MYANMAR RAILWAYS
...UNLIKE IN OTHER SOUTHEAST
ASIAN COUNTRIES, THE TRAIN JOURNEY IN MYANMAR IS WORTH TO
TRY. IN THE PAST, MYANMAR' S RAILWAY SYSTEM WAS VERY MUCH IN
OPERATION THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. DURING THE COLONIAL DAYS,
THE LUXURIOUS RAILWAY CAR KNOWN AS "WHITE COACHES" WERE
ENJOYED BY BRITISH RAJAS ON OFFICIAL TRAVELS...
History of Myanmar Railways
The history of Myanmar Railways dates back to the
colonial era of Burma. The idea of introducing a
Railway transport system in Myanmar germinated in
the year 1880. The British rulers planned a railway
route between Phitsanoluk in northern Thailand
(erstwhile Kingdom of Siam) and Moulmein in Burma.
Unfortunately, the idea ended in fiasco for dearth
of funds for the project.
Then in early 1939, when the Japanese forces gained
control over entire South East Asia, they took
initiative for building the railway link. Their sole
intention was to use the railway as supply line for
transporting army and war equipments to the Burmese
front with the secret motive of invading India.
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