Soeharto to launch Indonesian train cars

JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto is scheduled to launch a set of locally-built express train cars here on July 31, State Minister of Research and Technology B.J. Habibie said.

After reporting to Soeharto yesterday, Habibie said that Soeharto will not travel on the train after the inauguration as he did with the Palindo Jaya ship, which was built by the state- owned shipbuilding company PT PAL.

After inaugurating the ship in Surabaya, East Java, last week, President Soeharto sailed from Surabaya to Jakarta aboard the Palindo Jaya to test its comfort and safety.

Habibie said Soeharto would ask Vice President Try Sutrisno to sail from Jakarta to Surabaya aboard the Palindo Jaya and return to Jakarta by the express train Argo Bromo Express -- named after Mount Bromo in East Java.

In addition to the Argo Bromo Express, which will serve Jakarta-Surabaya in nine hours, Soeharto will also inaugurate the Argo Gede Express -- named after Mount Gede in West Java -- which will serve Jakarta-Bandung in two hours.

Currently, the two routes are already served by express trains -- Surya Jaya trains for the Jakarta-Surabaya route and Parahyangan trains for Jakarta-Bandung.

Habibie explained that the state-owned railway company PT Inka had prepared three Argo Bromo Express trains and four Argo Gede Express trains. Each of the trains will have an imported locomotive and carry 12 locally-built cars, which will be equipped with telephones and facsimiles.

"President Soeharto has decided to build our own locomotives in the future, and our strategic industry has prepared to do it as soon as possible," Habibie said.

He noted that Inka would first target the domestic market, before exporting its products, and that it had won a contract in Malaysia to build 300 cargo wagons.

Commenting on the locally-made short-distance aircraft N-250, Habibie said that its inaugural flight was slated for Aug. 10. If it is not ready by then, he said the flight will be delayed until Nov. 10.

"Boeing 747 or Boeing 777 needs about one to one and a half years to fly after their roll-outs... And the real schedule for N-250 is Nov. 10," Habibie argued. N-250, which is being developed by the state-run aircraft company PT IPTN, was rolled out in Bandung on Nov. 10, last year.

When asked about his project to build an Indonesian car, Habibie said the Maleo -- named after a rare bird in Sulawesi -- would not hit the streets until 1997.

"We will release it in 1997. Just wait, we're still keeping it a secret. You'll see that it's beautiful and will not lag behind other cars. And the price we're targeting will be much cheaper, maybe Rp 16 million (US$7,100) or below," he said. (rid)