Myanma railways to resume more operations

Myanma railways to resume more operations
A circular train.
A circular train.
Published 5 February 2021
Shun Lei Win

The Myanma Railway (MR) will be resuming  more  operations including circular trains and long distance ones. 

As part of COVID-19 control measures as directed by the Ministry of Health and Sports, six postal trains, four cargo trains, and circular trains with only 3 carriages run for 12 rounds each day.

As the infection rate had decreased, the amount rounds and type of trains will be increased for Yangon-Mandalay, Mandalay-Myitkyina, Yangon-Mawlamyaing-Yay-Dawei, Yangon-Pyay, Mandalay-Lashio as well as a smattering of other routes. 

Despite the increase in rounds and trains, the MR will still be conducting measures such as Social Distancing by taking the temperatures of passengers, providing stations to wash hands, mandatory mask wearing as well as letting only one passenger sit per seat.

Before COVID-19 struck, 40 rapid passenger only trains, 52 passenger and postal trains, 48 passenger and cargo trains, 16 short trip trains; a total of 156 trains were in operation. For circular trains, a total of 21 carriages were used for a total of 168 rounds per day.

MR reduced or stopped some of its services right after Yangon Region saw most of its townships enter the Stay at Home program.