Ten people injured in train crash

Ten people injured in train crash

JAKARTA (JP): Ten people were injured yesterday when the Jaya Baya train hit the Bekasi-Gambir commuter train which was packed with passengers, in Sawah Besar, Central Jakarta.

Barata, spokesman for the Directorate General of Land Transportation, said the accident took place at 8 a.m.

"It was not a serious accident. The commuter train No. 731 was hit from behind by the Jaya Baya train, which carried no passengers at the time," he told The Jakarta Post.

The Jaya Baya train was on the way to Gambir as it was scheduled to leave for Surabaya at 2 p.m. yesterday.

Not seriously damaged, the Jaya Baya train left for Surabaya as scheduled, a Gambir railway station employee said.

The employee, who asked for anonymity, said that the commuter train had to remain at the site some time after the accident, while the injured passengers were taken to a nearby hospital.

He said he had not yet been informed of the cause of the accident and the loss inflicted. "A special team is investigating the accident," he said.

The Jakarta railway office was not available for comment. An employee answering the phone told the Post yesterday that "Everybody is out checking on the accident".(sur)