Comal bridge damaged, railway transport diverted south
<p>Comal bridge damaged, railway transport diverted south</p><p> PURWOKERTO, Central Java (JP): All trains traveling between
Jakarta and Surabaya via the island's northern coast are being
diverted to the southern line for at least two days due to a
damaged railway bridge in Comal, Pemalang regency.</p><p>The damage occurred in the middle of the 100-meter bridge,
which slumped nearly 1.5 meters early on Wednesday morning.</p><p>The damage resulted in massive delays for trains scheduled to
use the track, which is a major route connecting some of the
island's largest cities, such as Semarang and Surabaya.</p><p>Railway officials began repair work immediately, however mild
disruptions to the regular schedules are expected to persist for
another two days.</p><p>Trains traveling from Jakarta to Surabaya will be diverted to
the Cirebon-Prupuk-Purwokerto-Pasar Turi route, while trains from
Surabaya to Jakarta will travel via the Semarang-Kedung Jati-Solo
lines.</p><p>Spokesman for the Semarang office of state-owned railway
company PT Kereta Api (KAI), Suprapto, said the damage in Comal
was caused by erosion on the western side of the railway bridge.</p><p>"We are continuing repairs to the bridge," Suprapto said.
"Hopefully they can be completed soon."</p><p>"This was purely a result of natural influences, not a
technical error by PT KAI," he told The Jakarta Post.(04/45)</p>
Jakarta and Surabaya via the island's northern coast are being
diverted to the southern line for at least two days due to a
damaged railway bridge in Comal, Pemalang regency.</p><p>The damage occurred in the middle of the 100-meter bridge,
which slumped nearly 1.5 meters early on Wednesday morning.</p><p>The damage resulted in massive delays for trains scheduled to
use the track, which is a major route connecting some of the
island's largest cities, such as Semarang and Surabaya.</p><p>Railway officials began repair work immediately, however mild
disruptions to the regular schedules are expected to persist for
another two days.</p><p>Trains traveling from Jakarta to Surabaya will be diverted to
the Cirebon-Prupuk-Purwokerto-Pasar Turi route, while trains from
Surabaya to Jakarta will travel via the Semarang-Kedung Jati-Solo
lines.</p><p>Spokesman for the Semarang office of state-owned railway
company PT Kereta Api (KAI), Suprapto, said the damage in Comal
was caused by erosion on the western side of the railway bridge.</p><p>"We are continuing repairs to the bridge," Suprapto said.
"Hopefully they can be completed soon."</p><p>"This was purely a result of natural influences, not a
technical error by PT KAI," he told The Jakarta Post.(04/45)</p>