President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar U Min Aung Hlaing yesterday inspected the Myanma Railways’ Diesel Locomotive Factory (Mahlwagon) under the Ministry of Transport in Yangon, accompanied by senior officials, including the Yangon Region chief minister and the Yangon Command commander.
During a briefing, Union Minister for Transport and for Digital Development and Communications U Mya Tun Oo outlined the factory operations and ongoing efforts to modernize Myanmar’s railway system. He highlighted upgrades to railway tracks, freight wagon construction, staff training abroad, preparations for producing electric locomotives, and the operation of BEL locomotives on the Yangon-Mandalay route. He also reported on the conversion of RBE trains to Battery Electric Multiple Units (BEMU), currently operating on the Bago-Toungoo and Toungoo-Nay Pyi Taw routes, as well as preparations for future electric rail services on the Yangon-Mandalay railway. He also briefed the President on operations of diesel locomotives and DEMU locomotives, locomotive maintenance, passenger demand, and ongoing repair and inspection programmes.
The President instructed railway authorities to continue research aimed at producing higher-quality locomotives domestically while ensuring that locally manufactured equipment meets high standards of durability and workmanship. He also stressed the need to improve staff housing, complete construction projects on schedule, preserve and restore steam locomotives, strengthen railway tracks, and carry out regular maintenance on both active and inactive rail lines to ensure they are ready for future operations.
He further emphasized the importance of inspecting locomotives according to maintenance schedules, maintaining punctual train services, and keeping passenger coaches clean, safe and comfortable to improve the travel experience.
Discussing the long-term development of Myanmar’s railway network, the President said the country should prepare for wider use of battery-powered and electric trains as electricity generation expands. He encouraged the domestic production and installation of battery-powered train systems on suitable routes and called for the construction of more railway overpasses at busy crossings to improve traffic safety.
He also urged officials to begin planning for an underground railway system in Yangon and to consider future technological requirements when building rail infrastructure and manufacturing train carriages. In addition, he called for continued efforts to develop locally designed DEMU train sets and to learn from international railway manufacturing technologies to strengthen the country’s capabilities.
Following the meeting, the President inspected DEMU train sets undergoing routine maintenance at the Mahlwagon factory and gave further instructions after receiving updates from railway officials.
MNA/ST
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