The main function of Myanma Railways is to support all-round developments of the country by transporting passengers and freights safely and smoothly. Meanwhile, (11) aims are laid down and implementing to be effectively use the resources as people and money without wasting, to be commercially competent in a situation required to compete in line with policy of market economy.
About Myanma Railways
History of Myanma Railways

- The first railway line in Myanmar, between Yangon and Pyay, 161 miles apart, was opened on the 1st of May 1877,by the Ir-rawaddy State Railway. But in 1896, Irrawaddy StateRailway gave way to Burma Railways Co. Ltd. operating on a commercial basis and when the company’s lease was ended on the 31st of December 1928, Burma Railways was placed under the Indian Railway Board.
- Myanmar and India were separated in 1937 and theGovernment of Myanmar formed the Burma Railway Board to look after the af-fairs of the Myanmar Railways. In 1942 the British Governor took over the powers and functions of the Burma Railway Board and re-delegated these power to a body of persons with theChief Railway Commissioner as ex-officio president. This Railway Board continued to function until the 31st of December 1947.
- On the 4th of January 1948, Myanmar gained independence, and a new Railway Board was instituted with Financial Commissioner, Lands and Rural Development, as Chairman. On the 1st of Decem-ber 1951, the Union of Burma Railway Board Act was enacted under which a full-time permanent Chairman was appointed,who was also to be the Chief Executive Officer.
- The Union of Burma Railway was again reorganizedin 1972 and the power and the functions of the Union of theBurma Railway Board were entrusted into the hands of the management committee with the Managing Director who also was to be the Chief Executives as Chairman and the name, Union of Burma Railways was changed to the Burma Railways Corporation
- The State Law and Order Restoration Council took over state power on 18th September 1988 and following the change of the So-cialist Republic of the Union of Burma to the Unionof Myanmar. The name Burma Railways Corporation was changed to Myanma railways on 1st April, 1989. (hereinafter referred to as ” MR”). The name Union of Myanmar was changed to the Republicof the Union of Myanmar on 30th March 2011, the name of Myanma Railways was not changed.
- Chronology
- 1stMay 1877 Yangon – Pyay Line opened.
- 1stMar 1880 Yangon – Suburban Line for goods traffic.
- 1stJuly 1885 Yangon – Taungoo Line opened.
- 1stMar 1889 Taungoo – Mandalay Line extended.
- 1stJan 1898 Mandalay – Myitkyina Line opened.
- 15thApril 1900 Ywataung – Alon Line opened.
- 15thDec 1902 Myohaung – Lashio Line opened.
- 1stMar 1903 Hinthada – Pathein Line opened.
- 20thMar 1903 Hinthada Letbadan Line opened.
- 12thOct 1907 Bago – Mottama Line opened.
- 14thDec 1908 Hinthada – Kyangin Line opened.
- 2ndMay 1921 Thazi – Shwenyaung Line opened.
- 1stJuly 1922 Alon – Budalin Line opened.
- 16thApril 1925 Mawlamyine – Ye Line opened.
- 5thFeb 1927 Mandalay – Madaya Line opened.
- 15thAug 1929 Nyaunglebin – Madauk Line opened.
- 13thJan 1930 Mandalay – Myingyan Line opened.
- 17thJuly 1930 Pyinmana – Kyaukpadaung Line opened.
- 1stMay 1959 Yangon Circular Railway opened.
- 1stMar 1969 Kyaukpadaung – Kyeeni Line opened.
- 27thMar 1988 Thaton – Myinegalay line opened.
- 27thMar 1989 Dabein – Hlelawin Line opened.
- 4thJan 1990 Mandalay Western Circular Line opened.
- 1stMay 1990 Eastern Circular Line opened.
- 15thFeb 1991 Tada U – Myotha Line opened.
- 27thMar 1991 Shwenyaung – Yutsawk Line opened.
- 2ndJune 1992 Mandalay- Circular (Hill) Line opened.
- 21stFeb 1992 Myotha – Wetlu Line opened.
- 9thMay 1992 Wetlu – Nahtogyi Line opened.
- 8thDec 1992 Nahtogyi – Myingyan Line opened.
- 7thJan 1993 Aungban- Pinlong Line opened.
- 27thMar 1993 Pinlong – Loikaw Line opened.
- 31stJuly 1993 Togyaunggale- Okkphosu Line opened.
- 30thOct 1993 Chaung-U – Taw Kyaungyi Line opened.
- 12thDec 1993 Pakhokku- Minywa Line opened.
- 13thNov 1994 Pakhokku-Myaing-Myosoe Line opened.
- 18thMar 1995 Myosoe-Zebya Line opened.
- 23rd Apr 1995 Kalay Natchaung Line opened.
- 1stMay 1995 Nansan-Moene Line opened.
- 30thMay 1995 Dawei-Yebyu Line opened.
- 5thJan 1996 Myohaung-Myitnge Double Line opened.
- 5thFeb 1996 Natchaung-Gangaw Line opened.
- 26thMar 1996 Myitkyina – Nampoung Airport opened.
