Bogor railway still loses money

BOGOR, West Java (JP): The Bogor railway company still loses money on its Bogor to Sukabumi route because there are not enough passengers to meet its operating costs, a company official said.

The station master of the state-owned Bogor railway company, Ismanto, said that the service would continue regardless. He would not reveal the amount of the losses. The Jakarta branch of the company, Perumka, has also complained of losses.

"The company will add one more train carriage to anticipate the increasing number of passengers," he was quoted by the Suara Pembaruan daily as saying.

He said the diesel train would also cater for tourists to ease the traffic on the Ciawi-Cigombong road, especially on the weekends and Monday mornings. Tourists from Jakarta often escape for a short break to cooler areas in Bogor and Sukabumi on the weekends.

"It usually takes more than two hours to go between Bogor and Sukabumi by car," he said.

"So at least," he said, "we can save time if we take the Sukabumi-Bogor diesel train." (26)