W. Sumatran administrations agree on trains

Syofiardi Bachyul Jb, The Jakarta Post, Padang

Nine regency and city administrations in West Sumatra have said they support and help operate and build new rail tracks in the province.

They included the West Sumatra provincial administration and those of eight towns and cities where the train is scheduled to operate: Padang city, Pariaman regency and city, Padangpanjang city, Solok city and regency, Sawahlunto city and Tanahdatar regency.

West Sumatra Governor Gamawan Fauzi said the support was important to review train operation in the province as it would ease land clearance for the new tracks and boost the tourism sector.

"Each local administration has been asked to set aside a budget for the province's train company for the next two years to start up a plan to activate the train routes, both for tourism and transportation means," he said.

The train company, he said, would need around Rp 6.3 billion in capital. The provincial administration would set aside Rp 1.7 billion from its budget and the rest would be divided between the local administrations.

"Trains enjoyed a heyday in West Sumatra at one point, providing significant economic and education contributions to areas along routes.

"But train operation suffered a setback in the 1980s before entirely stopping in the 1990s. Trains are in fact significant to boosting the region's potency and we intend to revive them," Gamawan said.

Trains play significant role in boosting tourism while serving as an important form of transportation for mining and plantation products. Trains carry not only coal and palm oil or rubber from West Sumatra but also from Riau and Jambi provinces.

"A coal mining company in Muaro Bungo, Jambi, used 100 trucks to carry coals to Teluk Bayur Port in Padang in a day. We can replace this with trains from Muaro Sijunjung, which is located on the border with Muaro Bungo," he said.

Head of the West Sumatra train company Sukirman Denin said train operations in West Sumatra would receive Rp 6.2 billion in financial support from the Transportation Ministry, but another Rp 6.3 billion is still needed from local administrations for its first two years.

"We've started running a passenger train from Padang city to Pariaman city every day since Feb. 15 with 40 percent of seats filled.

"But the Padang city administration's contribution off Rp 100 million assistance per month has not yet been realized," Sukirman said, raising hopes that the recent signing of a memorandum of understanding with local administrations on the plan would speed up the assistance.

When a quake struck the province in March, 32 train track points were damaged, but Sukirman said most of the damage tracks have been repaired, at a cost of Rp 3.5 billion. "Only two points have not been repaired," he said.

PT KAI president director Ronny Wahyudi said the new railway law opened up opportunity for local administrations and private sectors.

"West Sumatra is a lucrative market for the train business. PT KAI has access to facilities here and it will be beneficial to boost transport and tourism in the province," he said.

He said the company plans to officiate a Padang-Padangpanjang-Sawahlunto route in June, passing through Lembah Anah valley, a popular tourism site.

The company, he said, also plans to revive coal transport from Sawahlunto to Teluk Bayur port as well as building tracks from Duku to Minangkabau International Airport.

Coordinator of the West Sumatra Train Awareness Community Chaidir Nien Latief told The Jakarta Post that the construction of the trans Sumatra train track, which was first initiated during Dutch rule, from Lampung to Banda Aceh and from western to eastern coastal areas, could be revived.

He said for the first phase, the easiest route to build would be from Teluk Bayur to Pekanbaru in Riau province.

"There is a need for serious support from the government to realize the plan," he said.