The government has decided to speed up railway transport between the country`s two largest cities by building an additional track for train with maximum speed of 160 kilometers per hour.
Djoko Setidjawarno, from the Indonesian Transport Community, said in a statement a number of state companies (BUMN) have proved that they had succeeded in building tracks for speed trains in a number of areas that they should be able to build a new 715 kilometer corridor between Jakarta and Surabaya.
"Seeing their performance in carrying out the construction of Light Transit Train (LRT) unit in South Sumatra by PT Waskita Karya, Jabodebek LRT by PT Adhi Karya, Jakarta LRT by PT Wijaya Karya, Sumatra LRT facilities and airport railway facility by PT Inka, and signal equipment by PT LEN, with operator PT KAI, the BUMNs should be able to create a synergy to build the corridor," Djoko , a lecturer at the Soegijapranata Catholic University, said here on Sunday.
The Agency of Technology Study and Application (BPPT) has carried out a study and research on plan to build a 715 kilometer long additional track between Jakarta-Surabaya.
The government wanted to increase speed in railway transport service between Jakarta and the East Java provincial city by building an additional track with 1,067 mm spoor (narrow gauge), for train with maximum speed of 160 kilometers per hour.
Several segments of elevated tracks totaling 46 kilometers in length would be built in 12 separate locations mainly across cities such as Cirebon, Tegal, Pemalang, Pekalongan, Semarang and Surabaya. In Semarang the plan is to build a 9.5 km elevated track.
The additional track will have four stations for passengers to board in and drop off and 25 operating stations.
There would be 124 flyovers and 339 underpasses that the track would have no crossing. There would be crossing bridges for people to get over the track in some areas.
PT KAI would operate an Express Train to cover the 715-kilometer distance in 5 hours and 38 minutes , 8 times a day.
The project is estimated to cost Rp83.01 trillion.
"Regional administrations could also contribute in the process of land clearing . In city areas the track would be elevated to be free from crossings. Cities connected by the track are expected to create integrated public transport system connected with the city stations," Djoko said.
He said the project does not have to be financed with foreign debts or loans from donor countries, adding debt financing scheme is not good for creativity and innovation in developing railway transport service in Indonesia in the future.
"Give the BUMNs the opportunity to build and expand the country`s railway transport system," he said.
Reporting by Aditya Ramadhan, Albert Saragih
Reporter: Antara
Editor: Andi Abdussalam
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