'KAI needs more paying passengers'

'KAI needs more paying passengers'

State railway operator PT KAI has concluded the recent train
crash in Rawa Bambu, South Jakarta was caused by human error. The
accident claimed four lives and injured around 600 other
passengers, including the train driver. The Jakarta Post asked
residents for their ideas on how PT KAI should improve its
service.

Ahmad Syafrudin, 37, is an environmentalist living in Pondok
Terong subdistrict, Depok. He travels to his office in Central
Jakarta by train:

PT KAI often says it has not enough money to upgrade its
railway system and trains, particularly the commuter ones,
because the ticket sales are just enough to cover its operational
costs.

I, however, believe that the company has not worked optimally
to raise its own income since only 40 percent of passengers buy
tickets.

As a train user, I am all too aware that so few passengers buy
tickets as the company's employers turn a blind eye to
freeloaders. Later, the officials collect the fines and keep the
money for themselves.

Rahmi Hidayati, 38, is a public relations officer, who works
on Jl. Rasuna Said, South Jakarta. She lives on Jl. Ciputat Raya,
Pondok Pinang also in South Jakarta:

PT KAI should not merely blame the train driver for the recent
incident. It must improve its safety system.

For example, a train should automatically stop if another
train comes within a certain distance. We have many engineers who
are no doubt capable of coming up with a good system. If they
can't, we can import the technology.

As a commuter, I really care about the safety system. I don't
want to be the next victim of a train crash.

-- The Jakarta Post