Transport in Burma

This details Transportation in Burma.

Railways

"total:" Convert|5099|km|mi|0|abbr=on Feb. 2008
"narrow gauge:" Convert|5099|km|mi|0|abbr=on 1.000-m gauge

Railway links to adjacent countries

* China - no
* Thailand - no - defunct
* Bangladesh - no
* India - no - see Timeline below
* Laos - no

Maps

* [http://www.un.org/Depts/Cartographic/map/profile/myanmar.pdf UN Map]

Timeline

2007

* May 17 - The missing link in India is from Jiribam (in Manipur) to Tamu in Myanmar. The construction of this missing link, as per the feasibility study conducted by the Ministry of External Affairs through RITES Ltd, is estimated to cost Rs 2,941 crore ($725m).

* According to the Economist, a railway line is to be built through Imphal in India to Moreh near the Myanmar border.

2004

* [http://www.railwaygazette.com/news_view/article/2004/11/7554/update_from_myanmar.html Update from Myanmar] Dieter Hettler, "Railway Gazette International" November 2004.

1988

Jan. 1988: Burma Railways Corporation had 149 Alsthom diesel electric locomotives, 63 Krupps diesel hydraulic locomotives, 5 Hitachi diesel hydraulic locomotives, 45 Kawasaki diesel hydraulic locomotives, for a total of 262

Railway openings in Myanmar 1988 - 2008
* Year Route Length, km Notes
* 1988 Thaton - Myaingalay 36·3 New branch
* 1989 Dabein - Hle Lawin 34·6 New branch
* 1990 Mandalay Circular Railway 21·8 Part later dismantled
* 1992 Shwenyaung - Yatsauk 60·3 New
* 1992 Tada-U - Myingyan 99·8 Reinstated after closure c1944
* 1993 Aungban - Loikaw 164 Connection to the Kayah State capital; gradients between 1 in 25 and 1 in 17
** Togyaunggale - Okkphosu 13·6 New line to deep-sea port under construction near Thanlyin
** Chaung-U - Tawkyaungyi 23·4 } First parts of 406·3 km Chaung-U - Pakhokku - Kalay line. Section west of
** Minywa - Pakhokku 54 } Chindwin River isolated, as bridge not completed until 2004 (see below)
* 1994 Tada-U - Mandalay International Airport 11·8
** Pakhokku - Myaing - Myozoe 55·7 }
* 1995 Myozoe - Zipyar 44·2 } Further sections of Chaung-U - Kalay line, leaving a 270 km gap
** Natchaung - Kalay 22·7 }
** Namsang - Moe-Ne 44·3 First isolated section of eastern extension of Thazi - Shwenyaung line
** Dawai - Yephu 17·2 Isolated section of 177 km Mawlamyine - Yai - Dawai line. Gradients of 1 in 25
* 1996 Gangaw - Natchaung 110·8 Linked to isolated northern section of Kalay line; opening ceremony February 6
** Myitkyina - Nantpaung Airport 11·7
** Taunggyi - Phamon - Banyin 54·3 Isolated
** Myingyan Junction - Bagan 56·1 Serves one of the most important tourist sights in Myanmar
** Yai - Kaloggyi 4·4 Extension of line from Mawlamyine towards Dawai
* 1997 Kyaukpadaung Junction - Bagan 48·1 Creating a new circular route
** Zipyar - Kyay 50·6 Extension towards Kalay
** Pyay - Myade/Aunglan - Satthwa 145·4 Alternative route to Bagan, but heavy grades, sharp curves and danger of washouts mean the line is only used by two trains/week
** Shwenyaung - Taunggyi 33·5 Connecting with the formerly isolated Banyin line. Owing to the poor and steep route and a good competing road, the army-built line is used for goods only
* 1998 Kaloggyi - Yephu 141·6 Closing the last gap of the Dawai line
* 1999 Taungdwingyi - Magway 83·8 New branch to serve town on Ayeyarwady River
** Tada-U - Mandalay International Airport 6·1 Extension of branch opened in 1994
** Sin Phyu Shin Bridge approach 7 Approaches to future bridge over Chindwin River near Chaung-U, opened 2004
* 2000 Ye-U - Khin-U 25·7 Final section of loop line northwest of Mandalay opened April 9 2000. Line has 270 bridges, including 23-span Mu River road and rail bridge.
* 2003 Okkphosu - Thilawa Deep Sea Port 14·8
* 2004 Sin Phyu Shin Bridge (over Chindwin River) 1·5 Trains from Mandalay now run through as far as Pakhokku
* 2004 Beginning of the Upgrading Yangon - Mandaly trak with the use of the Automatic Levelling, Lining and Tamping Machine (first phase between Yangon - Phayagyi 91.2km and Mandalay - Tatkon 211km ,second phase Phayagyi - Tatkon 313.6km), construction of the Concrete Sleeper Factory (Pyundaza)
* 2005 First Delivery of four YDM-4(1350Hp) Locomotives and 20 Passenger Couches from Rites Ltd. of India
* 2007 Second deliver of five YDM-4 Locomotives from Rites
* 2008 1.March first section Kyangin-Okshippin (63km) of Kyangin-Pakhoku (under construction 515km) was opend for public. Between 1988 und 2008 Myanmar Railways build 1936km rail traks.
* The other track between Kathar and Bamaw (152km) is also under constraction, which will be played main roll over border of Myanmar-PRC.
* Myanmar Railways receives another 15 YDM-4 locomotives from Rites Ltd. India. Now Myanmar has 6 Concrete Sleeper Factories

