Express train begins operation
Express train begins operation
JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto yesterday dedicated two sets
of locally-built express train cars in connection with the 50th
anniversary of Indonesia's independence.
In a modest ceremony held at the Gambir railway station,
Central Jakarta, Soeharto poured fresh water out of a traditional
drinking flask, while citing the hope that the two trains will
operate safely.
Soeharto named the trains Argo Bromo Express -- after Mount
Bromo in East Java -- and Argo Gede Express -- after Mount Gede
in West Java.
The cars are the products of PT Industri Kereta Api (Inka),
which is under the supervision of the Agency for the Management
of Strategic Industries (BPIS) headed by State Minister of
Research and Technology B.J. Habibie.
In the last two weeks, President Soeharto also dedicated a
passenger ship, named Palindo Jaya, which was built by the state-
run shipbuilding company PT PAL, another company under BPIS.
Later this month, Soeharto is slated to launch a N-250 short-
distance aircraft built by state-owned aircraft manufacturer PT
IPTN, which is also under BPIS.
Minister of Transportation Haryanto Dhanutirto said yesterday
that with the presence of the new express trains with an
operating speed of 100 kilometers per hour, the railway company
Perumka is expected to better serve as the operator of mass land
transportation.
"The operation of these express trains serves as one of
Perumka's efforts to anticipate the people's increasing demand
for better railway services," Haryanto said.
Commemoration
The Argo Bromo Express train, coded JS-950, serves the route
linking Jakarta and Surabaya, East Java, in nine hours, and the
Argo Gede Express train, coded JB-250, serves the Jakarta-
Bandung, West Java route in two hours.
The president of Perumka, Soemino Eko Saputra, explained that
the number 50 incorporated in both trains meant that the trains
were launched to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Indonesia's
independence.
Both trains serve only the executive class, with fares of Rp
90,000 (US$38.5) for a one-way trip on the Jakarta-Surabaya route
and Rp 34,000 for the Jakarta-Bandung route.
Each of the trains is pulled by an imported CC-203 locomotive,
produced by General Electric of the United States. The locomotive
draws 10 locally-built cars, including a dining car and a power
car with a generating capacity of 500 kilo volt amperes of
electricity. Each passenger car has 50 seats, two toilets and a
card telephone booth.
Representatives of the Madiun, East Java-based Inka said 77
percent of the contract value for building the cars was spent
locally. The value of the contract was Rp 43.5 billion (19.4
million) for 31 cars.
A number of local companies have been involved in the
production of the cars, including the state-run military-
equipment manufacturer, PT Pindad; the state-run steel company,
PT Krakatau Steel; PT Aneka Kimia; PT Padi Handalan, and PT
Putera Indonesia.
Inka officials claimed the new cars followed a concept of
"speed, comfort and beauty". The trains, which can run at a
maximum speed of 120 kilometers per hour, are supported by mild
steel (SS-400) car bodies with fabricated bogies of type NT-60,
an air brake system of Knorr KE-1C distribution valves and AAR-
10A automated inter-car couplers.
Minister Haryanto said the preparation activities to support
the operation of the express trains had been carried out since
1992.
"A number of efforts have been made to enhance the role of
Perumka in our land transportation by improving the quality of
railway tracks, installing more electric signals and building
double tracks so that we can increase the frequency of train
travel," Haryanto said.
Currently, the government, through three state-run companies
under the Ministry of Public Works -- PT Adhi Karya, PT Hutama
Karya and PT Wijaya Karya -- is putting in double tracks along
the 30-kilometer Jakarta-Bogor, West Java, route at a total cost
of Rp 74 billion. (rid)