Yangon trains to be entirely air-conditioned
All circular trains in Yangon would be air-conditioned under the programme to be launched by Myanmar Railways in January, said a source from Rail Transportation Ministry's Transport Planning Department.
The new air-con systems will be better than the ones currently installed in three circular trains along Strand Road and around Yangon.
“This will start next year. The carriages will be modernised. They will be better than the carriages in use today,” the source said.
The programme is part of the ministry’s plan to modernise Yangon’s railway system, ahead of the development of the sky train in the largest commercial city.
The sky train project should start next year or soon after, the source said. The ministry is in the middle of finding funds for the project.
Under the modernisation plan, fares are also adjusted to make train rides affordable to daily commuters. Yangon now operates 3 air-conditioned circular trains, which now charge Ks 300 per trip. The cost was recently cut from Ks 400. The fares for other 22 circular trains were also cut.
The circular train speed would also be raised from 30 miles per hour to 80.
Since 2012, the ministry has started the measures to transform all train routes operated by Myanma Railways with the aim to make railway the main transport system for Yangon.
