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List of monorail systems
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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.
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Operational monorails
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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.
Operational monorails – transit, people movers
Systems used primarily for passenger transportation, characterised by enclosed cars, multiple stations and open on a regular basis. Monorails associated with amusement parks that have enclosed cabins and multiple stations are generally included here.
Operational monorails – sightseeing, amusement park rides, zoo monorails
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).
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Under construction
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Physical construction work has started on the following monorails (sorted by opening dates):
Africa
Americas
Asia
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Proposed monorails
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Maglev proposals can be found on the list of maglev train proposals.
Africa
Algeria
Proposals have been made in the city of Algiers in 2023, construction will start in early 2026.
South Africa
Several proposals have been made for a Monorail system in South Africa including one in Johannesburg[63] metropolitan area, one in Durban[64] and one in Capetown.[65]
Americas
Cayman Islands
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.[66]
Mexico
- Metrorrey Lines 4, 5 and 6, Monterrey metropolitan area, Nuevo Leon. In August 2022, the acting Secretary of Mobility and Urban Planning of Nuevo Leon announced via press conference that an elevated monorail system was being considered for lines 4, 5 and 6 of the Metrorrey metro system.[67] He also said that the procurement process is currently open to all types of mass transportation options and that there are currently 34 companies interested in submitting a formal proposal. Construction of the new lines is expected to begin on August 31, 2022.[68]
United States
- San Fernando Valley to LAX via the Sepulveda Pass, Los Angeles, California. In July 2021 a pre-development agreement was signed with the SkyRail Consortium.[69] (A competing pre-development agreement for a subway was also signed. A selection will be made between these options after the pre-development work is complete.)
- Miami to Miami Beach, Florida. Funding to commence planning was approved in October 2020[70]
- Frederick, Maryland, to Shady Grove Metro Station, Maryland, "I-270 Monorail". A feasibility study was released in February 2021 by the Maryland DOT.[71][72]
- Columbus, Ohio. To run along the High Street corridor to link Rickenbacker International Airport with Downtown.[73]
Panama
- Panama Metro Line 9, Panama. Announced in 2016 as part of master plan. In 2018 it was reported the line will be built.[74]
Venezuela
- TELMAG, Line Caracas – La Guaira, Venezuela. The TELMAGV is an ongoing research project which was born in the Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas (IVIC) in 1967, and later continued by the Universidad de Los Andes, Venezuela. The TELMAG is a ground mass transport system that does not require mechanical friction for drive and guidance as conventional trains do.
Asia
China
- Zunyi rapid transit system. Approved in 2019. Two lines with 19 stations (22.86 km (14.20 mi)) and 19 stations (27 km (17 mi))
India
- Ahmedabad–Dholera SIR Monorail, Gujarat, Approved January 2021. Opening 2–3 years after construction starts.[75][76]
- Chennai Monorail[77]
- Aizawl Monorail, On paper since 2012.[78]
- Coimbatore Monorail
- Madurai Monorail, On paper since 2014.[79]
- Mumbai Maglev, a 2007 proposal, revived in 2020, for a 55 km (34 mi) elevated line to connect Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CSTM) and Panvel with a branch line to Navi Mumbai International Airport.[80]
- Tiruchirappalli Monorail, On paper since 2014.[79]
- Warangal Monorail
Philippines
- Cebu Monorail. Unsolicited PPP (P3) proposal from 2015. Two lines 17.7 km (11.0 mi) and 9.3 km (5.8 mi). Awaiting government approval.[81]
- Davao People Mover, Davao City. Unsolicited PPP (P3) proposal from 2015.[82] As of March 2019, the line is still waiting for government approval as counter proposals had to be considered.[83]
- Manila Metro Rail Transit System Line 4, Manila. Approved. As of 2020 construction was planned to start in 2021 and the line open in 2025.
Taiwan
- 臺南捷運藍線, Tainan. Feasibility study currently being conducted.
Thailand
- MRT Brown Line, Bangkok. MRTA is reviewing the investment and fare models to align with current policies, with a presentation to the board expected by August 2025.[84]
- MRT Grey Line, Bangkok. Feasibility study currently being conducted.