- 4th June 1996 Banyin – Pharmon Line opened.
- 16thJuly 1996 Pyinmana – Kyitaungkan Double Line opened.
- 27thJuly 1996 Taunggyi – Pharmon Line opened.
- 18thSept 1996 Bagan – Sakha (Myingan) Line opened.
- 24thSept 1996 Ye (Chaungtaung) – Kaloggyi Line opened.
- 11thFeb 1997 Bagan – Kyaukpadaung Line opened.
- 9thApr 1997 Zebyar – Kyaw Line opened.
- 22thMay 1997 Aunglan – Satthwa (Taungtwingyi) Line opened.
- 17thJuly 1997 Gangaw – Yaymyetni Line opened.
- 14th Sept 1997 Pyay – Aunglan Line opened.
- 24thDec 1997 Taunggyi – Shwenyaung Line opened.
- 26thMar 1998 Yebyu – Paukpinkwin – Kaloggyi Line opened.
- Myanma Railways 3 Myanma Railways4
- 15thAug 1998 Danyingon – Hlawkar Double Line opened.
- 9thApr 1999 Pyawbwe –Yanaung Line opened.
- 17thApr 1999 Magwe – Taungtwingyi Line opened.
- 31stAug 1999 Tada U-Mandalay Airport extension Line opened.
- 18thSep 1999 Sin Phyu Shin Bridge approach (East/West) Line
- 9thApr 2000 Butalin – Ye U – Khin U Line opened.
- 30thApr 2001 Banyin – Hsighkhaung Line opened.
- 21st July 2002 Namsan – Mangsit Line opened.
- 27thMar 2003 Hsighkhaung – Pyinthaya Line opened.
- 15thNov 2003 Okaphosu-Thilawar Line opened.
- 25th Nov 2003 Approach Ye Bridge opened.
- 20thMar 2004 Mongseik-Kaungsaing Line opened.
- 21st Mar 2004 Pyinthaya-Htiyee Line opened.
- 27thNov 2004 Htiyee-Ponchaung Line opened.
- 1stJan 2006 Ponchaung-Kaungsaing Line opened.
- 4thMar 2006 Toegyaunggale-Dagon University Line opened.
- 17thApr 2006 Thanlwin Bridge(Mawlamyaine)approach opened.
- 1stJune 2006 Okkphosu-Yangon East University Lineopened.
- 25thJune 2006 Myitnge-Kyaukse(Double Line) opened.
- 16thJuly 2006 Tharzi-Kunganyo Line opened.
- 27thJan 2007 Kyaw-Yaymyetni Line opened.
- 21stApril 2007 Daik U- Sittaung line opend.
- 17thMay 2007 HlawKha – University of Computer line opend.
- 2ndSept 2007 Kyeeni – Chauk line opend.
- 24thNov 2007 Kyitaunggan – Kyaukse (Double Line) opend.
- 2ndMar 2008 Kyangin – Ooshitpin line opend.
- 30thNov 2008 Pyawbwe – Phaya Ngasu line opend.
- 22ndMar 2009 Ooshitpin – Kamma line opend.
- 19thMay 2009 Sittway – Yaychanpyin line opened.
- 17thOct 2009 Kanma – Thayet line opened.
- 20thNov 2009 Pakhokku – Kyungchaung line opened.
- 19thDec 2009 Magway – Kanpya line opened.
- 2ndJan 2010 Aungtha – Bawditahtaung line opened.
- 16thJan 2010 Yanaung – ywataw line opened.
- 20thFeb 2010 Katha – Moetagyi line opened.
- 14thMar 2010 Thayet – Minhla Line opened.
- 15thMay 2010 Kyantaung – Ponarkyun – Yoetayoke Lineopened.
- 12thJune 2010 Yawchaung – Seikphu Line opened.
- .21stJuly 2010 Hinthada – Zalum Line opened.
- 22ndAug 2010 Pyay (Shwetaga) – Paukkhaung Line opened.
- 18thSep 2010 Minhla – Minbu Line opened.
- 9thOct 2010 Seikphu – Sinphukyun Line opened.
- 19thDec 2010 Kyaingtone – Wunkaung Line opened.
- 22ndJan 2011 Minbu – Pwintphu Line opened.
- 26thFeb 2011 Kyunchaung – Daumgtha Line opened.
- 20thMar 2011 Pathein(Begayet)-Eimme Line opened.
- 10thApirl 2011 Yoetayoke – Kyauktaw Line opened.
- 4thJune 2011 Dawei – Thayetchaung Line opened.
- 31stDec 2011 Ayeyarwaddy Bridge (Pakokku)approach opened.
- 13rdMarch 2013 Ywataw-Natmauk opened.
- 11thMay 2013 Ayeyawaddy Bridge(Malun)approach opened.
- 7thFeb 2014 Moetagyi-ChaungWa-Kyaukkyi opended
- 24thMay 2014 Yangon(Hlaing Thar Yar)-Nyaung Htong-Saekug-Salon Opened.