ข่าวรถไฟเมียนมาร์

[Wisarut]

Checkpoints help trains run on time
By Nyunt Win
The Mynama Times - 29 October - 4 November 2007



Photo: Myanmar Times - Passengers board a train on Yangon’s Circular Line - Lwin Maung Maung]

FIVE stations on Yangon’s Circular Line have been designated as checkpoints in an effort to improve the punctuality of the trains on the line, said an official at Myanma Railways (MR).

Three assistant managers have been assigned to each of the four stations – Kyeemyindaing, Danyingon, Mahlwagone, Thingangyun and Insein – to assess delays caused by passengers, engines and coaches, electrical power, telecom-munications and rails, said U Aung Kyaw Min, the assistant general manager of MR’s information depart-ment.

He said the managers were required to submit reports daily at 9am, 1pm, 5pm and 9pm.

“This control system allows us to see how repairs can be made in the shortest possible time when the trains are delayed for any reason,” he said, adding that the line’s punctuality record has improved since the checkpoints were established in August.

U Aung Kyaw Min said 150,000 people ride the Circular Line each day but the number of passengers is increasing.

To compensate for the increase, the Circular Line will soon get additional locomotives that are currently being used on the Yangon-Mandalay line, the latter of which will be replaced by engines imported from India last month, he said.

[Wisarut]

Historical Rangoon Railway Station to be Relocated
By Saw Yan Naing
The Irrawaddy - November 15, 2007
REF: http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=9320
The historical, British Victorian-style Rangoon Railway Station near downtown Rangoon will be relocated to East Dagon Township.


[Photo: The Irrawaddy - Rangoon Railway Station]

Built in 1877, the railway station is an architectural gem, located in Kyauktada Township.

The station is among nearly 190 buildings on the Rangoon City Development Committee’s list of Burmese heritage structures worthy of preservation.

An official told The Irrawaddy, “Yes, we will move, but it is not possible to move right now.”

No date for the move has been announced. Construction on new railway station has not yet begun.

Maj-Gen Aung Min, the minister for railway transportation, inspected the area where the new railway station will be built, according to a November 6 story in the state-run newspaper, The New Light of Myanmar.

A villager near the site of the new station said that some villagers' land has been taken over by authorities.

A Rangoon resident said, "They [authorities] are doing such useless things. They are moving all bus stations and railway stations outside the city. If they used the relocation fees to improve the old railway station, it would become a very good one."

[Wisarut]

New Light of Myanmar - 24 Nov 2007


Yangon-Mandalay Railroad, life-blood of nation's rail transportation sector
Nay Pyi Taw Pyinmana-Myohaung dual track section on Yangon-Mandalay Railroad inaugurated


NAY PYI TAW, 24 Nov-The inauguration of Nay Pyi Taw Pyinmana-Myohaung dual track section on Yangon-Mandalay Railroad of the Myanma Railways under the Ministry of Rail Transportation took place at the Nay Pyi Taw Station Project here at 6.35 am today.

Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Thiha Thura Tin Aung Myint Oo in his speech said that Yangon-Mandalay one-way railroad is being upgraded to a dual one. Completed sections are opened one after another, and Pyinmana-Myohaung section is the last one of the railroad.

The government made sustained efforts with tenacity to complete a railroad in parallel with the 385.5-mile Yangon-Mandalay Railroad. Then, the government's benevolence towards the people has yielded fruits.

By reinforcing the main railroad, passenger trains and cargo trains can make more runs, can run at higher speed, and will be more punctual with security and safety.

Today, there have been a lot of changes and advancements in the transport sector, but rail transportation still remains a reliable transport means internationally and locally. Therefore, the government is paying serious attention to this point.

The government is also taking measures for smooth and safe transport and more train runs.

In its bid to upgrade the rail transportation sector, the government is taking steps such as upgrading the old railroads and building new ones, upgrading main railroads including Yangon-Mandalay Railroad to dual ones, launching more locomotives and cargo coaches and upgrading old ones, building new stations and upgrading railway stations to international level ones.

