The recent political and economic opening of Myanmar will see an upgrading of the formerly isolated countrys transport infrastructure. Due to its strategic location, Myanmar is likely to become a rail transport hub between the Indian Subcontinent, China, and Southeast Asia.
Foreign investors have already expressed their interest to upgrade the run-down railway network, which hasnt seen much maintenance since the British left in the 1950s. Currently, the 5,400 kilometers rail network (on a meter gauge) generally spans north to south with branch lines to east and west, but offers no connection to neighbouring countries.
In the future, the rail network should become part of the Trans-Asia Railway, a project to create an integrated freight railway network across Europe and Asia. The Southern Corridor of the Trans-Asia Railway is supposed to create a connection from Europe and western Russia to Southeast Asia, connecting Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Thailand, with links to Chinas Yunnan province and via Malaysia to Singapore.
In a first step, the Bangladesh government has said it is going to construct a rail line from Dohazari in Chittagong to Gundhum in Myanmar via Coxs Bazar to establish a link with the proposed Trans-Asia Railway corridor from India to Southeast Asia.
China plans to construct several routes linking its remote southwestern regions with ports in Myanmar and on to Southeast and South Asia. In particular, a major rail line is planned to connect Kunming with a new deep-sea port and special industrial economic zone under construction at Kyaukpyu on Myanmars western coast.
Another rail route will connect the 1,920 kilometers between Chinas Yunnan province capital Kunming to Myanmars former capital and major port Yangon. Construction will likely build on Myanmars existing north-south rail line rather than lay completely new tracks. This route would also link a new port project at Dawei on the southern coast.
A third route will run through Myanmars eastern Shan State connecting Kunming with the northern Thai town of Chiang Rai and from there link into the Thai rail network. This link, together with a route currently being surveyed in Laos, will enable the shipment of goods by rail between China, Cambodia, Thailand, and Singapore.
Apart from China, Japanese company Marubeni has expressed an interest in rebuilding Burmas railways network.
When finished, the Trans-Asia Railway will allow more efficient transportation of goods and energy resources from suppliers in the Middle East and Africa. New rail links with Myanmar as a hub will cut the distance needed to transport oil from the Middle East and Africa by sea by almost in half .
กองกำลังติดอาวุธ KIA วางระเบิดทางรถไฟสายมิตจินา-มัณฑะเลย์อีกแล้ว
KIA (Kachin) armed group blasts Myitkyina-Mandalay railroad again
The New Light of Myanmar 2 May 2012
NAY PYI TAW, 1 May- About one and a half miles from Hsahmaw railway station on Myitkyina- Mandalay railroad, about two-foot rail tracks and nine sleepers of east and west rail tracks were destroyed in double mine blasts plotted by KIA (Kachin) Armed Group at 1.05 am today.
Fifteen 200-gram TNTs, 13 detonators, six eight-inch tripwires and two intensification explosives were found near the damaged rail track and 18 200-gram TNTs and related items 75 yards from the scene by the officials who deactivated the explosives.
A Kachin national who is in service in Nay Pyi Taw said he doubted whether KIA are doing the good for the people as they proclaimed because of such destruction of non-military targets and public places-railways, motor roads and bridges- and firing heavy weapons to villages, undermining transportation and socioeconomic standards of national people in Kachin State.-MNA
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KIA (Kachin) armed group blasts Mandalay-Myitkyina railroad
The New Light of Myanmar 3 May 2012
NAY PYI TAW, 2 May- About eight inches of both sides of railway between Pyidaung railway station and Malikha railway station on Mandalay-Myitkyina Railroad were cut in explosion of mine planted by KIA (Kachin) armed group at 2.25 am today.
The body with KIA camouflage uniform was found 50 feet east of the railway near the scene.
Engineers team of Mogaung railway station repaired the damaged railroad and normal transport resumed at about 10.30 am. Local people are concerned about such destructive acts of KIA (Kachin) armed group in these days.-MNA
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