Express train to Bogor

Express train to Bogor

I live in Jakarta and commute daily to Bogor. I travel by car
and use the Jagorawi toll road. As many people who use this road,
it is not an easy drive. Some cars travel extremely fast in the
slow lane or use the emergency lane to pass. A feeling of danger
is ever-present. Occasionally I have passed the scene of a high-
speed accidents.

I would gladly commute on the Jakarta to Bogor express train,
but the 7:38 a.m. leaves Jakarta too late and the latest return
train from Bogor at 15:26 p.m. leaves too early.

There will soon be a golden opportunity to remedy this
situation. A second, parallel train line is being constructed
between Jakarta and Bogor. This will allow the addition of more
express trains. I urge the planners of the new train lines to add
an express departure from Jakarta to Bogor at 6:45 a.m., and a
return train from Bogor to Jakarta at 17:15 p.m.

The benefits of these two extra departures would be multiple.
They might lighten the car traffic on the over-burdened Jagorawi
highway. (It seems the nearly completed widening of the Jagorawi
toll road -- although necessary -- will not lighten the burden
for long because the number of cars using the road is growing
fast). Fewer cars on the Jagorawi highway will also mean few cars
traveling in Jakarta and Bogor. Furthermore, it is far cheaper to
commute by train than by car.

Last, but not least, the commuter on the express train can
relax or read during the time spent traveling, arriving at home
or at work having avoided a lot of stress.

WILLIAM SUNDERLIN

Jakarta