http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2013/04/08/imo-view-new-schedule-more-sweat-and-tears.html
Prior a delayed plan to scrap economy-class electric trains up to July, the state-owned rail operator, PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI), had announced to change the schedule of commuter line. The aim was to improve its service by increasing the frequency of commuter line services in Greater Jakarta from 514 to 575 trips per day commencing on 1st April 2013.
As one of the millions of road warriors entering Jakarta each day from the suburbs, I was delighted to hear the news. It would mean there’d be more trains available and extended operating hours of the commuter line plying Jakarta’s Kota to Bogor. In my wildest imagination, I pictured myself sitting cross-legged in a more convenient, less crowded and cozy train. Commuting daily in packed carriages with poor service and constant delay can be a living hell sometimes. So, the news is indeed a bliss of heaven!
I WAS WRONG! After three days experiencing the new schedule, I failed to see any improvement of the service I craved for. The train was still the same, still overcrowded, still delayed, and still poor. More sweats and tears spilled to just board on the iron snake! Passengers still experienced the inconvenience of disrupted schedule, causing a domino of delays and leaving thousands of commuters stranded for hours. Peak- hour rail chaos loomed as bat causes short-circuit or signal problem and commuters were forced to wait longer in frustration and anger. Unreliable schedules affected the trip of trains that caused massive pile up of passengers in each station.
Worse, the new schedule during peak hours was still unable to accommodate thousands of commuters swarming in the stations. More schedules instead were added during hours when commuters haven’t yet left their office. Meanwhile, less trains made trip during rush hours.
Yesterday, on my way home, I had to to board on the overcrowded commuter line (CL) at 5.30 p.m from Gondangdia station. Packed like sardines into sweaty, claustrophobic carriages; I could barely breathe let alone move about freely. I didn’t have an inch in which to move and was pressed up against the steamy glass windows. The air conditioning was dead, and the windows were all closed. What a squeeze! What a sweaty miserable condition!
In my experience, commuter line services are no better than that of [economy-class] electric trains, with low compliance of minimum service standards. The condition deteriorates as the schedule is unreliable due to the old song of long excuses of power troubles. Scuffles between frustrated commuters have become more and more common, while wicked molesters take advantage of the overcrowding to fondle and harass the others. In the end, passengers also seem to be giving up on fighting for better services as their pleas are often rebuked and turned into deaf-ears.
Despite the horror stories, I have no choice but to use the train. Like many others, I find using commuter trains save time and money than ever before. It is likely out of necessity because despite all of its problems, it still beats the odds of sitting in the increasingly nightmarish traffic. A trip to Depok by car can take up to two hours, but a commuter train will have you there in 45 minutes.
I just hope that the responsible public officials in this country will someday understand that public transportation is there to make our lives easier. Passengers are fed up with trains that are delayed, overcrowded and unsafe. So, improving these standards should be their top priority. Even it might help to battle the worsening traffic in Jakarta.
Prior a delayed plan to scrap economy-class electric trains up to July, the state-owned rail operator, PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI), had announced to change the schedule of commuter line. The aim was to improve its service by increasing the frequency of commuter line services in Greater Jakarta from 514 to 575 trips per day commencing on 1st April 2013.
As one of the millions of road warriors entering Jakarta each day from the suburbs, I was delighted to hear the news. It would mean there’d be more trains available and extended operating hours of the commuter line plying Jakarta’s Kota to Bogor. In my wildest imagination, I pictured myself sitting cross-legged in a more convenient, less crowded and cozy train. Commuting daily in packed carriages with poor service and constant delay can be a living hell sometimes. So, the news is indeed a bliss of heaven!
I WAS WRONG! After three days experiencing the new schedule, I failed to see any improvement of the service I craved for. The train was still the same, still overcrowded, still delayed, and still poor. More sweats and tears spilled to just board on the iron snake! Passengers still experienced the inconvenience of disrupted schedule, causing a domino of delays and leaving thousands of commuters stranded for hours. Peak- hour rail chaos loomed as bat causes short-circuit or signal problem and commuters were forced to wait longer in frustration and anger. Unreliable schedules affected the trip of trains that caused massive pile up of passengers in each station.
Worse, the new schedule during peak hours was still unable to accommodate thousands of commuters swarming in the stations. More schedules instead were added during hours when commuters haven’t yet left their office. Meanwhile, less trains made trip during rush hours.
Yesterday, on my way home, I had to to board on the overcrowded commuter line (CL) at 5.30 p.m from Gondangdia station. Packed like sardines into sweaty, claustrophobic carriages; I could barely breathe let alone move about freely. I didn’t have an inch in which to move and was pressed up against the steamy glass windows. The air conditioning was dead, and the windows were all closed. What a squeeze! What a sweaty miserable condition!
In my experience, commuter line services are no better than that of [economy-class] electric trains, with low compliance of minimum service standards. The condition deteriorates as the schedule is unreliable due to the old song of long excuses of power troubles. Scuffles between frustrated commuters have become more and more common, while wicked molesters take advantage of the overcrowding to fondle and harass the others. In the end, passengers also seem to be giving up on fighting for better services as their pleas are often rebuked and turned into deaf-ears.
Despite the horror stories, I have no choice but to use the train. Like many others, I find using commuter trains save time and money than ever before. It is likely out of necessity because despite all of its problems, it still beats the odds of sitting in the increasingly nightmarish traffic. A trip to Depok by car can take up to two hours, but a commuter train will have you there in 45 minutes.
I just hope that the responsible public officials in this country will someday understand that public transportation is there to make our lives easier. Passengers are fed up with trains that are delayed, overcrowded and unsafe. So, improving these standards should be their top priority. Even it might help to battle the worsening traffic in Jakarta.
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