Bogor trains detoured after cable failure

JAKARTA (JP): Frustration reigned for train passengers on Saturday when a power cable failure for electric trains serving Jakarta to Bogor forced state-owned railway company Perumka to bypass regular Central Jakarta stops.

The abrupt decision left hundreds of passengers stranded, with many inconvenienced by having to spend extra time and money to reach their destinations after service at Gonangdia, Cikini and Gambir stations was canceled.

The power supply failure occurred at Gonangdia but the source of the outage remains unclear. No announcement was made on Saturday concerning when resumption of full service would begin.

Jakarta-Bogor trains, always crowded on both workdays and weekends, were diverted to make stops at the Manggarai station via Dukuh Atas and Tanah Abang to Kota downtown station.

Many frustrated passengers alighted at Manggarai station and were left with no choice but to take other means of transportation.

Disappointed faces were in evidence at the three stations as passengers sought buses to take them to the makeshift stopovers.

Passengers at Gambir, for example, were forced to travel about three kilometers to reach Dukuh Atas, the nearest station.

According to chief of the Tebet railway station, Suwarno, the crash of the electric cable system took place at 7:10 a.m.

Antara reported the problem also caused delays for trains headed to and from Bogor because they were forced to wait for their turn to proceed.

Jakarta passengers at Tebet station waited for 45 minutes to embark on trains to Bogor. (bsr)