Commuters protest decision to halt route

Theresia Sufa, The Jakarta Post, Bogor

Hundreds of commuters who use trains from Bogor to Sukabumi, West Java, spontaneously staged a protest at Bogor station on Monday morning over the train operator's decision not to operate the route for two weeks, starting Tuesday.

The protesters said they were told that nonoperation was due to too many freeriders, but station officials said the decision was taken due to security concerns.

One of the protesters, Asep Samsudin, of Cijangkar village, Cisarua subdistrict, Cikole, Sukabumi, said the temporary halt was arbitrary and would cause other financial problems for commuters.

"I work in Bogor and have to go back and forth on the train daily because it is the cheapest transportation available. If it were stopped for whatever reason, I'd be in trouble," he said.

"The ones who should be held accountable for losses are the train conductors, not us. They often pocket the fare money, but Bogor officials said they cannot do anything to change the decision. Therefore, we'll protest at Gambir (station in Central Jakarta) until the decision is changed," Asep remarked.

The train, which has four cars, operates twice a day. Tickets cost Rp 1,500 (about 18 US cents) per person.

Bogor station deputy head, Kusdijono, denied that the losses inflicted by freeriders were the reason for the temporary halt, saying that security concerns had forced state-run train operator PT KAI not to operate the route.

"As the rainy season has arrived, we've checked the route and found that several areas are prone to landslide, such as Ciomas, and worse, Cigombong and Cibadak," he said.

Kusdijono added that the expected threefold increase in commuters prior to the Idul Fitri holiday, from the usual 400 people to 1,500, had also featured in considerations to stop the train from operating.

"If commuters cannot get on board, they usually get on the roof, and that is what we fear. There are many tunnels and water pipelines along the route, which would certainly put those on the roof in danger," he explained.