Vietnam
- Ho Chi Minh City Metro. Two lines are included in the 2007 and 2013 master plans for the city, with route lengths of 27.2 km (16.9 mi) and 16.2 km (10.1 mi), respectively.
- Da Lat Monorail, currently under planning
Europe
United Kingdom
- Liverpool, Merseyside. Originally included as part of the 2007 proposal for Liverpool Waters, it is planned to link to John Lennon Airport. As of 2018[update] the concept was still being considered but was not connected to the larger project.[85]
- Runcorn, Cheshire. Proposed in 2020 as part of the planned "Heath Park" industrial estate.[86]
- Havering, London. The borough is still considering a monorail to improve North-South transport links as of 2023.[87]
Denmark
Poland
Ukraine
The Netherlands
- Tilburg to Kaatsheuvel monorail. Proposed in 2017[93]
Oceania
- Brisbane Airport, Australia. Proposed in 2014.[94] As of May 2021[update] it is still planned as part of a major redevelopment of the airport.[95]
- Nelson City, New Zealand. Proposed in 2018.[96]
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Decommissioned
Africa
Nigeria
- Calabar Monorail, Nigeria. A 3-station, 1.1 km (0.68 mi) Intamin monorail, opened in 2016 but shut down and abandoned almost immediately.
Americas
Brazil
- Rio de Janeiro had a private monorail that linked Barra Shopping mall to its parking lot. Only one part of the track and the platform still remain, in the parking lot (second floor, behind the Fnac dome). [citation needed]
- The Poços de Caldas Monorail was the very first monorail system in Brazil. It operated for 9 years when it went privatized and closed by its buyer. Today[when?] the system remains dead.[97]
Canada
- Expo 86 in Vancouver, British Columbia had a monorail that was moved to Alton Towers in the United Kingdom.
- The Minirail at Expo 67 in Montreal (1967–2021), which joined Pleasure Beach Blackpool in purchasing rail and rolling stock from the monorail system at the 1964 Lausanne exposition, along with new rail cars from the manufacturer.[98][99]
- The Ontario Southern Railway operated one of the earliest North American monorails between Crystal Beach Park in Crystal Beach, Ontario and the main line railway station (1896–1898).
- Toronto Zoo Domain Ride, Toronto (1976–1994) Though technologically closer to a simple rubber-tired metro, it was almost universally referred to as a monorail.
United States
Asia
China
- Happy Line, Shenzhen (1999–2018)
Hong Kong
- Monorail in Lai Chi Kok Amusement Park, Hong Kong[113][114]
- Monorail in Kai Tak Amusement Park, Hong Kong[115]
India
- Kundala Valley Railway, Munnar, Kerala (1902–1908)
- Patiala State Monorail Trainways, Punjab (1910–1927)
- Skybus Metro, Margao, Goa (2004–2013)
Indonesia
Japan
- "Suspended Train" at the Exhibition of Transportation and Electricity in Osaka, 1928. Operated only for a week, from November 28 until December 3. It was the first monorail in the nation, as well as the only one in the pre-war period.
- Himeji City Monorail Line, Himeji (1966–1974)
- Odakyu Mukogaokayuen Monorail Line, Kawasaki, Kanagawa (1966–2001)
- Monkey Park Monorail Line, Inuyama, Aichi (1962–2008)
- Nara Dreamland Monorail, Nara Dreamland, Nara (1961–2006)
- Skyrail Midorizaka Line, Hiroshima (1998–2024)
- Yokohama Dreamland Monorail, Kamakura (1966–1967)
- Higashiyama Park Monorail, Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens, Nagoya (1964–1974); replaced by Sky View Train
- Ueno Zoo Monorail, Tokyo (1958–2019)
- Monorail, Kumamoto City Zoological and Botanical Gardens, Kumamoto (closed 2025)
- Super Train, Oyama Amusement Park, Oyama, Tochigi (closed 2005)
Turkey
- The Atlantis City Monorail in Ankara was a 0.52 km (0.32 mi) long monorail system that operated between Atlantis Shopping Mall and Batıkent Metro Station. It was built in 2012 but it is currently dismantled.
