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)