Commuters protest decision to halt route

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.