New electric train breaks down

JAKARTA: The new Madiun electric train running between Serpong, Tangerang and the Dukuh Atas station in Central Jakarta was stalled for an hour at Pondok Ranji station during its first operation early on Monday.

Zainal Abidin, the spokesman for the Jakarta chapter of state railway operator PT KAI, said the voltage converter of the train was not working when it started at 6 a.m.

"The technician fixed the problem quickly, and it was back in operation just one hour later," he told The Jakarta Post.

Another electric train, running between Jakarta and Rangkasbitung, West Java, also broke down around the Pondok Betung area of South Jakarta at 7:55 a.m. The train was taken to the nearest station, at Kebayoran Lama, for repairs and was back in service at 9:15 a.m.

Zainal said no information was available on the reasons for the breakdown.

The electric train is the fastest form of public transportation in the city and is preferred by most commuters, especially during the morning rush hour.--JP