Part 2 Feasibility Study on The Yangon Circular Railway Line Upgrading Project Feasibility Study Report onThe the Yangon CircularCircular RailwRailwayay Line Upgrading Project Final Report Chapter 1 Introduction 1.1 Background of the Project The city of Yangon, with a population of about 5.21 million as of 2014 according to the year 2014 Census Survey, is the largest economic center of the country, and has been experiencing rapid urbanization in these days. With the recent economic reform and corresponding deregulation, the number of imported cars has increased sharply. According to the Comprehensive Urban Transport Master Plan of the Greater Yangon (YUTRA), the number of registered vehicles in the Yangon region dramatically increased from 260,000 cars in 2011/2012 to some 370,000 cars in 2012/2013 (Figure 1.1.1). Imported used cars are used mainly for personal and business purposes such as taxi services and commodity delivery, and the Yangon residents are now suffered from serious traffic congestion. While the number of cars has increased, service level of the existing public buses has remains almost the same as before. The public buses in the city have continued to be crowded, but majority of the people have no alternative modes of public transport. Source: YUTRA, JICA (2013) Figure 1.1.1 The number of registered vehicles in the Yangon Region The Yangon Circular Railway Line (herein after referred as “the YCR Line”) is expected to perform as a spine urban transit system in Yangon. However, the modal share of the YCR remains low at present. Less attractive level of service of the YCR Line is resulted in a small share of rail based trips. The modal share of mechanized (representative) modes of transport in the Greater Yangon area explains the current condition as follows: 63.8% by bus, 10.5% by car/van, 9.9% by taxi, 3.2% by water transport, 1.7% by truck, and 1.4% by rail (Figure 1.1.2). Since use of motorcycles is banned in the city, bus trips are comparatively large among other modes. Actually there is almost no choice for the majority of the residents other than the crowded buses for their whole travel. The transportation demand in Yangon city will continue to increase as the economy and the population grows (from 7.4 million in 2014 to over 10 million in the Yangon Region in 2035). 1-1 Feasibility Study Report onThe the Yangon CircularCircular RailwRailwayay Line Upgrading Project Final Report The transport model developed by YUTRA forecasts almost doubled mechanized trips, from 4.9 million trips in 2013 to 9.5 million trips by 2035. Under such circumstances, improvement of the YCR Line is considered as one of the most important transport development projects in the Yangon region, which was stated in the Myanmar Development Cooperation Forum, held in January 2013. Source: YUTRA, JICA (2013) Figure 1.1.2 Modal share in the Greater Yangon, 2013 Alleviation of the traffic congestion on roads paralleling the railway line is expected after completion of this Project, which generates some significant economic benefit in terms of savings in travel time, vehicle operating costs (VOC), reduction of greenhouse gases, etc. The Project is also expected to contribute to improvement of the Myanma Railways (MR) business performance through increased patronage. 1.2 Urgency of the Project The safety level of MR has been decreasing in the last decades. On average 642 rail accidents occurred in a year during the last 10 years (including the YCR Line), which is roughly almost two accidents per day on average. Derailment consists 88.2% of the total rail accidents. Derailment within station area accounts 22.0% and derailment between stations accounts 66.2% on average of the total accidents in the last decades. With regard to the YCR Line, the particular issues are summarized as follow: 1) Decreasing level of service (speed, punctuality, riding comfort, cleanness, and safety) Operation of the YCR Line commenced in January 1959. After about half century since the commencement, the existing train operation speed has fallen down to almost half (15km/h) of that of the opening year, mainly because of the deteriorated tracks and limited partial rehabilitation of signalling & telecommunication system and other facilities. 2) Increasing demand The population in the city has been growing. The existing rail system in Yangon carries about 75,000 passengers per day in 2014, while an improved YCR Line (by the Project) is expected to carry about 700,000 passengers or more per day in 2035. Corresponding technical problems with regard to the particular issues of the YCR Line are summarized as follow: 1-2 Feasibility Study Report onThe the Yangon CircularCircular RailwRailwayay Line Upgrading Project Final Report 1) Deterioration of infrastructure, equipment, system and rolling stock In almost all aspects the existing rail and related facilities need improvement, including roadbed, rail track, signalling and train control system, telecommunication, level crossings and rolling stock. 