Mine blast disrupts train schedules on Yangon-Mandalay railway

Published 16 August 2024

EMG

Passenger trains and freight trains were delayed due to a mine explosion between Nyaung Pintha and Phyu stations in Phyu Township on the Yangon-Mandalay railway section, sources said.

Mine attack occurred at milepost No.132 between cable poles No.5 and 6 between Nyaung Pintha and Phyu stations on the Yangon-Mandalay railway section at around 1:15 am on August 15 while the rail vehicle (RGC-89) on a security patrol departing from Nyaung Pintha Station in Phyu Township and passenger trains and freight trains were delayed due to the derailment of RGC-89, announced the information team of the State Administration Council (SAC).

Regional officials and local security forces inspected the area where the mine explosion happened and the employees of Myanma Railways also lifted the derailed train and repaired the railway in order to be able to reopen the section as soon as possible.

Due to the mine explosion, the east track of the upstream railway and the western tracks of the downstream railway, where the railway upgrading project is still under way, were broken about 3 feet each, and 15 concrete sleepers and the buffer shaft of the railway vehicle were damaged.

Due to the mine explosion, the No.1 up Yangon-Mandalay mail train and the No.11 down Yangon-Mandalay passenger express train from Yangon had to stop and wait at Nyaunglebin Station respectively. It was reported that the No.11 down express passenger train was able to depart from Nyaunglebin station at 11:45 pm and the No.1 up Yangon-Mandalay mail train at 12:07 pm respectively.

Similarly, No.903 up freight train running in the Yangon-Mandalay railway section had to wait at Pyuntasa station. It is reported that after the road repair work was completed at 1:30 pm today, the Phyu-Nyaunglebin railway section was reopened, and trains are running normally again.

There have been 79 mine attacks on railroads and station areas, 171 demining of train bridges and tracks and 16 arson attacks on station buildings and staff homes in the area of railways and train stations in the entire Myanmar railway network from February 2021 until now, announced the SAC.