The total length of railroads has increased from over 1,900 miles of railroad and over 2,700 miles of railtrack in 1988 to over 3,000 miles of railroad and over 4,000 miles of railtrack. The government has constructed more than 1,300 miles of railroads and 319 stations.

It has also built new railroads in Shan and Kayah States, and Taninthayi, Magway and Sagaing Divisions where there was no railroad in the past so as to launch new railroads such as ChaungU-Pakokku-Gangaw-Kalay Railroad, Shwenyaung-Taunggyi-Namhsan Railroad, Kalaw-Pinlaung-Loikaw Railroad, and Yangon-Mawlamyine-Ye-Dawei Railroad.

In constructing new railroads, the government put in the fore the comfort and convenience of the people, without seeking commercial gains. At the same time, it is extending some major railroads.

The government is expediting construction of roads. As a result, the total length of roads has surged to more than 70,000 miles from only more than 20,000 miles in 1988. And it has built 236 bridges, 180 feet and above, including 21 major river-crossing ones.

The number of airports has reached more than 70 including two international standard ones. And the number of international port terminals has risen to 28 from 13, and that of international container yards has touched 31 including three land container yards.

He quoted the guidance of Head of State given at the Union Solidarity and Development Association (2007), as saying that smooth transport improves the living standard of the people and transport facilities serve as basic foundations for cementing unity of national races.

It is required to be convinced that the drive for improving the transport sector is to ensure national development and national unity in line with the guidance of the Head of State.

The nation will be prosperous if it has a sufficient number of development infrastructures with high education standard of the people.

Yangon-Mandalay Railroad is the life-blood of the nation's rail transportation sector, and links strategic towns and villages between Mandalay and Yangon.

In conclusion, the Secretary-1 called on employees of the Ministry of Rail Transportation and local people to maintain the transport facility for its durability and safety.

Commander Maj-Gen Wai Lwin and Minister for Rail Transportation also made speeches.

On behalf of local people, U Myint Kyaw of Nay Pyi Taw Pyinmana Township expressed thanks to the government for the facility.

The commander and the minister formally opened the facility.

The Secretary-1 and party and employees of the Ministry of Rail Transportation posed for documentary photos.

The Secretary-1 unveiled the stone plaque to mark the opening ceremony.

The Secretary-1 and the minister sprinkled scented water onto the express train.

The Secretary-1 and party boarded the express and cordially greeted the passengers and presented gifts to them.

Altogether 490 bridges including 10 ones, above 180 feet and above, had to be built to complete 157.75-mile Nay Pyi Taw Pyinmana-Myohaung dual railroad.

[Wisarut]

ตอนนี้รัฐบาลทหารพม่าส่งกองทัพไปลุยถล่มกะเหรียงและมอญ แถวบ้านพญาตองซูเพื่อกรุยทางไว้สำหรับทางรถไฟจากตันบีอูซายัตไปด่านพระเจดีย์สามองค์ ในปี 2551 นี้

หัวข่าวดูได้ที่นี่

[Wisarut]

แม้ค่าตั๋วรถไฟ สายมะละแหม่ง - เย้คิด แค่ 380 จั๊ตสำหรับชั้นธรรมดา และ 460 จั๊ต สำหรับชั้น 1
แต่ต้องจ่ายจริง 1000 จั๊ตสำหรับชั้นธรรมดา และ 1400 จั๊ตสำหรับชั้น 1 บวกค่า รถ 2 แถวเข้าเมืองมะละแหม่งอีกคนละ 500 - 600 จั๊ตด้วย แถมถ้าถึงแย้ หรือมะละแหม่งตอนกลางคืน ค่ารถ 2 แถวก็ขึ้นเป็น 1000 จั๊ต เพราะ สถานีอยู่ไกลจากตัวเมือง ต้อง เลาะเขาที่ขวางทางไป

