Rajawali–Cikampek railway explained

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Rajawali–Cikampek railway
Native Name:Jalur kereta api Rajawali–Cikampek
Native Name Lang:id
Type:Commuter rail
Status:Operational
Locale:Jakarta, West Java
Stations:23
Open:1898
Owner:Directorate General of Railways (DJKA)
Operator:PT Kereta Api Indonesia
PT Kereta Commuter Indonesia
Tracks:2
Electrification:1.5 kV DC OHC
Map State:collapsed

The Rajawali–Cikampek railway is a railway line that connects Rajawali Station and Cikampek Station. This route crosses two provinces with 5 regencies or cities, namely Jakarta (Central Jakarta and East Jakarta) and West Java (Bekasi, Bekasi Regency and Karawang Regency). This line is one of the busiest intercity lines in Indonesia and since the 1920s it has been a double track and has been electrified since 1992.[1]

Due to the increasing frequency of use, this line is planned to be made as double-double tracks, which means it has four lines: a pair for long-distance or non-EMUs trains and a pair for trains serving stations. Currently, this dual route plan will reach .

There are two bridges that cross two historical rivers: Kali Bekasi (near Bekasi Station) and Citarum (near Kedunggedeh Station).

History

The Jakarta–Bekasi segment came into use in 1887, Bekasi–Kedunggedeh came into use in 1888, Kedunggedeh–Karawang came into use in 1891 and Karawang–Cikampek came into use in 1906; initially as part of the Jakarta–Cikampek line, which was a continuation of the Jakarta–Bogor railway line that had opened several years earlier.[2] During the Dutch colonial period, these routes were under the management of the Staatsspoorwegen Westerlijnen (SS-WL) since 1898 and were originally managed by Bataviasche Oosterspoorweg Maatschappij (BOS).

The double track in the Batavia–Cikampek route has been initiated since the 1920s, it was even recorded in the SS annual report in the 1920s. The SS annual report of 1922 noted that the Jatinegara–Cikampek, Wonokromo–Tarik, and Padalarang–Cimindi double routes were in operation.[3]

The improvement of the double track and electrification on this route has been started since 1992, as part of the construction of the Jakarta–Cikampek and Cikampek–Cirebon double tracks. With a total cost of Rp. 500 billion per 2003, the double tracks in both routes are complete.

Double path construction

In this route, double-double tracks, also known as quadruple tracks for the Manggarai–Cikarang segment along 34 kilometers, are being built, connecting Manggarai Station to Cikarang Station, and initiated by the Directorate General of Railways.[4] This project aims to separate the main line for long-distance trains and the KRL Commuterline, thereby eliminating delays in the KRL Commuterline and at the same time increasing the passenger capacity from 850 thousand passengers to 1.2 million passengers per day. This project was started in 2013 and is expected to be completed in 2019.[5]

This project uses a package financing system, which is divided into package A, package B1, and package B21. Package A worth IDR 2.5 trillion using state sukuk, Package B1 worth 3 trillion comes from Japanese loans, and Package B21 of 1 trillion from the state budget.

To prepare for this project, several stations were renovated by adding new buildings and some being added. Almost all stations on this line, except for Cipinang Station and Bekasi Station, have used new buildings. In addition, two special EMUs stations were built, namely Metland Telagamurni Station and Bekasi Timur Station.

Notes and References

  1. News: Perlu 18 Tahun Bangun Rel Ganda di Indonesia. 5 December 2003. Media Indonesia.
  2. Studiegroep ZWP: Haltestempels Nederlands Indië 1883 - 1891/1950. Spoorweg Trajecten SS-WL. Retrieved 2 January 2016.
  3. Book: Staatsspoorwegen. 1921–1932. Verslag der Staatsspoor-en-Tramwegen in Nederlandsch-Indië 1921-1932. Batavia. Burgerlijke Openbare Werken.
  4. Web site: Menhub Minta Proyek DDT Manggarai - Cikarang Dipercepat. . Asep Muhamad. dephub.go.id. id. 31 January 2017.
  5. Web site: Double-double track Manggarai-Cikarang pertama di Indonesia - ANTARA News. www.antaranews.com. id. 31 January 2017.