Cities served by rail

* Yangon - old capital and port
* Pathein - railhead in west
* Prome - railhead in northwest - on Irrawaddy
* Bago - junctions - also called Pegu
* Thaton - east

* Thazi - north line - junctions
* Pyinmana - north line - junction
* Toungoo - north line
* Pegu - north line - junctions

* Mawlamyine - southeast - new 3223m Thanlwin Bridge (Mawlamyine) over the River Thanlwin to Mottama.
* Ye - railhead in southeast - on coast
* Dawei - railhead extended from Ye - 1998 - Convert|102|km|mi|0|abbr=on

* Pyinmana - junction - north
* Meiktila
* Mandalay
* Sagaing
* Shwebo
* Katha
* Hopin
* Myitkyina

* Lashio

* Aung Ban - Loikaw
* Monywa - railhead in west

* Taungdwingyi
* Chauk

* Taunggyi

Highways

"total:" Convert|28200|km|mi|0|abbr=on
"paved:" Convert|3440|km|mi|0|abbr=on
"unpaved:" Convert|24760|km|mi|0|abbr=on (1996 est.)

Waterways

Convert|12800|km|mi|0|abbr=on; Convert|3200|km|mi|0|abbr=on navigable by large commercial vessels.

Orient-Express Hotels Ltd. operates its business in Ayeyarwady River by the name "Road to Mandalay River Cruise". Irrawaddy Flotilla Company was also in service along the Ayeyarwady River in the twenty century, until 2003.

Pipelines

* Crude oil Convert|1343|km|mi|0|abbr=on; natural gas Convert|330|km|mi|0|abbr=on.
* Proposed pipe from Kyaukphyu through Mandalay to flagicon|China Kunming [ The Weekly Telegraph 23 January 2008 p17 ]

Ports and harbours

Sea

* Yangon (Rangoon),
* Dawei - railhead - new deepwater port under construction 2005

River

* Mandalay,

Unsure

* Pathein (Bassein), Bhamo, Chauk,
Mawlamyaing (Moulmien), Myitkyina, Akyab (Sittwe), Tavoy

Merchant marine

"total:"40 ships (with a volume of GRT|1,000|first=yes or over) totaling GRT|472,284/DWT|716,533|metric|first=yes
"Ships by type:"
bulk carrier 13, cargo ship 20, container ship 2, passenger ship/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 2 (1999 est.)
"note:"a flag of convenience registry; includes ships of 2 countries: Japan owns 2 ships, US 3 (1998 est.)

Airports

80 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

"total:" 10
"over 3,047 m:" 2
"2,438 to 3,047 m:" 1
"1,524 to 2,437 m:" 5
"914 to 1,523 m:" 2 (1999 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

"total:" 70
"over 3,047 m:" 2
"2,438 to 3,047 m:" 1
"1,524 to 2,437 m:" 13
"914 to 1,523 m:" 22
"under 914 m:" 32 (1999 est.)

Heliports

1 (1999 est.)

See also

* Burma

References