Extension of city train services as part of development projects in urban areas has resulted in stoppage of services in the rural sector.
The regime shifted the express train from Mon State to the new capital Pyinmana at the end of May according to sources close to railway officers in Mon State.
The train was moved to the new capital on the orders of Senior General Than Shwe, sourced added.
The Dawei train has stopped running since the end of May, said residents in Ye Township. Mon State had three trains including express and ordinary trains. One was running between Moulmein and Dawei while two trains operated between Moulmein and Ye.
Residents said they had no idea why the train between Moulmein and Dawei was not running.
Reduction of train services by the regime have left passengers complaining and grumblingly because of the problems they have been facing while travelling.
The postmen on the rail route are also facing problems because the trains never stop or reduce speeds at the small stations to help deliver the letters, said sources.
The Dawei railway road is a temporary affair and sometimes the train slips and we miss a heartbeat out of fear, a passenger who has travelled on the train said.
According to the Myanmar Television MRTV, passengers can now travel smoothly to the new capital Pyinmana.
The regime declared that they built the 101.36 mile long Dawei-Ye railway with their Tatmadawmen between 1994 and 1998.
But human rights groups in exile said, that the railway was built with forced labour and has been named the second death railway of Burma because many people had died after they were forced to work in the railway construction site.
A monk from Chaungtaung in Ye Township said that the military had forced villagers from around Ye Township and Thanbyuzayat Township to build the railway.
He added that the villagers were forced to work for many years in the construction of the railway. Some of them died during construction and some were raped.
Overcrowding and inadequate transportation services have made it difficult for residents in Rangoon to get railway tickets to Mandalay and areas of northern Burma, according to sources in the former capital.
Some passengers have been queuing for tickets at the Rangoon train station as early as 2 a.m., even though the ticket office doesnt open until 6 a.m., sources said. Others sleep at the station or nearby in an attempt to beat the crowds.
An official at the Rangoon train station said there are currently four trains with service between Rangoon and Mandalay. Three depart in the morning and a fourth departs at 12:45 p.m. (รถไฟสายย่างกุ้ง - มัณฑะเลย์)
The official told The Irrawaddy o­n Wednesday that tickets can be purchased o­ne day in advance for regular class, at a price of 1,550 kyat (US $1.2 - 42 บาท), and three days in advance for first class, which cost 3,090 kyat ($2.4 - 84 บาท).
The difficulty in getting tickets has driven many to the black market. Everyday hundreds of people queue for up to two or three hours before the office opens, said o­ne Rangoon resident who travels frequently to Mandalay. I cant always get a regular ticket, so I simply pay 7,000 kyat ($ 5.5 - 192.5 บาท) for upper class. But you have to deal with a good source.
Evening rail service to Mandalay was suspended last year after Burmas ruling junta announced its relocation of the capital to Naypyidaw, about 320 miles north of Rangoon.
Sources say that canceling the night train has made it difficult for passengers to get tickets o­n the early trains, and many potential passengers have begun to take buses in recent months.
Without the evening train, service is more crowded, another source in Rangoon said. Last Monday, I stood in line at 4 a.m. for a ticket, but there were none available. So, I took a bus for 10,000 kyat ($8 - 280 บาท).
Burmas train service is unreliable and slow. The steam-powered engines run o­n old and narrow tracks, in some cases dating back to the days of British colonial rule.
The countrys military government launched five new Rail routes last year and a sixth in April 2007, but all were direct routes between Naypyidaw and other cities.
Nay Pyi Taw, 30 Aug ? Minister for Rail Transportation Maj-Gen Aung Min, accompanied by Deputy Minister Thura U Thaung Lwin, inspected construction of locomotives at Diesel Locomotive Shed in Ywahtaung of Sagaing Division on 25 August morning.
The minister instructed officials to manufacture locomotives to meet the target and set standards, produce spare parts of locomotives and run more locomotives and carriages for smooth transportation. The minister inspected maintenance tasks at Sagaing Bridge.
At the Concrete Sleeper Factory in Myitnge, the minister viewed production of concrete sleepers and preparation for sending them to the worksites.
At Carriage and Wagon Factory in Myitnge, the minister heard reports on production process of bogie and renovation of carriages and wagons presented by General Manager U Khin Maw and attended to the needs.
At the Blacksmith Factory, the minister instructed officials to manufacture quality carriages in time. The minister and party inspected Myitnge Hospital for Railways Staff and presented gifts to patients.
Yesterday morning, the minister viewed sales of tickets to passengers at Mandalay Railways Station and conversed with the passengers.
At Myohaung Cargo Yard, the minister inspected the tasks and gave necessary instructions. On his inspection tour of factories, the minister fulfilled the requirements of the tasks.
The minister inspected construction of Nay Pyi Taw Pyinmana-Myohaung dual tracks railroad and instructed officials to carry out construction of the railroad and bridges on schedule.
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