Emergency brake not for fun: Railway company

Emergency brake not for fun: Railway company

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

A packed electric commuter train plying Bogor-Jakarta stopped
suddenly after passing Cawang Station, East Jakarta, on Wednesday
at around 8:45 a.m.

State railway company PT KAI could not pinpoint a cause, but
suspect that someone applied the emergency brake -- either
accidentally or deliberately.

Dozens of standing passengers bumped into each other due to
the jolt. After nearly 30 minutes, the passengers, most of whom
were employees, started to complain.

"My boss will be angry as I am carrying the key to the store.
If I'm late, other employees will be late too," groaned Santi, a
21-year-old attendant of an electronics shop in Mangga Dua, West
Jakarta.

The incident caused the delay of nine other commuter trains.

"Since the interval between trains is only five minutes during
peak hours in the morning, nine other trains were forced to
wait," said Akhmad Sujadi, spokesman of the Greater Jakarta
operational division of state railway company PT KAI, as quoted
by Antara. "An electric commuter train needs half an hour before
it can start again after its emergency brake is pulled."

The train continued its journey to Manggarai Station, South
Jakarta, where passengers were transferred to another train.

Akhmad said that such an incident occurred almost every week.

"It could be that someone intentionally pulled it for fun, or
a standing passenger, who was holding the brake, accidentally
pulled it," he said.

Many of the emergency brakes in the carriages are not covered
with glass boxes. "Many of the glass boxes have been broken and
we haven't managed to replace them," he added.

Akhmad said PT KAI had failed to prevent such incidents due to
the meager fines imposed. The existing regulation stipulates that
someone who pulls the brake in a non-emergency situation can be
fined between Rp 50,000 (US$5.44) and Rp 500,000. They can also
be sued for damages.