Passengers board a train on Yangon’s Circular Line. Pic: Lwin Maung Maung

FIVE stations on Yangon’s Circular Line have been designated as checkpoints in an effort to improve the punctuality of the trains on the line, said an official at Myanma Railways (MR).

Three assistant managers have been assigned to each of the four stations – Kyeemyindaing, Danyingon, Mahlwagone, Thingangyun and Insein – to assess delays caused by passengers, engines and coaches, electrical power, telecom-munications and rails, said U Aung Kyaw Min, the assistant general manager of MR’s information depart-ment.

He said the managers were required to submit reports daily at 9am, 1pm, 5pm and 9pm.

“This control system allows us to see how repairs can be made in the shortest possible time when the trains are delayed for any reason,” he said, adding that the line’s punctuality record has improved since the checkpoints were established in August.

U Aung Kyaw Min said 150,000 people ride the Circular Line each day but the number of passengers is increasing.

To compensate for the increase, the Circular Line will soon get additional locomotives that are currently being used on the Yangon-Mandalay line, the latter of which will be replaced by engines imported from India last month, he said.