Yangon’s Circular Railway is the main commuter rail network serving the former capital. Its 28.5 mile / 39-station loop connects the downtown area with the suburbs. Due to a lack of investment in rolling stock and track, trains need up to three hours for the full circle, explaining why only 70,000 of Yangons daily trips are made by train (compared to 1.9 million by bus). Going forward, the Circular Railway may help alleviate Yangon’s growing transportation pains, provided ample funds for investment are made available. Like elsewhere in the region, Japan’s JICA has offered its expertise and crafted a master plan. It sees Yangon’s central station and the circular line at the heart of an ambitious investment push that also includes a bus rapid transit system and an underground metro network. Myanmar has much to learn from Japanese transport experience. However, as the city also strives to maintain its architectural heritage, frictions between conservation and public infrastructure investment are bound to arise.
Posted on: Fri, 31 Oct 2014 04:36:52 +0000
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