ที่เป็นเช่นนี้ก็เพราะ ข้าราชการทหาร ที่ซื้อตั๋วราคาถูก ดันเอาตั๋วขายต่อ ทำให้ตัวตามราคาจริงไมทที่มีขายต้องซื้อตั๋วผี กันถ้วนหน้า

ครั้นจะนั่งรถยนต์ก็น้ำมันแพงลิบลิ่ว แถมต้องเสียค่าผ่านด่าน 25 จุดเป็นเงิน 20000 จั๊ตและรถ2แถวประจำทางเอง ก็ คิด ระยะทางจากมะละแหม่งไปเย้ ซึ่งขึ้นราคาไปเป็น 3500 จั๊ตแล้ว
จากมะละแหม่งไป ละเมียง ก็ 3000 จั๊ต จาก มะละแหม่งไปตันบีอูซายัต ก็ 1500 จั๊ต และ 800 จั๊ตจาก มูดองไปมะละแหม่ง



// --------------------------------------------------------------
Train travel costs triple in Mon State
Thursday, 20 September 2007


Commuters using trains on the Moulmein -Ye line in Mon State, Burma are paying triple the costs than that originally quoted by the SPDC in the local media.

According to the SPDC's newspapers, ticket prices for the new Moulmein -Ye train, range between just 300 and 400 Kyats (Burmese currency) per passenger. However a traveler from Ye township said passengers were spending 1400 Kyats per ticket. "From Ye to Moulmein, they gave a first-class ticket for only 460 Kyats but the passenger was made to pay 1400 Kyats."

The new Moulmein -Ye train started running from September 9. An ordinary class ticket should cost 380 Kyats and a first class ticket, 460 Kyats, according to the figures quoted in the New Light of Myanmar (September 10 edition).

Since the BSPP government, a recent trend has seen military soldiers and civil servants reserve train tickets, only to sell them at an inflated price to needy commuters, pocketing the extra money.

Villagers know they were being exploited by the railway station conductor but could do nothing about it, said a villager from Hnint Kayin, Lamaing Township.

"The train fare from our village to Moulmein is 1000 Kyats, but the price of a first class ticket is written as 380 Kyats on a signboard at the ticket booth. We all know the situation but can do nothing. We can't take any action and the only way for us to travel to Moulmein is by train. Even then, when we arrive at Moulmein we have to spend between 500-600 Kyats to get inside the town," she said. Hnint Kayin villagers rely heavily on trains to Moulmein, as traveling by car is difficult in the rainy season.

Mehn Tala, a Moulmein student from Taung Bon village, told Kaowao that transport costs to town when arriving by train after dark are approximately 1000 Kyats due to poorly lit roads and the position of the new station. A mountain stands between it and the town centre.

Although the travel costs of hilux cars increased only slightly after the SPDC raised fuel prices in mid-August this year, less civilians chose to travel by car over the last month, according to one hilux car owner who was transporting people between Moulmein and Ye.

After fuel prices increased, there wasn't anything left for the car owners to do. "We never used to be afraid to drive on that road because we'd have a car full of commodities. Now, although we can pick up subway travelers, there over 25 toll-gates so we have to pay about 20,000 Kyats between Moulmein and Ye," a car owner of Ramanya Transportation said.

The traveling cost between Moulmein and Ye by car in August was 3000 Kyats but has now risen to 3500 Kyats largely due to rising fuel prices. It will cost a traveler 3000 Kyats between Moulmein and Lamaing, 1500 Kyats between Thanpyuzayat and Moulmein and 800 Kyats between Mudon and Moulmein.

Villagers in Ye and Lamaing townships began running their own highway cars to Moulmein in 2005, with cars operating between Kaw Dut, Taung Pyin, Taung Bon village in Lamaing township and Han Gan, A Sin, Duya village in Ye township.

