After the purchase of the Safege technology, in the year 1970 in Shonan Japan, this air conditioned system with 7 minute headways was opened to the public. The following are comments by Hiroshi Naito*.

"Since the train runs up in the air about 10 meters high, visibility out of the train windows is quite nice, and rather spectacular. The scenery is filled with green trees along the hillsides, although the areas have been fully developed."

"The train slowly pulled into the home track, and sure enough, there was the opposing movement of a train entering the station along the opposite home track. After the train stopped at the platform, the conductor was busy collecting tickets from the passengers getting off. All stations are unmanned except at either end."

"After passing Shonan Fukazawa, scenery along the track turned somewhat rugged, like in the mountains. Soon, our train entered a short tunnel. A monorail running through a tunnel is quite a unique feature."

* The Japanese Railway Society (JRS) was founded in 1991 in London, England, to promote the knowledge of the railways of Japan in England and other non-Japanese-speaking parts of the world. Contact the JRS via e-mail: Mark Kavanagh, coordinator for the USA.