RANGOON — Myanmar Railways will operate a commuter train along Strand Road in downtown Rangoon from this month, aiming to provide a partial solution to the city’s rampant traffic congestion problems.
The company will operate two passenger services on the road 14 times daily, said Tun Aung Thin, the general manager for Myanmar Railways (Lower Burma), on Saturday. Each service will carry a maximum of 120 passengers and tickets will cost 100 kyats.
“The service is aimed at reducing the travel time for commuters along Strand Road, easing Rangoon’s current traffic hold-ups and providing a sightseeing tour for foreigners along Strand Road,” he said.
Approximately 2.5 million people are entering Rangoon each day, with more than 100,000 people arriving through ports along Strand Road from Dala Township and Irrawaddy Division, according to Tun Aung Thin.
Myanmar Railways plans to build stations for the commuter train service in Wa Dan Street, Sinn O Dan Street, Sule Pagoda Road and Thakhin Mya Garden. One platform has been completed for the service in Botahtaung Township, and construction will continue for other stations as the service becomes operational.
The company also plans to eventually connect the service to Rangoon Central Railway Station and the circular railway line.
At present, about 300 cargo trains utilize the Strand Road railway line each month to transport commodities from Rangoon’s ports.
