Yangon Circular Railway

Yangon Circular Railway
ရန်ကုန် မြို့ပတ် ရထား

Overview
Owner	Myanmar Railways
Locale	Yangon
Transit type	Commuter rail
Number of stations	39
Daily ridership	100,000-150,000
Headquarters	Yangon
Operation
Began operation	1954
Number of vehicles	21
Technical
System length	45.9 km (28.5 mi)
No. of tracks	2
Track gauge	1,000 mm (3 ft 3 ^3⁄8 in)
Average speed	15.3 km/h (9.5 mph)
System map Legend Yangon Central Pagoda Road Lanmadaw Pyay Road Shan Road Ahlone Road Panhlaing Road Kemmendine Hanthawaddy Hletan Kamayut Thiri Myaing Okkyin Thamaing Thamaing Myothit Gyogon Insein Ywama Phawkan Aung San Myo Danyingon Golf Course Kyaikkale Mingaladon Bazaar Mingaladon Waibagi Okkalapa Paywetseikkon Kyaukyedwin Tadagale Yegu Payame Kanbe Bauktaw Tamwe Myitta Nyunt Mahlwagon Pazundaung

Yangon Circular Railway (Burmese: ရန်ကုန် မြို့ပတ် ရထား [jàɴɡòʊɴ mjo̰baʔ jətʰá]) is the local commuter rail network that serves the Yangon metropolitan area. Operated by Myanmar Railways, the 45.9-kilometre (28.5 mi) 39-station loop system connects satellite towns and suburban areas to the city. The railway has about 200 coaches, runs 20 times and sells 100,000 to 150,000 tickets daily.^[1][2][3] The loop, which takes about three hours to complete, is a way to see a cross section of life in Yangon. The Railway is heavily utilized by lower-income commuters, as it is (along with buses) the cheapest method of transportation in Yangon.^[4][5]

The service hours are from 3:45 am to 10:15 pm daily. The cost of a ticket for a distance of 15 miles is two hundred kyats (~eighteen US cents), and that for over 15 miles is four hundred kyats (~37 US cents).^[6] Tickets on air-conditioned trains are slightly more expensive (100 MMK) and are sold at all stations, In Yangon central station Platform 7 they are available in a little ticket office on the platform.

Now the cost of ticket are changed to a distance of 15 miles is one hundred kyats an over 15 miles or one circle is two hundred Kyats only, no more air-conditioned train are avilable.

History

Yangon Circular Railway was built during colonial times by the British.^[7] The double track railway was built in 1954.^[8]

In July 2011, the Ministry of Rail Transportation announced that it intended to privatize the Yangon Circular Railway, since the government-run system operates at a loss for the government, with monthly operating costs about 260 million kyats (US$325,000) and monthly revenues about 42 million kyats (US$52,500).^[9] Ticket prices have been kept low because of ministry subsidies.^[10]

In December 2012, Japan International Cooperation Agency began its collaboration with Yangon City Development Committee to develop a master plan for the Greater Yangon region, including the issue of public transport.^[11]

Stations

The loop network consists of 39 stations, linking various parts of Yangon. Map from train is shown to the right, with approximate location of stations.

The loop begins from Yangon Central Railway Station to Mingaladon Railway Station near Yangon International Airport, via Insein to the west and Okkalapa in the east.

The major stations are as follows:^[12]

• Yangon Central
• Dagon University
• Danyingon
• Hlawga
• Insein
• Mingaladon
• Okhposu
• Paywetseikkon
• Thilawa
• Togyaunggalay
• Ywathagyi
• University of Computer Studies, Yangon

Circular Trip

The entire circular trip takes approximately 3 hours.

The timetable for departure at Yangon railway station is shown to the right. Note that there are several comments elsewhere on the Internet about inaccurate departure.

Notation "R" indicates eastbound at Yangon railway station, thus in anticlockwise direction, and "L" is the opposite direction.

Gallery

• 
  Central railway station, Yangon
• 
  YANGON CIRCULAR RAILWAY YANGON MYANMAR JAN 2013
• 
  Yangon Circular Railway Map
• 
  Yangon Circular Railway Map in Train
• 
  Yangon Circular Railway Timetable 2014-12-01
• 
  Train in Yangon circular rail, July 2016

References

1. "Inter-states and regions railroad tracks all heading to Nay Pyi Taw". Bi-Weekly Eleven. 3 (30). 2010-10-15.
2. Yeni (2008-01-30). "The Railway Bazaar". The Irrawaddy.
3. "Third Regional EST Forum: Presentation of Myanmar" (PDF). Singapore: Ministry of Transport, Myanmar. 17–19 March 2008.
4. Shwe Gaung, Juliet; Nay Lin Aung (1 August 2011). "Passengers hope privatisation brings better services". Myanmar Times. Retrieved 13 September 2013.
5. Moe Thida; Zhu Zhui; Zhou Xiaojing; Muhammad Halley Yudhistira; Jeff Volinski (March 2012). "Yangon Circular Railway Development Project" (PDF). raSPP Policy Research Paper E 1-2-001. University of Tokyo. Retrieved 13 September 2013.
6. "13 Coaches from Japan Arrived for Yangon Circular Railway". Bi-Weekly Eleven (in Burmese). 2011-01-04.
7. Codrington, Stephen (2005). Planet Geography. Solid Star Press. p. 568. ISBN 9780957981935.
8. Etherton, David; Terry Standley (May 1990). Human Settlements Sector Review: Union of Myanmar. United nations Centre for Human Settlements. p. 71. ISBN 9789211311280.
9. Win Ko Ko Latt; Su Hlaing Tun (1 August 2011). "Rail privatisation drive continues". Myanmar Times. Retrieved 13 September 2013.
10. "Yangon's rail network to be privatised". Myanmar Times. 25 July 2011. Retrieved 13 September 2013.
11. Mudditt, Jessica (25 March 2013). "Waiting for the train: upgrading the Yangon circle line". Myanmar Times. Retrieved 13 September 2013.
12. "Yangon Circular Railways Schedule". Minami Tours. Retrieved 2009-01-18.