Railways in Myanmar

Introduction

In the 19th century, Myanmar, then known as Burma, was administered as part of 'British India'. The British built the extensive metre gauge railway network so it’s not surprising that the system largely followed British and Indian practice.

On my first trip to Burma in 2008, I travelled on the Circle Line in Yangon (see my post The Circle Line, Yangon) and that got me hooked on railways in Burma. During the long period of military rule in Burma, the railways have been cut-off from British influence, leading to interesting (and sometimes odd) consequences. Part of my fascination with the railways in Burma is that there doesn't seem to be too much information readily available to assist the study. My trips to Myanmar are not principally railway holidays, but I do take any opportunity presented to find out more. On each visit, I try to collect a little more information.

The Myanmar Railways Shield appears on each seat cover in this Upper Class coach.

Control

Railways in Myanmar are controlled by the Ministry of Rail Transportation. There is a website here but most of the site is in Burmese.

Although a lot of the system is decrepit through lack of maintenance, Myanmar is now engaged in a programme of doubling some of the single-line sections and constructing new railways so the maps below may not be up-to-date.

Plinthed steam locomotive outside the Ministry of Rail Transportation in Naypyidaw.

Railway Maps

The maps below show how the railways in Myanmar are divided into 11 Divisions. These maps originally appeared on the official Ministry site but they can also be found in the Wikipedia article List of railway stations in Burma. On these maps, only a few main stations show their name in English but the Wikipedia article also lists the names of all stations (and their mileages) in English. Clicking on any of the maps below will show a larger version.

Key Map

Myitkyina (Division 1)

I've twice made round trips on a 'Road to Mandalay' private train between Katha and Naba within the Myitkyina Division. The first trip was in 2010 (described in posts here and here). The second trip was on the 18th September 2012 and is briefly described here. Each of the posts has links to photgraphs.

Ywa Htaung (Division 2))

My first visit to Ywa Taung was in 2012 when I visited by road with Doctor Hla Tun. I became quite excited studying the 'Trapped Key' interlocking provided on points, described in the post Manual Control of Points and Interlocking. My second vist was in 2013, again by road. There's a set of pictures here.

Mandalay (Division 3)

There's a brief post about the Mandalay area here and this post links to photographs. On 23rd March 2013 I travelled from Mandalay to Maymyo by train, described in a post here.

Kalaw (Division 4)

Taungoo (Division 5)

Yangon (Division 6)

In 2012 I travelled from Yangon Central to Bago and Kyaikto (described here and here).

Yangon Central(Division 7)

My first trip on the Circle Line in 2008 is described here. In 2012 I travelled on part of the Circle Line from Yangon Central to Mahlwagon on the way to Bago and Kyaikto (described here) and later in the same trip I made a journey as far as Pa Ywet Seit Gone then back to Yangon Central (described here). In 2013 I travelled from Yangon Central to Da Nyn Gone and back and from Pazundaung to Yangon Central.

There's a general description of the railways around Yangon here.

Mawlamyine (Division 8)

Hinthada (Division 9)

Pakokku (Division 10)

Bagan (Division 11)

Railway Rolling Stock in Burma

Freight Rolling Stock in Burma
Passenger Rolling Stock in Burma
Diesel Railcars in Burma
(Other topics in preparation).

Railway Signalling in Burma

There's a series of posts about the signalling of the railways:-

Part 1: Semaphore Signals
Part 2: Colour Light Signals & Motor Points
Part 3: Control of Trains
Part 4: Manual Control of Points and Interlocking
Part 5: Signal Boxes with Interlocking Frames
Part 6: Signal Boxes with Electrical Interlocking
(Other topics in preparation).

Related articles on other sites

The Man in Seat 61
(Covers rail travel all over the world) and the best source I've found describing the actual business of using trains in Myanmar).
Myanmar Railways (Wikipedia).

Mike's Railway History
(Includes a brief description of Burma's railways in the 1930s. I believe much of the information was derived from 'Railway Magazine' or a similar technical publication. I found the same text and photographs appear as a PDF on the Old Martinians' Association U.K. Website. This article, by Peter R. Moore, includes additional material and a number of more modern photographs showing steam locomotives at work in Burma).

My Pictures

All my railway pictures in Burma form a Collection Railways in Burma.