JAKARTA (JP): The Tanah Abang-Serpong electric train started
\ntrial operations on Thursday, making it the first electric train
\noutside the Jakarta-Bogor line.<\/p>\n
The first official passengers included Director General of
\nLand Transportation Soejono, who said the Jakarta-Serpong
\nelectric train will be fully operational by the end of the month.<\/p>\n
The new service will complete the greater Jakarta electric
\ntrain link along with the Jatinegara-Bekasi electric train which
\nwill start service soon, Kompas reported yesterday.<\/p>\n
According to Soejono, the Tanah Abang-Serpong electric train,
\nmade by BN Holec of Belgium, is still waiting for a power source.<\/p>\n
\"We may operate air-conditioned cars for our executive
\npassengers,\" said Soejono. He added that the Serpong-Sudimara
\nroute is a good candidate for 'executive' service given the
\ngrowing number of luxury houses in Serpong, whose residents work
\nin Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Soejono believed that trains are becoming an important mode of
\ntransportation, particularly with the operation of the Manggarai-
\nKota railway overpass.<\/p>\n
\"Soon, there will be one train every six minutes as compared
\nto one every fifteen minutes, which is the current schedule,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Ismani, head of the Jakarta branch of the state-owned railway
\ncompany Perumka, said around 180,000 passengers use the greater
\nJakarta train services every day. Of that number, 40,000 travel
\nthe Jakarta-Serpong line.<\/p>\n
The number is a lot higher than the 80,000 passengers measured
\na few years ago, said Ismani.<\/p>\n
Perumka's technical director Sumino Eko Saputro said the
\ncompany will receive 25 electric trains from BN Holec, whose
\ndelivery will be completed in 1996.<\/p>\n
\"Ten of them will be assembled by PT Inka,\" said Sumino.<\/p>\n
To date, Perumka has 120 electric trains, including one
\nproduced by South Korea's Hyundai. Three of the seven BN Holec
\ntrains, nicknamed the Blue Steel Knights (Satria Baja Biru)
\nbecause of their color, have arrived and two of them are now in
\noperation.<\/p>\n
Each of the Rp 8.4-billion (US$3.9 million) blue trains has
\neight cars.<\/p>\n
With these trains, the Tanah Abang-Serpong route can now be
\ncovered in 45 minutes, as compared to a car which can take two
\nhours during rush-hour. The Tanah Abang-Serpong trains originate
\nfrom the Sudimara and Rawalumbu stations. (lem)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jakarta-jp-the-tanah-abang-serpong-electric-train-started-1447899208",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}