Route Cancelling: Myanma Railway Cancels Some Routes For Passenger Safety

Myanma Railway is conducting COVID-19 against measures at the railway stations for the safety of the passengers. 

Depending on the numbers of passenger, some routes of Myanma Railway are going to cancel as a measure to reduce the spread of Coronavirus infection.

Moreover, Myanma Railway is implementing safety of the passengers and conducting disinfectant spraying on the train bodies and placing hand sanitizers at the railway stations.

Deputy General Manager, Myanma Railway, Kyaw Soe Linn said “After COVID-19 cases found in Myanmar, we see that the number of passengers decreased. 69 circular trains have been suspended, and we are now running only 99 circular trains which previously run by 168. Those trains mainly run during the working hours.”

He added that some express trains are also cancelling due to lack of passengers.

Deputy General Manager, Myanma Railway, Kyaw Soe Linn said “Today, we are going to cancel Pyinmana-Mandalay route, Mandalay-Kawlin route, NayPyi Taw-Bagan route and planning to run alternate day for the current daily Highway routes like Mandalay-Lashio route and Mawlamyin-Yay route. We cannot cancel all the routes. We need to consider the number of railway passengers and reducing of virus infection.”

During the Water Festival Period, Myanma Railway is arranging extra routes for the staffs to go back to their homes.

Deputy General Manager, Myanma Railway, Kyaw Soe Linn said “For Thingyan Festival Period, we are planning in advance for the staffs to come back from Nay Pyi Taw to Yangon, and the extra routes for Mandalay-Yangon and Yangon-Mawlamying and Pyay Sections. But the plans depends on the numbers of passenger.”

It is also learnt that the awareness programs for COVID-19 prevention are conducting at the railway stations.

Deputy General Manager, Myanma Railway (Medical Department), Dr. Thida Myint said “We are spraying disinfection for the current running trains before takeoff. We are alarming the passengers to wash hands regularly before getting on the train and after on the train as well as apart seating plans. And we measures temperature with digital thermometers at the starting stations. If we found suspected one, we are going to conduct under the MOHS guidelines exactly.” 

Myanma Railway has no plans yet to reduce the numbers of coaches for the current running trains.