Passengers normally take motor vehicles, which are much faster and more reliable. Government-run trains are frequently delayed, have broken seats and run on poorly-maintained rails. Even so, many civilians have gone back to train travel to avoid using motor vehicles, which cost about 3500 Kyats for a trip. Earlier it cost abut 3000 Kyats to travel by car.

Since the Moulmein station is not in the city, passengers have to pay an extra 500 to 600 Kyats for a ride to the city. Some people pay 1000 Kyats to ride on a motorcycle. Since the fuel price has gone up, other commodity prices are also going up.

There are now four trains using the Moulmein -Ye railway station, including Rangoon-Tavoy trains. The Moulmein Ye Railroad stretches 90 miles, connecting the capital city of Mon State to the southernmost township of Ye. It was first built by the British when Burma was a British colony.

REF: http://www.bnionline.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2534&Itemid=6

[Wisarut]

สร้างสะพานสาละวินทำเอาชาวบ้านที่หากินทางการขนของข้ามแม่น้ำ นับพันคนต้องตกงานเพราะ รถไฟไม่จอดที่ฝั่ง มะตะบัน แต่ไปจอดที่มะละแหม่งแทน

// ---------------------------------
A thousand jobless after completion of Salween Bridge
News - IMNA
Written by Chan Mon
Wednesday, 05 July 2006
Development comes with a price. About a thousand workers who relied on daily work in Martaban (Motetama) and Moulmein side ports have lost their jobs after the Salween Bridge was constructed.

Earlier, the railway did not connect the bridge. These workers carried goods and luggage for passengers who transited from the train to ships and boats. Some of them worked in pubs and small shops in the seaport.

“We estimate that about a 1,000 people in Martaban and Moulmein sides are jobless, because transportation along water has almost stopped after the bridge opened,” said Ko Myo, a worker from Martaban said.

“Train passengers do not need to stop in Martaban and there is no need to transit to boats or ships. They can go directly to Moulmein with their goods and belongings. So they do not need us anymore,” Ko Myo explained.

Hundreds of workers seeking jobs have moved to lower Mon state and some are continuing with irregular jobs.

Currently the ships which are routed from Moulmein to Martaban shifted to Chaung-zone Township (Bilukyun Island). Only sometimes the ships are routed to the Martaban side.

[Wisarut]

KNU Opposes Death Railway Project
by Poe Paung
Irrawaddy February 19, 2003

Plans to rebuild the famous "Death Railway" have drawn harsh criticisms from a Burmese minority group, who says the Burmese regime would both relocate villagers and use forced labor to rebuild the fabled railroad. The rail line, which would link Burma’s Mon State with Thailand’s Kanchanaburi Province, gained international fame after being featured in the 1957 film "Bridge over the River Kwai". "The 'death railway' should not be rebuilt before peace comes to Burma," said Padoe Mahn Sha, general secretary of the Karen National Union (KNU). Mahn Sha contends that villagers living in the area between Three Pagoda Pass, on the Thai-Burma border, and Thanbyuzayat, in Burma's Mon State, would fall victim to massive human rights violations.

Mahn Sha was responding to remarks made last week by Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. The prime minister told reporters that the railway would be rebuilt to spurn tourism for both countries. "Myanmar [Burma] has asked us to build a railway from Kanchanaburi into Myanmar to promote trade and tourism," Thaksin said last week. The railway would then reportedly be extended further into Burma, but Mahn Sha says the construction would force many villagers to relocate.

Despite the potential tourism benefits, analysts point out that the 100 kilometers of track located inside Burma lies in an unstable area of Mon State, where factional disputes among Mon insurgent groups as well as fighting against government troops occasionally ignites. The line would also pass through the KNU’s 6th brigade in Doo Playa District, an important stronghold for the army. The KNU is one of Burma's armed ethnic groups and has been fighting with the Burmese military since 1949. Mon rebels in the area negotiated a ceasefire with Rangoon in 1995. Villagers around Three Pagodas Pass and Thanbyuzayat are mostly Mon and Karen, but other ethnic groups are also based in the area.