2) Insufficient maintenance work of the track and other facilities The deformation of the track due to heavy rainfall in the rainy season is one of the main causes of such derailment. In addition, about three train collisions occur every year on average. Because of the limited technical capacity in terms of skilled workers and machine, the level of maintenance work has remained at low level. Improvement of track condition together with introduction of mechanical maintenance methods with modern machines is required to achieve a decent maintenance work level. 3) Aged rolling stock The existing MR’s rolling stock need to be attractive to the Yangon residents by improving its low performance due to aging and unfavourable design for vulnerable people. The interior of the rolling stock are not properly designed nor furnished for commuting users, and its ride comfort is far below the desired level as a transit system in such international gateway city of Myanmar. 4) Grade crossing section Priority in the current train operation is given to the long distance train, namely the Yangon – Mandalay Line. The train operation of the YCR Line is sometimes disturbed by this operation because there is a cross-over rail segment between the Pa Zun Taung station and the Yangon Central station. The YCR Line has to wait until the Yangon-Mandalay Line trains pass this segment. The existing crossing operation will not be a significant issue for a while because the OCC project installs a new signalling system in the Yangon station area. However, in long-term perspective, the existing at-grade crossing operation should be improved by changing the raillines, that is, shifting the YCR to the inside. 5) Increasing road traffic volume crossing the manually operated level crossings All of the existing level crossings along the YCR Line (27 in total) are manually operated by MR staff. Closing time of the level crossings tends to be longer because of the manual operation and selfish behaviour of car drivers. Sometimes trains need to stop at a level crossing because of never-ending car passing. Replacement of the existing level crossing system with automated level crossings is needed to improve the level of safety. 6) Poor function as urban railway station Almost all of the existing stations are timeworn and heavily deteriorated; rehabilitation of station facilities essential. There are no decent facilities as an urban railway such as toilet, ceiling of platform, benches, passenger information board and etc., which resulted in low level of the passenger service. In conclusion, the YCR Line needs major and urgent improvement and modernization of passenger services in almost every aspect in order to make it one of the safe and reliable transit systems in the Yangon metropolitan area. 1.3 Project Objective The objective of the Project is to improve the efficiency of passenger transport capacity, and the safe and comfortable public transport services of Yangon Circular Railway Line by rehabilitating and replacing the existing railway facilities and the rolling stock, thereby contributing to the social and economic development of Greater Yangon. 1-3 Feasibility Study Report onThe the Yangon CircularCircular RailwRailwayay Line Upgrading Project Final Report 1.4 Study Area The project area is shown in the figure below. The Project section covers the whole Yangon Circular Railway Line (46.0 km in total). Source: Study Team (2014) Figure 1.4.1 Project Location Map 1.5 Scope of the Project The scope of the Project Project is composed of i) improvement / rehabilitation of the railway infrastructure for the whole Project area and ii) procurement of new rolling stocks (DEMU). The detail is shown below. 1) Safety System Improvement The existing signalling system of the YCR are seriously damaged, leading to frequent system errors. A series of significant improvement of the existing signalling and communication systems and/or installation of new system is required to achieve an 1-4 Feasibility Study Report onThe the Yangon CircularCircular RailwRailwayay Line Upgrading Project Final Report international standard level of safety. To meet this objective, the technologies used in the Project shall be as follows: Automatic Block System (ABS) Direct current track circuit system Automatic Train Stop System (ATS-S) Interlocking system in major stations other than the Yangon Central station (because OCC shall be installed in a different project) Automatic barrier level crossings - installation of automated level crossing barriers is required to save train running time and increase the safety for pedestrians. Related facilities such as power supply system, huts for level crossing watchman and signalling devices are also to be renewed or constructed as a part of the Project. 2) New DEMU Procurement The existing diesel locomotives and passenger coaches used for the YCR Line are very aged and deteriorated.