Trains along Sittwe’s Pyidawtha-Yaychanpyin route operating at loss in month since restart

By DMG 02 May 2022

DMG Newsroom
2 May 2022, Sittwe 

Myanmar Railways has been operating the Pyidawtha-Yaychanpyin rail route in Sittwe Township at a loss in the month-plus since it resumed train services along the previously suspended stretch of tracks. 

From March 24 — when Myanmar Railways resumed the Pyidawtha-Yaychanpyin train service — to April 27, a total of 13,541 passengers brought in K804,550, according to an official from Myanmar Railways’ Sittwe branch. 

The train carries about 400 people a day, but consumes 22 gallons of diesel each day costing K143,000 per day, the official told DMG on condition of anonymity. 

“Myanmar Railways is running this route without any profit or loss [considerations] for the convenience of the people of Arakan State. We hope to see more train passengers in the future,” the official added. 

Myanmar Railways suspended service along the Pyidawtha-Yaychanpyin rail route for three years from 2019, and resumed it on March 24 of this year. 

Some Sittwe residents have criticised the route restart, however, saying resumption of train service along the affected railway section does not benefit the public because Yaychanpyin is not a major trading hub. 

“Since the military council is not a people’s government, it will do what they want without favouring the people,” said U Aung Than Wai, a resident of Sittwe. “Now, the financial loss due to the operation of this rail route is public money. Because they are not a people’s government, they do not seem to be taking public money seriously.” 

Train fares from Pyidawtha Station to Sittwe Station, Sittwe University Station and Dapai Station are K50; K100 from Pyidawtha Station to Zaw Pu Jar Station and Maezaligon Station; and K150 from Pyidawtha Station to Yaychanpyin Station, according to Myanmar Railways officials.