Malaysia
- Melaka Monorail, Malacca City, Malacca (2010–2020)
- Sunway Monorail, Petaling Jaya, Selangor. Served Sunway City, including Sunway Pyramid mall and Sunway Lagoon theme park and the surrounding. Decommissioned and partly dismantled to allow mall expansion. It was replaced by BRT Sunway Line.
Philippines
- Starmall Alabang featured a suspended monorail called the Sky Rail,[117] which was located on the top floor Starland amusement park. Most of the route circle inside the enclosed portion of the mall, with an outdoor turnback above the pool area. The ride was operational as of 2009, but was eventually closed.
Singapore
- Sentosa Monorail, Singapore (1982–2005). Replaced by the Sentosa Express monorail.
- Jurong BirdPark Panorail (1991–2012)
Thailand
- Fashion Island Monorail, Bangkok, Thailand. Short indoor amusement park monorail in Fashion Island shopping center. Decommissioned due to an accident that killed 2 riders.[citation needed]
- Tuk-Tuk Monorail, Bangkok. Half indoor-outdoor monorail tour operated between LeoLand amusement park and the water park. The track survives in the 6th floor of Central City Bang Na.
- Chiang Mai Zoo monorail. The 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) opened in 2005 and ceased operations in 2014.[118]
Europe
United Kingdom
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- Liverpool to Manchester Bher monorail, circa 1900[119][120]
- Blackpool Pleasure Beach (relocated from 1964 Lausanne fair in Switzerland, closed in 2012)[121][122]
- Milngavie, near Glasgow, had an experimental high-speed propeller-powered monorail, the Bennie Railplane, built during 1929–30 and abandoned during the Great Depression.
- Butlins Skegness Camp, Skegness, United Kingdom (1964–2002) – the first commercial monorail in the UK. Closed at the end of the 2002 season after the track was deemed to be structurally unsafe due to deterioration in the support foundations on the ground. It was then dismantled and removed in March 2003.
- Butlins Minehead Camp, Minehead, United Kingdom (1967–1996) – closed in the summer of 1996 following an accident when one train ran into the back of another due to the track signals being disconnected and ran by an inexperienced monorail controller, who was at the time, 20 years old and on the first day of his job. The crash caused minor injuries to seven people, and in March 1997, Butlins were fined £22,500 for poor safety standards. After the accident, because the monorail system was deemed too expensive to upgrade, the monorail remained standing but not operating until the winter of 1998, when it was finally torn down to make way for the Skyline Pavilion.
- Birmingham Airport had a magnetic levitation (Mag-Lev) train which had to be closed down because it became life-expired and lacked spare parts. It was the world's first Mag-Lev in public operation but was replaced by the cable-propelled Air-Rail Link in the 2000s.
- Lartigue Monorail in Ireland (and France). A restored 1-kilometre (0.62 mi) section now operates in Listowel.
- Safari Skyway, Chessington, United Kingdom (1986–2015). Operated in Chessington World of Adventures.
- Merry Hill Shopping Centre, Brierley Hill, West Midlands had a Von Roll Mk III Series monorail which opened in June 1991 but only worked for a short while before being closed in 1996 and finally being sold off in the 2000s. The rolling stock then operated in Broadbeach, Queensland, Australia. Reasons for the closure of this system include a combination of technical problems and safety concerns (especially the difficulty of evacuation), exacerbated by a dispute between the owners of Merry Hill and The Waterfront which at this time were owned separately.
- Chester Zoo monorail 1.4 km (0.9 mi), operational 1991 to 2019.[123]
- Sky Rider, Legoland Windsor Resort, Windsor, Berkshire (1996–2024) Whilst not truely considered a proper monorail (as it used 2 rails) it still afforded a view of Miniland and parts of the park similar to monorails in other theme parks.
Continental Europe
- Lartigue Monorail in département of Loire, France. A 17 km (11 mi) line was built between Feurs and Panissières. It was never put into service despite completion of the line in 1895 after it failed during testing in both 1895 and 1896. The track and equipment were scrapped in 1902.
