Neglected railroad

Neglected railroad

I went to Magelang, Central Java, recently via Purwokerto and
Wonosobo. Wonosobo is a very fertile area with fresh air and cool
climate. Vegetables such cabbage, potatoes and tobacco are among
the main agricultural products.

On either side of the road, especially between Banjarnegara
and Wonosobo, I saw beautiful scenery, picturesque valleys and
the clear river, Serayu.

Unfortunately, those beauties are spoiled by the nasty look of
ruins of unused railway stations and neglected railroads. I
lamented the situation. How can the railway company afford to
ignore such a valuable asset? It has been said that the economic
crisis forced the authority to curtail operations, in order to
avoid financial losses.

Actually there are good reasons for keeping the railroad
functioning.

* To help the farmers transport their merchandise.

* To promote tourism, because tourists wanting to visit the
Dieng plateau would find it more interesting to enjoy the
beautiful panoramas by riding in a train.

* To reduce traffic congestion.

My suggestion is that the government make a concerted effort
to restore the 90-km railroad from Purwokerto to Wonosobo, or
leave the business to the private sector.

HM HADI S

Cimahi, West Java