Thousands of train commuters stranded

Thousands of train commuters stranded

BANDUNG (JP): Thousands of train passengers at both Bandung
station and Gambir station in Jakarta were left stranded
following a train derailment at KM 139 in Padalarang, West Java,
on Sunday afternoon.

The cause of the derailment was still unknown but was probably
due to unstable ground which in turn caused undermining of the
railway line, when the Serayu economy train from Kroya to Jakarta
passed over the tracks between the Maswati and Rendeh station in
Padalarang, around 3 p.m. Sunday, officials said.

Maswati station is about a 30-minute trip by train from
Bandung.

State-owned railway company PT KAI Bandung chief of operations
Masduki Ahmad said that due to the incident several train trips
from Bandung to Jakarta had to be canceled until repair work was
completed, which could take about four hours.

Among those trains canceled was the Argo Gede which was
scheduled to depart at 3 p.m. on Sunday from Bandung.

Passengers from Jakarta to Bandung who were already on their
way will be transported by bus around Rendeh station, he said.

"This is the eighth incident this year," Masduki said. (25)