THE WAY AHEAD

Although only around 112 kilometres of the so-called ‘Death Railway’ actually ran through Burma, it had a lasting legacy on the region. Japan needed to ferry supplies between occupied Bangkok and Yangon

(once known as Rangoon), but the approximately 3,200-kilometre sea route was filled with enemy ships and the mountainous region separating Burma and Thailand was thought to be too dangerous to build a railway, as steep drops and rapid rivers stood in the way. The project began at Thanbyuzayat, connecting to an existing line.