The upgrading of the Circular railway is going to start in October 2017 said Myanma Railway deputy general manager U Zaw Lwin, as part of the governent’s efforts to improve public transportation.
The upgrade would include installing of automatic signals, and acquiring brand new 66 DMEU carriages, according to Myanma Railway general manager U Htun Aung Thin.
It will be financed partly by a 24 billion yen (US$ 206 million/K280.77 billion) Japanese official development assistance (ODA), he added.
‘’We can start upgrading works in October and we divided the circular railway into eastern and western parts,” said U Zaw Lwin. “The eastern part will include two segments, while the western part will be divided into three segments. We will start in the eastern side and hope to finish this part by May 2018.”
The upgrade for the western part will start on October 2019, U Zaw Lwin said.
The Myanma Railway will shoulder the cost for the rehabilitation of the stations and the platforms.
‘’We are conducting a survey for the upgrading. The first step will be repairing the railways, then the rehabilitation of platforms and stations,” said U Zaw Lwin.
Yangon’s circle line is 46km long and has 38 stations. More than 73,000 passengers depend on rail transport every day in the city.
The circular train is the secondary mode of public transportation in Yangon, after the public bus system.
‘’After the government implemented changes in the YBS, the number of passengers using the circular train has increased. Most of commuters who are in a hurry take the circular train. We want to make more improvements,” U Htun Aung Thin added.
After the upgrade, a computer system will control the selling of tickets and the opening and closing of the gates in Kyimyidine, Insein, Danyingone, Minglardon stations. The system will also control the 11 gates at the junctions of railway tracks and car roads.
At present, Myanma Railways’ circular train is running with 28 carriages 215 times per day, carrying between 85,000 and 90,000 commuters.
Source: Myanmar Times