Trains run out of carriages

JAKARTA (JP): A large number of train commuters heading for Yogyakarta and Surakarta in Central Java and Bandung in West Java have been forced to reschedule their trip due to a shortage of executive class carriages.

According to Bambang Walujodjati, spokesman of the state-owned Perumka railway company for Jakarta Operations base in Gambir, a total of 20 executive-class carriages, normally used for the three routes, have been hired by the committee of the national youth march.

"It's not fair for a state company to serve only certain parties and ignore its primary task to serve the people," a prospective passenger, who failed to get tickets for an Aug. 17 trip to Yogyakarta, said.

Walujodjati said that Perumka has been preparing the carriages since Aug. 11, making only business class carriages available as of yesterday.

The carriages were used yesterday to transport more than 1,000 participants of the youth march, which is sponsored by businesswoman Mrs. Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana. (bsr)