Train traffic returns to normal at Palmerah

Train traffic returns to normal at Palmerah

JAKARTA (JP): Train traffic to and from Palmerah railway
station, Central Jakarta, is back to normal after all the tracks
were cleared and repaired yesterday.

The derailed locomotive was lifted and taken to the Jatinegara
depot last night before being transported to the Balai Yasa train
workshop in Yogyakarta for major repairs.

The new business class train, which had been in trial for only
three days, derailed as it entered the Palmerah station at 1:34
p.m. Monday.

The train, with seven carriages, left Merak about 11 a.m. on
Monday for downtown Kota in West Jakarta.

A food vendor who was riding a bicycle was hit by a flying
railway sleeper.

The driver, his assistant and 50 passengers escaped unhurt.
The driver Siswanto and his assistant, Sutardjo are being
questioned by police for alleged negligence.

Transportation Minister Haryanto Dhanutirto, who was scheduled
to launch the new train, said human error caused the accident.

Yan Mulyana, the head of the Palmerah railway station, was not
available for comment yesterday.

State railway company Perumka's public relations officer was
not available for comment.

One station official said the final clean-up operation started
at 9 p.m. last night. "We expect it to be finished early this
morning".

The official, who was involved in the rescue operation, said
all trains plying Jakarta-Merak, Jakarta-Rangkasbitung, Jakarta-
Parung Panjang and Jakarta-Serpong, which pass through Palmerah
station, returned to service yesterday morning.

There are 48 passenger and goods trains which stop at Palmerah
station everyday.

The official refused to estimate the total loss or the cost of
repairing the train. "It will be calculated later," he said.
(kod)