A Typical AGT Route Pattern: The Loop Line

Among the various AGT route patterns,

one notable type is the "loop line,"

which starts at a major train station,

circles through a residential area, and

returns to the same station. Much like a

neighborhood shuttle bus, this type of

AGT line serves as a vital means of

everyday transportation.

A prime example is the Yukarigaoka

Line in Sakura City, Chiba Prefecture.

This single-track loop stretches 4.1

kilometers in a anti-clockwise direction

from Yukarigaoka Station on the Keisei

Line and includes six stations in total.

Though compact in scale, it supports

about 2,000 daily riders. The AGT’s

quiet and smooth operation in close

proximity to homes has earned it praise

as a transport system that adds value to

the town.

Yukarigaoka Line

Another example is Kobe’s Port Liner.

It branches off from the main line at

Shimin-Hiroba Station and loops around

Port Island before returning to

Sannomiya Station. The loop includes

nine stations and covers 6.4 kilometers,

with some sections operating on a

single track. In addition to serving the

island, it also functions as a direct link

to the city center.

Port Liner

Although loop-style AGT lines are still

rare in Japan, they offer highly reliable

service unaffected by road congestion

or traffic signals. Thanks to these

advantages, AGT loop lines have been

adopted in Singapore’s high-density

residential areas—Bukit Panjang,

Sengkang, and Punggol—where they

play a key role as efficient and

dependable public transit systems that

support daily life.

Bukit Panjang LRT

Sengkang Punggol LRT

Stay tuned for the next AGT Blog!