Express train begins operation<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto yesterday dedicated two sets
\nof locally-built express train cars in connection with the 50th
\nanniversary of Indonesia's independence.<\/p>\n
In a modest ceremony held at the Gambir railway station,
\nCentral Jakarta, Soeharto poured fresh water out of a traditional
\ndrinking flask, while citing the hope that the two trains will
\noperate safely.<\/p>\n
Soeharto named the trains Argo Bromo Express -- after Mount
\nBromo in East Java -- and Argo Gede Express -- after Mount Gede
\nin West Java.<\/p>\n
The cars are the products of PT Industri Kereta Api (Inka),
\nwhich is under the supervision of the Agency for the Management
\nof Strategic Industries (BPIS) headed by State Minister of
\nResearch and Technology B.J. Habibie.<\/p>\n
In the last two weeks, President Soeharto also dedicated a
\npassenger ship, named Palindo Jaya, which was built by the state-
\nrun shipbuilding company PT PAL, another company under BPIS.<\/p>\n
Later this month, Soeharto is slated to launch a N-250 short-
\ndistance aircraft built by state-owned aircraft manufacturer PT
\nIPTN, which is also under BPIS.<\/p>\n
Minister of Transportation Haryanto Dhanutirto said yesterday
\nthat with the presence of the new express trains with an
\noperating speed of 100 kilometers per hour, the railway company
\nPerumka is expected to better serve as the operator of mass land
\ntransportation.<\/p>\n
"The operation of these express trains serves as one of
\nPerumka's efforts to anticipate the people's increasing demand
\nfor better railway services," Haryanto said.<\/p>\n
Commemoration<\/p>\n
The Argo Bromo Express train, coded JS-950, serves the route
\nlinking Jakarta and Surabaya, East Java, in nine hours, and the
\nArgo Gede Express train, coded JB-250, serves the Jakarta-
\nBandung, West Java route in two hours.<\/p>\n
The president of Perumka, Soemino Eko Saputra, explained that
\nthe number 50 incorporated in both trains meant that the trains
\nwere launched to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Indonesia's
\nindependence.<\/p>\n
Both trains serve only the executive class, with fares of Rp
\n90,000 (US$38.5) for a one-way trip on the Jakarta-Surabaya route
\nand Rp 34,000 for the Jakarta-Bandung route.<\/p>\n
Each of the trains is pulled by an imported CC-203 locomotive,
\nproduced by General Electric of the United States. The locomotive
\ndraws 10 locally-built cars, including a dining car and a power
\ncar with a generating capacity of 500 kilo volt amperes of
\nelectricity. Each passenger car has 50 seats, two toilets and a
\ncard telephone booth.<\/p>\n
Representatives of the Madiun, East Java-based Inka said 77
\npercent of the contract value for building the cars was spent
\nlocally. The value of the contract was Rp 43.5 billion (19.4
\nmillion) for 31 cars.<\/p>\n
A number of local companies have been involved in the
\nproduction of the cars, including the state-run military-
\nequipment manufacturer, PT Pindad; the state-run steel company,
\nPT Krakatau Steel; PT Aneka Kimia; PT Padi Handalan, and PT
\nPutera Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Inka officials claimed the new cars followed a concept of
\n"speed, comfort and beauty". The trains, which can run at a
\nmaximum speed of 120 kilometers per hour, are supported by mild
\nsteel (SS-400) car bodies with fabricated bogies of type NT-60,
\nan air brake system of Knorr KE-1C distribution valves and AAR-
\n10A automated inter-car couplers.<\/p>\n
Minister Haryanto said the preparation activities to support
\nthe operation of the express trains had been carried out since
\n1992.<\/p>\n
"A number of efforts have been made to enhance the role of
\nPerumka in our land transportation by improving the quality of
\nrailway tracks, installing more electric signals and building
\ndouble tracks so that we can increase the frequency of train
\ntravel," Haryanto said.<\/p>\n
Currently, the government, through three state-run companies
\nunder the Ministry of Public Works -- PT Adhi Karya, PT Hutama
\nKarya and PT Wijaya Karya -- is putting in double tracks along
\nthe 30-kilometer Jakarta-Bogor, West Java, route at a total cost
\nof Rp 74 billion. (rid)<\/p>",
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