Yangon Circular Railway

{{Short description|Commuter rail network in Yangon, Myanmar}} {{Infobox public transit | name = {{rint|rail}} Yangon Circular Railway <br/> {{lang|my|ရန်ကုန် မြို့ပတ် ရထား}} | image = File:CAF YCR DEMU.jpg | alt = | imagesize = | owner = [[Myanma Railways]] | locale = [[Yangon]] | transit_type = [[Commuter rail]] | stations = 39 | ridership = 7000 | annual_ridership = 2.55 million (2023) | chief_executive = | headquarters = [[Yangon]] | website = | began_operation = 1954 | ended_operation = | operator = [[Myanma Railways]] | vehicles = 21 | train_length = | headway = Every 30 minutes | system_length = {{convert|45.9|km|mi|abbr=on}} | notrack = 2 | track_gauge = {{RailGauge|1000mm|lk=on}} | el = | minimum_radius_of_curvature =  | average_speed = {{convert|20.3|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} | top_speed =  | osm_id = | map = {{Yangon Circular Railway map|inline=on}} | map_name = | map_state = show }}

'''Yangon Circular Railway''' ({{langx|my|ရန်ကုန် မြို့ပတ် ရထား}} {{IPA|my|jàɰ̃ɡòʊɰ̃ mjo̰baʔ jətʰá|}}) is the local commuter rail network that serves the [[Yangon]] metropolitan area. Operated by [[Myanma Railways]], the {{convert|45.9|km|mi|adj=on}} 39-station loop system connects satellite towns and suburban areas to the city. Circa 2008–2010, the railway had about 200 coaches, had 20 daily runs, and sold 100,000 to 150,000 tickets daily.<ref>{{cite journal | url=http://eversion.news-eleven.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=821 | title=Inter-states and regions railroad tracks all heading to Nay Pyi Taw | journal=[[BiWeekly Eleven]] | date=2010-10-15 | volume=3 | issue=30 | access-date=2010-10-28 | archive-date=2011-07-14 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714173107/http://eversion.news-eleven.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=821 | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="railway bazzar"> {{cite news | url=http://www.irrawaddy.org/multimedia.php?art_id=10074 | title=The Railway Bazaar | date=2008-01-30 | author=Yeni | publisher=[[The Irrawaddy]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110827003409/http://www.irrawaddy.org/multimedia.php?art_id=10074|archive-date=27 August 2011}}</ref><ref name="uncrd"> {{cite web | url=http://www.uncrd.or.jp/content/documents/3EST-B2G503.pdf | title=Third Regional EST Forum: Presentation of Myanmar | publisher=Ministry of Transport, Myanmar | location=Singapore | date=17–19 March 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260417233941/http://www.uncrd.or.jp/content/documents/3EST-B2G503.pdf|archive-date=17 April 2026}}</ref> The railway is heavily utilized by lower-income commuters, as it is (along with buses) the cheapest method of transportation in Yangon.<ref> {{cite news |url=http://www.mmtimes.com/2011/business/586/biz58604.html |title=Passengers hope privatisation brings better services |last=Shwe Gaung|first=Juliet|author2=Nay Lin Aung |date=1 August 2011 |work=[[Myanmar Times]] |access-date=13 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211129072854/http://www.mmtimes.com/2011/business/586/biz58604.html|archive-date=29 November 2021}}</ref><ref name="mt">{{cite web |url=http://www.pp.u-tokyo.ac.jp/research/prp/documents/GraSPP-P-E-12-001.pdf |title=Yangon Circular Railway Development Project |last=Moe Thida |author2=Zhu Zhui |author3=Zhou Xiaojing |author4=Muhammad Halley Yudhistira |author5=Jeff Volinski |date=March 2012 |work=raSPP Policy Research Paper E 1-2-001 |publisher=[[University of Tokyo]] |access-date=13 September 2013 |archive-date=25 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130925222009/http://www.pp.u-tokyo.ac.jp/research/prp/documents/GraSPP-P-E-12-001.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The hours of service have been consistent over the years, from 3:45 am to 10:15 pm daily. In 2011, the cost of a ticket for a distance of 15 miles was two hundred [[kyat]]s (~eighteen US cents), and that for over 15 miles was four hundred kyats (~37 US cents).<ref> {{Cite news |date=2011-01-04 |title="မြို့ ပတ်ရထားလမ်းပိုင်းများနှင့် ပြည်တွင်းလမ်းပိုင်းများတွင် အသုံးပြုနိုင်ရန် ဂျပန်နိုင်ငံထုတ် RBE လူစီးရထားတွဲ ၁၃ တွဲ ရောက်ရှိ" |language=my |trans-title=13 Coaches from Japan Arrived for Yangon Circular Railway |publisher=BiWeekly Eleven |url=http://www.news-eleven.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6561:-rbe-&catid=43:2009-11-10-07-39-09&Itemid=111 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110925201535/http://www.news-eleven.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6561:-rbe-&catid=43:2009-11-10-07-39-09&Itemid=111 |archive-date=September 25, 2011}}</ref> In the new currency (introduced in 2012) long distance tickets are 200 kyat (~20 US cents).<ref name="Cass">{{Cite web|last=Cass |first=Emily |date=26 October 2016 |title=Riding the Yangon Circle Line Train: A True Myanmar Experience |publisher=Just Globetrotting |url=http://justglobetrotting.com/riding-the-circular-train-in-yangon-myanmar/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170325114721/http://justglobetrotting.com/riding-the-circular-train-in-yangon-myanmar/ |archive-date=25 March 2017 |url-status=live |df=dmy}}</ref>

