Japanese call for Yangon train work
The Yangon's circular train line is seriously damaged, according to the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
There was too little gravel and some connections were loose, it said.
The JICA said the crossings were in poor condition and some houses were too close to the tracks. Drainage in many stations was poor and control systems, ticketing and communication devices needed an upgrade.
Myanma Railway and the JICA started an upgrading plan in 2012.
The JICA is planning to separate the circular route from the intercity train network, which currently use the same tracks, while making the timetable more reliable and introducing air conditioning.
Between 80,000 and 100,000 people use the trains every day.
“We have been repairing the circular route once a year but now it needs an upgrade,” said Tun Aung Thin, lower Myanmar general manager at the rail ministry.
He said all trains on Yangon’s circular network would have air conditioning within two or three months.
The ministry has announced that it would soon invite tenders to upgrade the 38 train Yangon stations, including Yangon Central.
Advertising would be allowed on carriages, and buildings owned by the ministry would be rented to the private sector, it said.
