A special charter train is arranged to run on the colonial Goteik viaduct for foreign visitors by Myanma Railway, in a bid to contribute to the growing tourism in Myanmar.
The Goteik viaduct, located at the western Shan State, is situated on the rail line from Mandalay to Lashio. The charter train is planned to run only from Naung Hkio to Naung Paing stations, spanning 16 miles. The maximum passengers are 20. And it is accomplished at the end of January
DEPUTY GENERAL MANAGER, ECONOMIC DIVISION (MYANMA RAILWAY), NYI NYI SWE: We already know that Goteik has been one of the major tourist attractions since many years ago. Also, there is a prominent development of tourism sector so we arranged this project according to the advice of local tour companies. We are very happy to participate and support the tourism sector and it is also our responsibility. We give security, maintenance and safety of passengers as our very first priority of the charter trains.
One local tour agency, Nature Lovers says effective promotion and marketing should be done by agencies to promote the newest tourist site but argues that efficient collaboration between the government and private sector should not be overlooked.
CHAIRMAN, NATURE LOVERS, AUNG DIN: I think the project can be successful as there are a lot of tourism products already in our country but we still need to work on reasonable services and higher awareness in collaborating with government and private sectors.
The Goteik bridge, the highest bridge in Myanmar was constructed in 1900s under the British Colonial period.
30pc Yangonites to Take Trains by 2020 - JICA
Author: Zayar Nyein | 26 February, 2015 03:32 am
| Vol 3 Issue 9
JICA said it has begun upgrading the train network in the Yangon metropolitan area.
The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has set a target of increasing train ridership in Yangon to 30 percent of the citys population by 2020, an official from JICAs Myanmar office said.
At present, 80 percent of the population of the commercial capital relies on buses as the primary transportation service, while only 3 percent ride trains.
JICA said it has begun upgrading the train network in the Yangon metropolitan area.
We are working on upgrading the circular trains starting in 2015 and will expand the project to cover other train lines, said Tanaka Masahiko, chief representative of JICA in Myanmar.
The project includes installing five new rail lines with a combined distance of 350 kilometres and upgrading the existing three major railways by 2040. The new network will have 80 stations along its routes.
To improve the overall transportation system of Yangon, we will assist in upgrading the circular trains in the short-term and embark on improving railways in other train lines in the long term, Masahiko said.
The transportation capacity is already overburdened by the demands of the current population and therefore up-to-date train infrastructure requirements such as new train lines, flyover railways, monorails and LRT (light rapid transit) need to be fulfilled to effectively serve the growing population in the future, JICA Myanmar said.
The Yangon regional government and JICA signed the agreement to implement the Project for Comprehensive Urban Transport Plan of the Greater Yangon and Myanmars National Transport Master Plan in May 2012, in which JICA provides the official development assistance (ODA).
By 2020, the population of Yangon is projected to exceed 10 million.
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