==History== Yangon Circular Railway was built in the 1930s during the British colonial rule.<ref>{{cite book|last=Codrington|first=Stephen|title=Planet Geography|publisher=Solid Star Press|date=2005|pages=568|isbn=9780957981935}}</ref> The line was [[double track|double tracked]] in 1954.<ref>{{cite book|last=Etherton|first=David|author2=Terry Standley |title=Human Settlements Sector Review: Union of Myanmar|publisher=United nations Centre for Human Settlements|date=May 1990|pages=71|isbn=9789211311280|language=en}}</ref>

In July 2011, the [[Ministry of Rail Transportation (Burma)|Ministry of Rail Transportation]] announced that it intended to privatize the Yangon Circular Railway, since the government-run system operates at a loss for the government, with monthly operating costs about 260 million kyats ({{US$|325,000}}) and monthly revenues about 42 million kyats ({{US$|52,500}}).<ref name="wkkl">{{cite news|url=http://www.mmtimes.com/2011/business/586/biz58603.html|title=Rail privatisation drive continues|last=Win Ko Ko Latt|author2=Su Hlaing Tun |date=1 August 2011|work=[[Myanmar Times]]|access-date=13 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220420032825/http://www.mmtimes.com/2011/business/586/biz58603.html|archive-date=20 April 2022}}</ref> Ticket prices have been kept low because of ministry subsidies.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mmtimes.com/2011/business/585/biz58505.html|title=Yangon's rail network to be privatised|date=25 July 2011|work=[[Myanmar Times]]|access-date=13 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208094818/http://www.mmtimes.com/2011/business/585/biz58505.html|archive-date=8 December 2015}}</ref>

In December 2012, [[Japan International Cooperation Agency]] began its collaboration with [[Yangon City Development Committee]] to develop a [[Comprehensive planning|master plan]] for the Greater Yangon region, including the issue of public transport.<ref> {{cite news |url=http://www.mmtimes.com/index.php/special-features/162-wheels-2013/5814-waiting-for-the-train-upgrading-the-yangon-circle-line.html?start=1 |title=Waiting for the train: upgrading the Yangon circle line |last=Mudditt|first=Jessica |date=25 March 2013 |work=Myanmar Times |access-date=13 September 2013 }}</ref> In 2015 air conditioned coaches were introduced with a slightly higher ticket cost,<ref>{{Cite news|title=5th RBE train launched with air-conditioned coaches |date=5 July 2015 |publisher=The Global New Light of Myanmar |url=http://www.globalnewlightofmyanmar.com/5th-rbe-train-launched-with-air-conditioned-coaches/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171219175559/http://www.globalnewlightofmyanmar.com/5th-rbe-train-launched-with-air-conditioned-coaches/ |archive-date=19 December 2017 |url-status=usurped |df=dmy}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Thiha |first=Aye |date=19 November 2015 |title=As Changes Come to Myanmar, Train Upgrade Is Just the Ticket |publisher=Consult-Myanmar Co. Ltd. |url=https://consult-myanmar.com/tag/air-conditioned-trains/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171219174819/https://consult-myanmar.com/tag/air-conditioned-trains/ |archive-date=19 December 2017 |url-status=live |df=dmy}}</ref> but these did not last long, and by mid 2016 air conditioning was no longer available.<ref name="Cass" />

