Mizzima
Myanma Railways (MR) has announced the official launch of battery-powered electric locomotives on the Yangon circular railway, with operations scheduled to begin on 25 March.
The new service will feature a five-car configuration, consisting of four passenger coaches and one brake van, marking a significant step in the national transition toward sustainable rail transport, according to a junta-affiliated news outlet.
This expansion follows the successful deployment of battery-electric locomotives on the No. 27 Up / 28 Down Naypyidaw-Mandalay-Naypyidaw airbag express, which has been in service since 22 November 2025.
The shift from traditional diesel to battery-electric power is expected to yield substantial operational savings.
According to MR data, the Naypyidaw-Mandalay route already saves over 1.3 million kyats per round trip compared to diesel locomotives. For the Yangon circular route, the transition is projected to save approximately 600,000 kyats per day. These efforts are part of a broader government initiative to reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels and minimize the environmental impact of the public transportation sector.
The official launch ceremony for the new battery-electric service will be held at 7:00 am tomorrow at Platform No. 1 of the Yangon Central Railway Station.
This milestone comes as the military junta continues to prioritize the modernization of the rail network, having recently reached the 21st batch of its national recruitment drive to support various state infrastructure projects.
Comments
Post a Comment