en.Wedoany.com Reported - On May 14, Myanmar leader Min Aung Hlaing inspected the locomotive assembly plant in Naypyidaw and made deployments regarding railway upgrades. Myanmar Railways announced it will promote private sector participation in railway operations and advance systematic railway upgrades focusing on existing network upgrades, network expansion, and the application of green traction technology.
In his speech, Min Aung Hlaing emphasized that high-speed operations can only be achieved after track quality meets standards, and that the railway upgrade of railway infrastructure is the top priority. Myanmar Railways is currently focusing on the railway upgrade of major trunk lines such as Yangon-Mandalay, Yangon-Mawlamyine, and Yangon-Pyay. Among them, the Yangon-Pyay railway has been proposed for upgrade to a double-track railway. For existing lines, the core focus will be upgrading from 75 lb rails to the 110 lb rail standard, while simultaneously advancing the systematic renovation of supporting facilities such as bridges, platforms, and level crossings.
In the field of green traction technology, Myanmar Railways is advancing the research, development, and pilot application of Battery Electric Locomotives (BEL) and Battery Electric Multiple Units (BEMU). BEMUs are planned for use on the Yangon Circular Railway and some short-distance and long-distance sections. Min Aung Hlaing requested relevant departments to conduct comparative assessments of different traction methods, such as battery power and overhead catenary power supply, to support subsequent technical route selection and standard formulation.
Regarding the Yangon Circular Railway, the meeting proposed carrying out systematic optimization work and conducting research and calculations on the feasibility of introducing an underground pipeline transportation system in the future. In terms of regional corridor construction, the railway corridor extending from Yangon via Mawlamyine to Ye and Dawei was included in the advancement direction, and the Pyay-Bagan railway will undergo restoration and upgrading. Previously, the Yangon-Mandalay railway underwent railway upgrades using Japanese loan funds, but was later delayed due to various reasons and is now being implemented with the national budget.
The Myanmar side proposed that future railway operations could explore cooperation models involving private sector participation and establish a unified technical and operational standards system, providing an institutional foundation for multi-entity participation. This railway upgrade covers multiple aspects, including infrastructure renovation, core rail transit equipment development, and standard construction.
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