- Russia had one suspended monorail built in 1899 at a leisure park in Gatchina. A horse-pulled monorail was already built in 1820 in Myachkove near Moscow.
- Moscow monorail. 4.7 km, 6 stations. Built in early 2000's and opened to service in 2004. Throughout its lifespan the line and rolling stock was flooded with numerous and often constant breakdowns, because it was built with Intamin technology that wasn't intended for urban transport use. The line was eventually shut down on 28 June 2025 to be converted to elevated urban park, after public referendum with 71.14% in favor of conversion.
- France has two abandoned test tracks for the Aérotrain, which can be considered monorails. One is between Limours and Gometz-la-Ville and the other between Saran and Artenay. France also had a suspended monorail the SAFEGE that featured in the film Fahrenheit 451.
- Phantasialand: Phantasialand Jet (1974–2008), closed and removed. Manufacturer was the German theme park ride manufacturer Schwarzkopf.
- Seville Expo '92 in Spain: Relocated at 2009 at Plaza Imperial Shopping Center in Zaragoza. Now discontinued.
- Emsland test facility, Germany: test track for the Transrapid Maglev.
- Turin, Italy, had a 2 stop monorail built for Expo 61; it used the same Alweg trains as in the Seattle Monorail.
Oceania
- Sydney Monorail (also known as Metro Monorail), Sydney, Australia (closed on 30 June 2013)[124]
- Brisbane, Queensland had a Von Roll Type II monorail built for World Expo '88. Four sets, consisting of nine carriages each, operated in a continuous loop throughout the Expo site. A single train set and some track was sold to Sea World, Gold Coast, in 1989 for expansion of its monorail system. The remainder of the sets and track were bought back by Von Roll.
- Oasis Shopping Centre, Broadbeach, Queensland ran between the shopping centre and Conrad Jupiters Casino. The Von Roll Mark III monorail, owned by the Oasis Shopping Centre, consisted of two 4-carriage trains. Two spare carriages that were removed when the system switched from 5-carriage to 4-carriage trains were also kept with the two trains. Most components were original to the Oasis Monorail, but some were sourced from the UK Merry Hill Shopping Centre's former monorail that closed in 1993. As of July 2017, most of the monorail system has been removed (closed on 29 January 2017).[125]
- Sea World Monorail System (1986–2022)[126]
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Cancelled or lapsed proposals
Africa
- Aba, Nigeria. A 2012 proposed. The plan was criticised as potentially a scam since the private company had no experience in developing monorails.[127] The same private firm was to develop the Onitsha monorail (see below). As of 2021[update] there is no information that the proposal progressed passed the signing of a memorandum of understanding.
- Lagos, Nigeria. Proposed in 2008.[128] The Red line on the Lagos Rail Mass Transit was built as a railway instead
- Onitsha, Nigeria. A 2011 proposal with the first stage of producing a feasibility study.[129][130] As of 2021[update] no further developments appear to have occurred.
- Rivers Monorail in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Construction abandoned[131]
Americas
South America
- Arequipa, Peru. 2013 proposal.[132] Rejected in 2016.[133]
- Buenos Aires, Argentina. Proposals in 1998 and 2012.[134] Neither has materialized.
- São Paulo, Brazil had a project (Line 18) to build a monorail that would connect São Paulo to the neighbour ABC region. It was cancelled and replaced by a BRT system.
- Niterói, Brazil. The proposed monorail had received the go-ahead from Dilma Rousseff to connect Niterói, São Gonçalo, and Itaboraí, before the State considered implementing a heavy metro solution instead.[135][136]
Canada
- Wasaga Beach, Ontario, Canada. A 2007 proposal for a 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) monorail to connect the beach front to a carpark. Plans were abandoned after a fire at the end of 2007.
United States
- In 2005, as part of the DestiNY USA project in Syracuse, a monorail was proposed from Syracuse University to Syracuse Hancock International Airport via downtown and the DestiNY complexes is planned.[137]
- Lubbock, Texas monorail was proposed in 2014, to connect Texas Tech with the downtown area.[138] As of 2020[update] there is no other mention of the plan except the original suggestion.