Myanma Railways has had plans for a major upgrade for the Circle Line since 2012.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Myanma Railways holds second public consultation meeting on upgrading Yangon circular rail line |date=23 September 2014 |publisher=Ministry of Information, Government of Myanmar |url=http://www.moi.gov.mm/moi:eng/?q=news/24/09/2014/id-1473 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171219182239/http://www.moi.gov.mm/moi:eng/?q=news/24/09/2014/id-1473 |archive-date=19 December 2017 |url-status=live |df=dmy}}</ref> It is to be funded in large part by a $212 million loan from Japan's development agency.<ref name="Dean"> {{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/12/world/asia/yangon-circle-line-train.html?_r=0 |title=A Slow Ride Through (and Around) Yangon |last=Dean|first=Adam |date=13 June 2017 |work=[[New York Times]] |access-date=14 June 2017 }}</ref> The hope is for all of the coaches and engines to be replaced by 2020, along with automation of the signaling systems and replacement of the aging tracks. The frequency of trains would be increased from the current two per hour.<ref name="Dean" /> In December, 2020, a contract was awarded to a consortium of Japan's [[Mitsubishi]] and Spain's [[Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles|CAF]] to provide 11 six-car diesel powered trains with the aim of reducing the travel time of the full loop from 170 to 110 minutes.<ref>{{cite web|last= |date=2020-12-08 |title=Myanma Railways orders two train fleets|url=https://www.railwaygazette.com/traction-and-rolling-stock/myanma-railways-orders-two-train-fleets/57980.article|access-date=2020-12-11|website=Railway Gazette International|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020044524/https://www.railwaygazette.com/traction-and-rolling-stock/myanma-railways-orders-two-train-fleets/57980.article|archive-date=20 October 2021}}</ref>

In February 2024, the first CAF built train was delivered to Myanmar, and subsequently begun testing.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Spain made carriages to be employed on Yangon circular railway |url=https://www.moi.gov.mm/moi:eng/news/13008 |website=The Republic of the Union of Myanmar Ministry of Information}}</ref>

==Route and stations== The loop network consists of 39 stations, linking various parts of Yangon.<ref name="Dean" /> The entire circular trip takes approximately 3 hours.<ref name="Cass" /><ref name="Dean" /> Map from train is shown to the right, with approximate location of stations.

The loop begins from [[Yangon Central Railway Station]] to [[Mingaladon Railway Station]] near [[Yangon International Airport]], via [[Insein Township|Insein]] to the west and Okkalapa in the east.

The major stations are as follows:<ref name=minami>{{cite web | url=http://www.minamitours.com/yangon_circular.htm | title=Yangon Circular Railways Schedule | publisher=Minami Tours | access-date=2009-01-18 | archive-date=2008-07-23 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080723225823/http://www.minamitours.com/yangon_circular.htm | url-status=dead }}</ref>

== Rolling stock == * [[KiHa 40 series]] * [[KiHa 11]] * [[KiHa 38]] (RBE 25101 - RBE 25105) * [[Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles|CAF]] DEMU

==Gallery== <gallery widths="180"> File:Yangon Central railway station 12.jpg|Yangon Central railway station File:Yangon Central.jpg|Yangon Central ticket booth for Circular Railway tickets File:Yangon Circular Railway Map.jpg|Map on platform, March 2017 File:The Yangon Circular Railway (15049786666).jpg|Inside a Yangon circular train File:Aungsan Myot Station.jpg|The station before Danyingon Market station File:YANGON_CIRCULAR_RAILWAY_YANGON_MYANMAR_JAN_2013_(8528287964).jpg|Train, Jan 2013 File:Hawker.jpg|Circular Railway hawker File:Yangon Circular Railway.png|Map File:Yangon Circular Railway and Suburban Rail.png|Map with suburban services File:Yangon Circular Railway Map in Train.JPG|Map in train File:Yangon Circular Railway Timetable 2014-12-01 small.jpg|Circle Train Times, 2014 File:Train_in_yangon_Circular_Railway.jpg|Train on Yangon Circle File:YangonTrainFan.webm|A multi-directional ceiling fan in Yangon circle train. </gallery>

==See also== * {{portal-inline|Myanmar}}

==References== {{reflist}} {{Commons category}}

{{Myanmar Transport}} {{Yangon Circular Railway}} {{Urban Rail Transit in ASEAN}} {{Rail transport in Myanmar}} {{coord missing|Myanmar}}

[[Category:Railway loop lines]] [[Category:Metre-gauge railways in Myanmar]] [[Category:Transport in Yangon]] [[Category:Articles containing video clips]]