Myanmar is limited by weak railway infrastructure and financial pressure, making it difficult to carry out large-scale electrification projects along the entire line. Relying on the lightweight solution of battery based remanufacturing of old diesel locomotives, CHMC continues to deeply cultivate the local rail transit market and opens up a practical path for the modernization of Myanmar's railways with mature technological transformation plans.

Second bid for the project

CHMC has once again won the order for upgrading the rail transit system of Myanmar Railways, which includes the remanufacturing of 2 battery electric multiple units and the renovation of 4 supporting charging cars. This is not the first new energy cooperation between the two parties. As early as September 2025, the company signed a contract with the Myanmar Railway Bureau for the electrification of internal combustion locomotive batteries. The first battery electric passenger car completed the renovation was successfully delivered in June 2026, accumulating solid local project experience. This renovation will continue to use the core structure of the existing vehicle body bogie, replace the original diesel power, install power batteries and energy management control systems, and achieve zero emission operation.

Technological transformation in line with national conditions

Most of the railways in Myanmar are non electrified lines, and the large-scale installation of overhead contact systems and substation facilities is costly and time-consuming. Directly purchasing new vehicles will also result in a large number of idle diesel locomotives. The battery based renovation of old vehicles can activate existing equipment, reduce investment costs and construction cycles, and allow existing maintenance teams and operation systems to continue using them. It is highly suitable for the limited local finances and incomplete infrastructure, and is a cost-effective progressive upgrade plan.

Local comprehensive promotion

The senior management of Myanmar has recognized the modernization path of this railway. During the inspection of Yangon Rolling Stock Factory by Myanmar President Myint Aung Hlaing, relevant departments clearly designated the conversion of diesel locomotives to battery powered multiple units as the official main promotion strategy. The renovated trains have been put into passenger operation on the Bago to Toungou and Toungou to Naypyidaw lines, and will be widely promoted to the core trunk line from Yangon to Mandalay in the next step. With the iteration of energy storage technology, battery powered locomotives have also become an important development trend for low-carbon transformation of global mainline railways. Keywords: Myanmar railway, battery locomotive renovation

The entire cooperation model not only outputs China's rail transit technological transformation technology, but also provides a replicable reference model for the green upgrading of old railways in many underdeveloped economies.Editor/Min Jing