- Chicago, Navy Pier – a 2006 proposal to run a monorail down the length of the pier.[139][140] As of 2021[update] the plans seem to have lapsed.
- Nashville to Murfreesboro, Tennessee monorail – a 2014 plan to build a monorail on the I-24 corridor between the cities. The Tennessee Department of Transportation completed an assessment report in 2015 but the project has not proceeded.[141][142]
Central America and the Caribbean
- Sherbourne Conference Centre Monorail, Saint Michael, Barbados was proposed in 2008[143][144]
Asia
Bangladesh
- Dhaka Monorail, Dhaka, Bangladesh was a 2002 planned 51-kilometre (32-mile) system. The Dhaka Metro Rail (partially operational) and the Dhaka Subway are both planned to use railway technology.[145]
Hong Kong
- Environmentally Friendly Linkage System, New Kowloon, Hong Kong
India
- Ahmedabad Monorail, Ahmedabad. Was a 2011 plan to build a 30 kilometres (19 mi) system for the city.
- Aizawl Monorail, Aizawl. 2011 memorandum of understanding signed. As of 2025[update] its status is unclear.
- Delhi Monorail, New Delhi. In 2008 the government planned to have 50 km (31 mi) of monorail by 2020 but as of 2025 there are no plans.
- Indore Monorail, Indore. 2010 proposal. As of 2021[update] its status is unclear.
- Kanpur Monorail, Kanpur. 2010 proposal. As of 2021[update] its status is unclear.
- Kolkata Monorail, Kolkata. numerous proposal. As of 2021[update] their status is unclear.
- Madurai Monorail, Madurai. 2010 proposal. As of March 2021[update] it is only on paper.
- Patna Monorail, Patna. 2010 proposal. As of 2021[update] its status is unclear.
- Pune Monorail, Pune. 2010 proposal. As of 2021[update] its status is unclear.
- Shimla, Himachal Pradesh. 2018 proposal.[146] The project was ruled out in 2021.[147]
- Tiruchirappalli Monorail, Trichy. 2010 proposal. As of March 2021[update] it is only on paper.
- Lamandha Monorail, Bangalore. Proposed Rail, Will Work in 2038.
Iran
- Tehran Monorail, Tehran. Project cancelled in 2010 after completion of 3% of construction work.[148]
Indonesia
- Jakarta Monorail, Jakarta. Construction started in 2000s but project cancelled on 2015 by the Governor of Jakarta Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, however this project has been replaced by Jabodebek LRT.[116]
Malaysia
- Putrajaya Monorail, Construction halted since 2004. As of 2023, there are no plans to revive the project.[149]
Sri Lanka
- Colombo Monorail, Colombo, Sri Lanka proposed in 2015. A light rail system was chosen as the preferred option but was not constructed either.
Turkey
- Istanbul Monorail, plans cancelled in 2017.
Europe
- Kyiv Monorail, Ukraine, was a proposed monorail system. The 1.8 km line connecting Hidropark and Paton bridge was proposed in 1966, followed by the 3.5 km line connecting Hidropark and Berezniaky neighborhood proposed in 1970 (either as the separate line or an extension of the previous line). Both lines were never built and the project was abandoned in 1970s.[150]
- Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 'Tren Vertebrado'; Construction commenced but the project was abandoned. Disassembled 1975[151]
- Thessaloniki Monorail, Greece, was a proposed monorail line that will start at Mikra Station and end at Makedonia International Airport. An extension of the metro to the airport is now being planned.
- Manchester Monorail, a 16-mile (26 km) SAFEGE-type monorail proposed in 1966 for Manchester, UK, to run across the city to Manchester Airport[152][153]
- Preston Monorail, United Kingdom[154]
- Scotland. A maglev monorail system was proposed in 2009 to link Glasgow and Edinburgh, with a journey time of 18 minutes. The plan was judged to be technologically feasible, but was not progressed because of the cost.[155]
- Southampton Rapid Transit System, a "People Mover" proposed c.1989, to run over a three mile long "horseshoe" route around the City Centre, but later abandoned.[156]
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