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