Mawlamyine-Yangon train services set to resume on March 24 after temporary suspension

Published 23 March 2024

EMG

The Mawlamyine-Yangon train services, which were temporarily stopped after a bridge on Yangon-Mawlamyine railroad near Moe Kaung Village between Don Won and Thein Seik stations in Thaton Township, the railway and freight train were destroyed by mines, will resume from March 24, according to Mawlamyine train station officials.

An official from Mawlamyine Station said that since the repair of the railway bridge and the railway section that were destroyed by mines, has been completed, and the debris of the freight carriages were cleared, the train services will resume from March 24.

He said, "The first-class and upper-class tickets for the Mawlamyine-Yangon train schedules are being resold on March 23 starting at 9 am."

The No. 686 freight train carrying paving stones was traveling from Thaephyukone Station in Mon State's Paung Township to Kali Village in Bago Township, Bago Region, on the Yangon-Mawlamyine Railway near Moe Kaung Village in Thaton Township was detonated at the No. 75 Bridge between railway mile post No. (123/1) and (122/23) at around 7:00 am on March 18.

Due to the explosion, the two coaches of the 14-coach freight train carrying paving stones derailed. It is reported that 5 carriages overturned and no one was injured.

Because of that situation, Mawlamyine-Yangon up and down train services have been temporarily suspended and while repairs are being made to the bridge and railway section that were destroyed by mines, drone and drop bomb attacks have delayed the repair of the bridge and railway section.

Railroad sections on Yangon-Mawlamyine Railway in Paung Township, Thaton Township, Bilin Township and Kyaikto Township are often destroyed by mines. Passenger trains and freight trains are often attacked using mines.

The No. 616 freight train traveling from Bilin Station to Thaton Station was also attacked by a mine between Don Won and Thein Seik stations in Thaton Township on the morning of August 20, 2023. Although there was no damage to the freight train, the railway track was still damaged by about one foot.