Another train accident<\/p>\n
Scores of lives were once again lost in a railway accident on
\nSunday, and this time it was a real irony because the mishap
\noccurred at a railway station -- the Kejaksan Railway Station in
\nCirebon, West Java. The public has a right to be critical about
\nthe accident because it was reportedly the worst train accident
\nsince 1998. Two factors that are often blamed for such accidents
\nare human error and the railway company's ancient material, which
\ndate from the old colonial days.<\/p>\n
The phrase 'human error' is an euphemism used to soften the
\nblame placed on the engineer. To mention the old age of the
\ncompany's material, however, is appropriate: much of the
\nequipment no longer functions because of old age, or because they
\nare stolen or were bought in disregard of prescribed
\nspecifications due to corruption.<\/p>\n
With all its assets and facilities, the railway company PT
\nKereta Api should be able to develop better services for the
\npublic. It is time that the government revamp this state-owned
\ncompany to turn it into a public transportation company capable
\nof providing a service that is safe, comfortable and affordable.<\/p>\n
Admittedly, the company's task is not an easy one. Apart from
\nthe fact that must be commercially profitable, PT Kereta Api must
\nalso provide a means of mass transportation that people in the
\nlower-income brackets of society can afford to use.<\/p>\n
One absolute requirement that PT KA must meet for the present,
\nhowever, is to uphold regulations and enforce discipline,
\nespecially among non-paying passengers and the company's own
\npersonnel, because it is laxness in these areas that are causing
\nthe current decay among its ranks.<\/p>\n
-- Bisnis Indonesia, Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/another-train-accident-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }