Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Routes and train types
Thecountry'smostimportantline(andoneofthefewstretchesofdoubletrack)runsbetween
Yangon and Mandalay via Naypyitaw, and this line has the most modern rolling stock. Ad-
ditional
major lines
run from Myitkyina in the far north to Mandalay, and south of Yangon
as far as Mawlamyine.
Branch lines
connect towns to the east and west of the main railroad
to the network. Myanmar's railways are currently being extended in several directions, with
newtrack
beinglaidtoBhamointhenortheast,Kengtungintheeast,Myeikinthesouthand
Pathein in the southwest.
A range of services operates on each of the major lines. Where possible, it's worth opting
for the slightly faster “
express
” services, as these trains are given priority over slower
local
services, and are thus less likely to be delayed - tickets for the various classes cost the same,
regardlessofthetraintype.TheexpresstrainfromYangontoMandalaytakes14hr,whilethe
local service takes 15-16hr over the same route.
Train classes and sleepers
All trains have
upper-
and
ordinary-class
carriages. Upper class has reservable reclining
seats (which can be more of a curse than a blessing if the mechanism is broken), while or-
dinary class has hard seats that cannot be reserved - you may end up standing if the train is
crowded. Some trains also have
first-class
carriages, which actually fall between upper and
ordinary class in price and comfort, with seating usually on a padded wooden bench.
Upper-
classsleepercarriages
,availablebetweenYangonandMandalay,YangonandBagan,andon
some Mandalay-Myitkyina services, offer two- and four-berth lockable compartments with
bedclothes provided.
Special sleepers
are available between Yangon and Mandalay, with
self-contained compartments sleeping up to four passengers, a private toilet and sitting area
as well as a private entrance. As yet, none of Myanmar Railways' rolling stock has air-con-
ditioning - open windows are the order of the day - but the Yangon Circular Line and the
Yangon-Mandalay line are due for air-conditioned carriages before long.
Expresstrainsmayhaverestaurantcars,andonalltrainsfoodvendorseithercomeonboard
or carry out transactions through the windows at stops. Whatever the class of train, the bath-
rooms on board all services are basic and often unclean.
Fares and bookings
In April 2014, Myanmar Railways ended a system that saw foreign travellers charged sub-
stantially higher
ticket prices
than local people, and required them to pay in dollars. Now
everyone pays the same price, denominated in kyat. By way of example, ticket prices
between Yangon and Mandalay are as follows: ordinary class K4600; upper class K9300;
upper-class sleeper K12,750. You will require your passport to buy train tickets.
It's almost mandatory to
book
sleeper berths well in advance (these tickets can be booked
up to two weeks before you travel), and a good idea to book ahead even if you're planning to
