
Country | City | Name of system | Opening | References | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Egypt | Cairo | Cairo Monorail | Line 1 opens 2023 | [40] | |
Egypt | Cairo | Cairo Monorail | Line 2 opens 2024 |
Country | City | Name of system | Opening | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Brazil | São Paulo | Line 17 | 2024 | |
Brazil | Bahia | SkyRail Bahia | 2022 | |
Monterrey | Metrorrey Line 4 | 2026[41] | ||
Monterrey | Metrorrey Line 5 | 2025 | ||
Monterrey | Metrorrey Line 6 | 2024[42] | ||
Panama | Panama City | Line 3, Panama Metro | 2025[43] | |
Dominican Republic | Santiago de los Caballeros | Sistema Integrado de Transporte de Santiago | 2024[44] |
Country | City/Region | Name of systems | Opening | References | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
China | Qingyuan | Qingyuan Maglev | 2021 | ||
China | Enshi | Enshi Qingyunya Sightseeing Railway | 2021 | [45] [46] | |
China | Chengdu | Dayi Air-Rail | 2021 | [47] [48] | |
China | Liuzhou | Liuzhou Metro | 2022 | ||
China | Bengbu | Bengbu Metro | 2023 | ||
India | Dholera | Ahemdabad Dholera SIR Monorail | 2024 | [49] | |
China | Guilin | Guilin Metro | 2025 | ||
Riyadh | KAFD monorail | unknown | [50] | ||
China | Hancheng | Simaqianci to Guchengnanmen | unknown (construction began November 2016) | [51] | |
China | Shandong | Qufu to Zoucheng | construction halted 2018, 50% complete | [52] [53] | |
China | Guang'an | Guang'an Metro | unknown, was scheduled for 2020 | [54] [55] | |
Iran | Qom | Qom Metro Line M | unknown (construction halted 2016) | [56] |
Maglev proposals can be found on the list of maglev train proposals.
In 2022 a monorail was proposed by members of the public to the island administration that monorail could be a method to help with traffic problems gripping the U.K. Overseas Territory of the Cayman Islands.[57]
Several proposals have been made for a Monorail system in South Africa including one in Johannesburg [86] metropolitan area, one in Durban [87] and one in Capetown.[88]