Rising ticket prices and reduced service has led to fewer passengers on trains along the Yangon Circular Railway line, according to Myanma Railway commuters.
Fares were raised from 800 to 1,000 kyat ($0.38-0.47) for a full journey around the 39 stations and from 400 to 500 kyat ($0.14-0.23) for a half journey on Dec. 2.
This has forced many passengers to make alternative plans to reach their destinations around Myanmar’s commercial capital.
“Trains no longer complete the full circular route on a single trip, so people have switched to buses. Currently, trains only go as far as Insein [Railway Station],” said a train passenger at Yangon Central Railway Station.
Fifteen new Diesel Electric Multiple Unit (DEMU) trains began operation along the Yangon Circular Railway line on Nov. 30. Passengers on the new trains have complained about the lack of toilet facilities, as well as boarding and descending during its trial run along the Yangon-Bago railway line in October.
“When the air-conditioned trains were launched, there were no services available for transporting fresh produce, leaving vendors struggling,” said a market vendor who regularly commutes by train in Yangon.
Platforms at 36 railway stations in Yangon are being raised to accommodate the new DEMU trains. Platform work was expected to be completed by the end of November. But no official announcement has been made by Myanma Railways about the completion of platform elevation at train stations around Yangon.
Min Aung Hlaing attended the opening ceremony for the new DEMU trains at Yangon Central Railway Station on Nov. 29. At the event, he announced plans for new high-speed electric trains to operate alongside the diesel-powered trains along Yangon’s Circular Railway line.
The 15 new DEMU trains were scheduled to operate 14 times per day but that number was reduced to six on Dec. 10. Myanma Railway officials announced an additional service cut on Dec. 12, but did not elaborate further. Commuters told DVB that the older Railway Bus Engine (RBE) trains are still in operation on the Yangon Circular Railway line.
“Daily train ridership mainly consists of vendors. During the day, the new trains remained empty, so they reverted to using older [trains],” added the market vendor in Yangon.
