Steam trains or locomotives will soon be back on railways, in a bid to make traveling in Myanmar a much exciting experience.
Myanmar Railway is planning to run train rides with the war surviving steam-locomotives in an effort to attract the foreign visitors.
Last year, 4 out of 40 steamed locomotives undergone comprehensive reconditioning as part of this project.
CHIEF ENGINEER, INSEIN LOCOMOTIVE FACTORY, MYINT KYAING: The reconditioning works for YT 967 have completed and is stored in Bagan locomotive factory, and ready to run. The reconditioning works for another locomotive is also done and the test run is underway. The rest will be reconditioned in 2014-2015 fiscal year.
Travelling agencies also show their positive attitude on this plan and suggest that the weekend schedules could be a better choice than charter itinerary.
MANAGING DIRECTOR, THINGAZAR TRAVELS & TOURS, TIN TUN AUNG: All the tour companies show interest in this case, and Im interested in hiring a car of the train because there are tourists who want to enjoy train ride. If the trains provide good services, the style of travelling by train will become popular here.
The steam locomotives first operated in 1945 and while some might be concerned over safety, Myanmar Railway says there is nothing to be afraid of.
CHIEF ENGINEER, INSEIN LOCOMOTIVE FACTORY, MYINT KYAING: Even though their speed won't be as fast as the new ones, we can make sure on their safety. The train will run nearly 25 miles per hour.The coaches are also being repairing in Myitnge factory.
Although reconditioning costs about 30,000 US dollars for each locomotive, Myanma Railway is already looking at expanding the service, when the demand gets high.
ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER, MYANMA RAILWAYS, ZAW PHAE SEIN: we are now making arrangements and renovation works to run for the tourists at least three to four times in a month. We will also offer the charter train service upon the request.Firstly, it is planned to ply from Mandalay to Bagan and the operation is targeted to be launched during this year.
Old railway near Thilawa International Port (Photo EMG)
Japan is lending Myanmar the technical assistance in developing a cargo train network that would connect Thilawa International Port and other ports in Yangon, according to Ministry of Rail Transportations official.
We are drawing up a plan through successful lessons from other countries. The timeframe of the project is not yet finalised, but the feasibility study will be in place, said the official who asked not to be named.
The project will reduce the number of container trucks in Yangon and hence solve traffic congestion.
It is part of the ministrys long-term infrastructure development master plan. To date, the ministry has completed the construction of some rail routes, to facilitate more passenger and cargo shipment by rail.
It has planned to extend the rail transportation system since 2011. The Yangon-Mandalay rail route is under maintenance while the construction of the Yangon-Pathein route is nearly finished, the official said.
China has not renewed the Kyaukpyu-Kunming railway project and let the memorandum of understanding on the project implementation expire, said the Ministry of Rail Transportation.
Myint Wai, the ministrys director, said on Friday that the cancellation of the project could be attributed to domestic opposition from the public as well as civic organisations.
Under the MoU signed in April, 2011, the railway construction was expected to complete within three years. But China had not even started the construction work as of this year.
The Uni0n minister has no plans to implement this project and the MoU has expired so we will not carry on the project in accordance with the publics demand, said Myint Wai.
The railway project was mapped out in accordance with the Chinese strategy. The railway, if constructed, would pass through Rakhine State, Magway Region, Mandalay Region and Shan State.
Although the rail network deal collapsed, rumours spread since April that China might want to construct a motorway into Myanmar.
Under the collapsed deal, China was supposed to invest US$20 billion on the build, operate and transfer project for 50 years.
The deal was signed by China Railway Engineering Corporation and Aung Min, then railway minister. Former vice president Thiha Thura Tin Aung Myint Oo involved in the deal before his retirement.
The deal met with strong opposition from civic organisations. Some political parties voiced their disapproval and there were several rallies against the railway construction.
During the parliamentary session of the Lower House on Friday, Deputy Minister for Railway Transport U Chan Maung said that construction of the Minbu-An-Sittway railway track will be completed in the 2021-2022 fiscal year if the project is fully allocated from the state budget.
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