The Japanese began building the railway in September 1942 as part of an ambitious plan to connect the Malay peninsula with an ocean port in Thanbyuzayat to help supply its troops. The railway was finished in just 16 months, and spanned 415 km from Thanbyuzayat to Nong Pladuk in Bangpong District of Thailand’s Ratchaburi Province. Allied forces bombed the railroad after just 20 months of operation. An estimated 90-100 thousand Asians and 16 thousand allied POWs died during its construction.

The railway crosses the Kwai River on the outskirts of Kanchanaburi and the site, which features a war museum, is a popular destination for tourists. Many of the people who died working on the "Death Railway" were buried in a cemetery at Thanbyuzayat, south of Moulmein in Mon State.
Irrawaddy.org

[Wisarut]

Lt-Gen Ye Myint inspects progress of Katha-Bhamo railroad, .....
New Light of Myanma - 7 Dec 2007

Nay Pyi Taw, 7 Dec - Member of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Ye Myint of the Ministry of Defence, accompanied by Chairman of Sagaing Division PDC Commander of North-West Command Brig-Gen Myint Soe and officials, viewed harvesting of monsoon paddy in Pyithaya Village-tract of Katha Township on 4 December.

At the hall of Katha-Bhamo railroad construction project site, they heard reports on selection of the axis for the railroad and land preparation tasks presented by officials.

At mile post No 203/2, Lt-Gen Ye Myint and party inspected the carrying out of earth work for Katha-Bhamo railroad.

Private companies are carrying out land preparation tasks at respective sections of the railroad.

// ------------------------------------------
Bhamo is 60 km away from Chinese Border

[Wisarut]

Minister inspects progress in upgrading Yangon-Pyay railroad
New Light of Myanmar - 10 December 2007



Nay Pyi Taw, 10 Dec - Minister for Rail Transportation Maj-Gen Aung Min together with Deputy Minister U Pe Than and Vice-Chairman of Bago Division Peace and Development Council Brig-Gen Sein Myint inspected progress in upgrading of Yangon-Pyay railroad and maintenance of roads and bridges along the railroad on 2 December.



They looked into progress in replacing wooden sleepers with concrete ones between Hsinhmeswe and Thegon railroad section. Upon arrival at the steel beam bridge at Paungde Township, they inspected maintenance of the bridge and gave instructions on keeping control over the waterways flowing under the bridge.

At Nattalin and Thayawady Stations, they looked into security, sanitation and beautifying measures and maintenance of the railroad and urged officials concerned to focus on smooth and secure transport for the passengers.

Next, they inspected progress of maintenance along the railroad and arrived at Insein Station where they looked into the station and its compound, and roads, bridges and stations standing along Yangon-Pyay railroad

[Wisarut]

New Light of Myanmar

ASEAN Railways CEOs' meet


[Photo: NLM]
New Light of Myanma - 19 December 2007

NAY PYI TAW, 19 Dec - The 29th ASEAN Railways CEOs' Conference was held at Sedona Hotel in Yangon this morning, with an address by Minister for Rail Transportation Maj-Gen Aung Min.

Also present at the conference were Deputy Minister Thura U Thaung Lwin, Railways CEOs and senior officers from ASEAN countries such as Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Malaysia and Vietnam, ambassadors, diplomats and officials of foreign embassies.

Minister Maj-Gen Aung Min made an opening speech.

The delegates were entertained with Myanmar traditional songs and dances.

The minister posed for a documentary photo together with ASEAN Railways CEOs, senior officers, diplomats, and officials.

The conference saw different sessions as CEO Group Session of ASEAN Railways CEOs, Tech-nical Working Group Session of ASEAN Railway Technicians, Marketing and Operation Working Group Session.

The conference discussed matters on practising of market-oriented system and transportation among the ASEAN countries, development in railway services and difficulties encountered, opening the training schools for the development of railway works and technical sectors, the preparation of ASEAN countries for ASEAN railway and future programmes.

The conference will last till 21 December.